CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2004-2006 Nissan Maxima has widespread transmission problems. It starts with the vehicle jerking when shifting, & progresses to full-blown transmission failure.

Maxima owners report spending $3,000 to replace the transmission, typically around when the odometer hits 100,000 miles.

There's a class action lawsuit filed in late 2011, & it is still in the "discovery" stage. Apparently, these things take time ... far too much time.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
99,129 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2005 Nissan Maxima body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2005 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments

problem #15

Dec 052018

Maxima

  • 45,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car has a sound as if it were metal fatigue in the front of the hood a hard blow sounds loud every time the car moves from one side to the other they have not been able to find the problem they say what is a factory defect I am afraid that it is a metal that is under fatigue and the engine falls on the ground running on the street.

- Sabana Hoyos, PR, USA

problem #14

Aug 282018

Maxima

  • miles
ABS and brake light came on flashing periodically over a weeks time, speedometer stopped working, next day the parked car '5 hours cold' caught on fire around fuse box area everything electrical burned up. Police report was done but I do not have a copy, still waiting on fire marshal report. Upon researching online other vehicle have had same issue.

- Apalachicola, FL, USA

problem #13

Sep 012016

Maxima

  • 115,000 miles
Pieces started falling off of the car. The mechanic said that the floorboard was rusted through and the only thing between my feet and the ground was the carpeting.

- Fox Lake, IL, USA

problem #12

Feb 122016

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 175,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

"tamara inflators" seat belts didn't lock or light did not come on. Smashed body all the way to back seat bottom to ground. Engine was idling very high felt/sound as if we were going 60 but only was going 40. No air bags came on. Brakes grinding. Back window blew out and tires flat in back.. windows slow on drivers side. When the sheriff Tahoe hit us at 80mph on U.S. 40 greenfield in was in the shop at J&M truck an trailer on the West side of indianapolis having the oil leaked fixed and tires all fixed and rotors and lights by [xxx] a couple months prior. I had my little girl in the back seat as well where sheriff hit and ran. I uploaded a before and after picture. VIN#[xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Greenfield, IN, USA

problem #11

Mar 222016

Maxima

  • 135,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. While the vehicle was at an independent mechanic for routine maintenance, the contact was informed that the subframe was severely corroded underneath the front driver and passenger seats. The contact was informed that the subframe needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.

- Brookfield, CT, USA

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problem #10

Jul 142015

Maxima

  • 115,000 miles
I am contacting regarding my 2005 Nissan Maxima, I recently found out that the driver side floor board is rusted right through and the service technician can actually see the carpet through the hole. I did some research and found out that this is a wide spread issue the Nissan of this age and it is a huge safety issue. Is anything being done regarding this. I am in the process of finding out exactly the cost of this issue but wanted to file my complaint and see if there is anything I can do or if there is anything being done about Nissan recalling this issue. Thank you

- Appleton , WI, USA

problem #9

Apr 072015

Maxima

  • 58,100 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Safety-defect. There is a major nationwide problem with many different Nissan model vehicles from 2002-2006: The chassis under the floorboards are rusting out and people's feet are pushing through to the pavement. Many Nissan owners have already filed complaints with NHTSA. See the video report detailing the problem by kshb-tv in Kansas City: www.kshb.com/news/local-news/investigations/Nissan-owners-feel-road-rage-express-safety-concerns-over-rust-problem-hiding-beneath-their-feet I have a 2005 garage-kept Nissan Maxima with 58,000 miles that I bought new, and applied undercarriage rustproofing treatment within days of buying the vehicle. I recently noticed that the chassis under the passenger seat is rusting out and there are holes in the vehicle. If Nissan owners don't look under their car at the chassis, they may be totally unaware of the defect until it is too late. So far, Nissan has not taken any action to warn the public or recall the vehicles. I have been a member of consumers union (cu), publisher of "consumers report", for decades, and this is one of the most widespread vehicle defects I have seen. I have also filed a lengthy complaint with cu about the danger. Please notify the public of these defects.

- Wheaton, IL, USA

problem #8

Apr 022015

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 131,000 miles
Driver floor board rusting out.

- Crestwood, KY, USA

problem #7

Sep 012009

Maxima

  • 60,000 miles
Hole in the passenger side floor approximately 2 feet long by 1 1/4 wide, noticed rust in or around September 2009, not sure when it really started to rust, today 12/2/2014 I removed passenger seat pulled back carpet to find a hole no floor whatsoever. I have read about this on forums online it seems to happen on all Maximas and Altima, not sure why there isn't a recall. Thanks.

- Revere, MA, USA

problem #6

Apr 302013

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 100,000 miles
* year, make, model: 2005 Nissan Maxima SE * problem summary:: two problems - (1) severe corrosion / rust at passenger side floor panel (inside-out corrosion); issues are directly related with consumer safety and product quality standards. * car purchase history: Single owner & brand new car purchased from Nissan car dealer (I.e. we purchased car from Nissan dealer); all maintenance is properly performed. *** issue - detail description: *** issue 1: corrosion problem: * two years back (approx. During April 2013), I have realized that there is a severe corrosion / rust at passenger side floor panel. Make a note that corrosion is extremely severe. I took car to Nissan car dealer (mcgrath Nissan, elgin, il). * dealer asked me to directly deal with Nissan company. I did called Nissan and filed complaint with Nissan Consumer Affairs (case no: [xxx]). also, I believe, dealer (Nissan - mcgrath, elgin, il) also sent pictures of corrosion / rust to Nissan company. Almost close to have a hole in floor panel through & through hole). * if you google for such similar issues across various customers, there are so many similar issues (exactly similar issue - 2005 Nissan Maxima - corrosion / rust at passenger side floor panel) overall feedback from Nissan: Per Nissan, corrosion is not covered after 5-6 years (no warranty is covered). They can not do anything. All this issue is still open and hence, I am reaching out here. Dealer has quoted me for approx. $ 3000 for this fix. Lol".all wants easy money; no one wants accountability. Customer request: My request is: Are there any regulation that can regulate safety & quality of the car; or manufacturer to be accountable for such issue and ethically fix this for customer? we paid approx. $36000 for such car quality" wow..... let me see what national car safety - dot can do.....hope for the best. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Streamwood, IL, USA

problem #5

Nov 062012

Maxima

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated the floorboards on the front passenger side were covered with rust. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

- Portage, MI, USA

problem #4

Jul 092013

Maxima

  • 127,339 miles
I was preparing to exit out of a parking lot when suddenly my car jolted backward and hit the front bumper of the car behind me through no fault of my own. This car jerks and jolts unpredictably.

- Salisbury, MD, USA

problem #3

Feb 252013

Maxima

  • 165,000 miles
Driving on a busy highway downhill going about 25 miles an hour, car hard shifted abruptly causing the car to decelerate very fast. Car hit me from behind. At the slow speed it scratched the bumper of the car and caused my neck to whip. Transmission design failure.

- La, CA, USA

problem #2

Jul 022012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 95,000 miles
The floorboards on both the driver's side and passenger side are rusted through.

- Kentwood, MI, USA

problem #1

Dec 082010

Maxima

  • 105,000 miles
I have an 2005 model year Maxima (built in mid 2004) with floor boards are rotted out and need replacing, issue was found about 5000 miles after the extended warranty expired however the dealer would not honor anything even though the rot was significant and clearly had been happening for many months. I drive over 2500 miles per month and its clear it was failed before the warranty ended. This amount of corrosion should not be happening on a car that was only 5 years old and dealer maintained. I should add that the car was brought to the dealer at 98,000 miles for a complete tune up with the express reason of making sure everything was good before the warranty ended. I had patches replaced under the passenger side after the dealer would not honor anything. The car now has 134,000 miles on it and is going in next week to have new floor pans welded in. Very disappointed. I may live in the North East but I've never had a car rot out like this and have zero body rot, just the floor boards....

- Uxbridge, MA, USA

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