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 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
69,891 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 electrical problems

electrical problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2005 Nissan Maxima:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2005 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #35

Mar 252021

Maxima

  • 120,000 miles

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

Vehicle makes clunking, jerking noises and bad clunking sounds when you put it into gear or shift gears, digital gear display shows vehicle is in 5th gear all the time, accelerates very slowly.

- Church Hill, TN, USA

problem #34

Mar 292019

Maxima

  • 112,337 miles
My car only has 112337 mile and needed to replace the transmission, now at 112954 have to replace the ABS control module. The transmission was hard shifting/ jerking when you get to about 30-35 mph. So it cost almost $4,000 to fix and the the speedometer and odometer quit working after 500 miles with new transmission and took the car to electrical shop to find out I now have to replace the ABS control module and after all the money put in this car I don't think it is worth fixing the ABS considering I just bought the car in Oct. 2018 and thought I got a great car and alredy have enough money put in it and could never sell it for the money I have in it Nissan should be fixing these issues not me considering all the complaints on these cars with the same problems at the same mileage

- Littlestown, PA, USA

problem #33

Dec 032018

Maxima

  • 125,000 miles
This car has nothing but issues. I have had to replace the timing chains along with continuing to deal with the cars transmission and engine revving and trowing itself in and out of gear and dying the the middle of the road or highway. This car is dangerous and hundreds of people are having the exact same issues with Nissan refusing to address the issue or admit fault. Something needs to be done. Im sure people have been physically hurt from this issue and seems strong enough to be made into a class action suit.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

problem #32

Aug 282018

Maxima

  • miles

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

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 #31

Apr 012017

Maxima

  • 90,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact heard a noise progressing from the vehicle. An independent mechanic diagnosed that the timing chain needed to be replaced. The manufacturer issued technical service bulletins, but there was no service campaign or manufacturer recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no solution. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 90,000...updated 08/31/17

- St Louis, MO, USA

problem #30

Mar 112017

Maxima

  • 175,960 miles
Prior owner reported issues with ABS rear sensor, and having to disconnect fuse. Vehicle was taken to Nissan dealer for service weeks ago, I authorized diagnostic fee and was notified that computer reports rear right ABS sensor being defective and needing to be replaced at a total cost a little over $550. Driving from dealer, the vehicle has reduced acceleration out of nowhere to a point where I have not driven car until I proceed with repairs at dealer. Since re-connecting fuse that powers ABS... at times I have found the car battery drained. After jump starting vehicle, permitting battery to charge, ,, after turning off car I would hear the ABS pump (on firewall, passenger side) on and not turn off unless I remove the fuse again. If ABS is not standard in all vehicles, why is it that it cannot be completely disabled without negatively effecting other systems, but more importantly braking and electrical.

- Ossining, NY, USA

problem #29

Apr 082015

Maxima

  • 68,000 miles

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

Hard shifting transmission, stalling at cruising speeds, flashing dash lights. Transmission slippage.

- Holbrook, MA, USA

problem #28

Feb 122016

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 175,000 miles
"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 #27

May 152015

Maxima

  • 92,000 miles
Transmission slips and breaks motor mounts. Tore up the transmission and almost caused numerous wrecks. Slips from driving from the start. Isn't always slipping but when it does it's bad. Worse in street than on highway.

- Deer Park, TX, USA

problem #26

Apr 162013

Maxima

  • miles
Transmission skipping

- Alexandria, AL, USA

problem #25

Nov 012015

Maxima

  • miles

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

I've noticed way too many complaints about 2005 Nissan Maxima having transmission. Issues around 125K miles. Whenever I shift to reverse, drive, first, second, or third there is a delay and loud thud. I've seen way too many people having the same issue and the fact that there hasn't been a recall is a shame. Someone needs to do something. Anyone?

- Lakewood, OH, USA

problem #24

Mar 262015

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 105,000 miles
Today is March 26, 2015 and for the past week; my car has been stalling when I am shifting gears. Today I was in a not safe situation at a red light. When I shifted the gears to my car to begin driving, the car stalled on me allowing me to only drive around 5-10 mph down the street. I had to hurry up and pull over because I had cars behind me.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #23

Aug 032014

Maxima

  • 130,000 miles
I have had my 2005 Nissan Maxima for about 5 months now. For the past three months it's has been extremely hazardous. It turns off while I'm driving it and I lose all power power steering, brakes, etc. I almost drove into the river yesterday because it shut off going around a turn and I was almost rear ended. My car starts acting up after it warms up about 5 minutes after start. It will shift very hard and is fine once it is past 3rd gear but it takes a while to get to third when it starts to mess up the rpms will go up to 4 and 5 through 1st and 2nd gear. When you're going downhill it will downshift like you slammed on the brakes. Also if you switch over to manual it will say you're in 5th gear and really you're in 1st. The service engine diagnosis reads a code for the cam shaft sensors. I have changed both of them bank 1 and bank 2 and it did not fix anything. Nissan has failed to do anything and it's happening to a ton of cars. If I'm on the highway and my car shuts off, it not going to be a good situation. If you take it to Nissan they try to get you to buy a new transmission. I have a two year old and the jerking of the car or anything for that matter is not safe for her or anyone else on the road. Thank you for taking your time to review this, I appreciate it.

- New Philadelphia, OH, USA

problem #22

Jun 102014

Maxima

  • miles
When I brought my car after 2-3 months I had transmission problems, I took it to the Nissan dealership to get it fix. After, a couple of weeks I still was having problems with the car, I took it back they said, it wasn't nothing wrong with it. Then my air condition went out, it was my air compressor took it in to the Nissan dealership to get it fix, after, a week or two it went out again took it back to the dealership to get it looked at I was told it needed a part ( some type of clip ). June 10, 2014 my car was on fire in my garage while I was sleeping. When I woke up that morning my headlights were flashing off and on. When I open the door my window was full of sut and my windshield was cracked. When I open the car door on the driver side the dash board and under the dashboard was melted, the odometer and the fuse box (everything on the driver side was melted ).you can smelled the smoke, that it was on fire. The fire department was called out just in case it sparked back up. Under the hood was not damage. I have pictures of damages. They had to push the car out of the garage it wouldn't go into gear. The results was it started from the fuse box. My car was totaled out by my insurance adjuster. I feel this matter need to be looked into and something need to be done about this situation. This is a serious situation that need to be looked into before it happen to someone else.

- Apopka, FL, USA

problem #21

Oct 012014

Maxima

  • 37,000 miles
The ABS system is defective based upon Nissan manufacturers bulletin regarding Maxima's years 2004, 2005, 2006. The requirement of Nissan to replace 2-rear wheel hubs $444.10, 2-rear ABS wheel sensors $627.20, and possibly the ABS actuator-assy $1306.51 all due to the technical fact that water accumulates in the wheel hubs and causes failure of the sensors & ABS actuator assy to properly engage the ABS computer ( actuator), causing the ABS computer to continually turn on it's pump motor making the vehicle be unstable and not stop evenly. I'm advised by Nissan service the effect of the actuator continually running will cause it to burn out prematurely but Nissan is requiring the customer to make the repairs at their own expense even though this issue has been apparent in 2004, 2005, 2006. The inherent danger to myself as the owner, passengers, pedestrians, other vehicles is of paramount concern in consideration of operating this vehicle.

- Glendale, NY, USA

problem #20

May 292014

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 107,142 miles
I drive the car and it is hard to shift gears. When I put the car in drive it jerks very hard. Called the dealership and it was said by the dealership that it is not the transmission but instead it was the motor mounts that were the problem. Once the motor mount was fixed, the problem still persist. I call the dealer back and they have yet to give me a response. When driving, in between 1st and 2nd gear it shift to the 4th or 5th gear causing the car to jerk forward if suddenly accelerated. Complicated situation.

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #19

May 192014

Maxima

  • 76,000 miles
The transmission is doing hard shifts and I fear it is going to fail. Also the throttle position sensor is giving me problems too.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #18

Apr 082013

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 116,000 miles
While driving the car in town the car started jerking erratically, launching forward, hard jerks, car shaking like crazy, smell burning smell in the car, I almost hit other cars due to my car jerking forward. I was frightened... the car is very unsafe to drive to say the very least. It doesn't matter what speed you are driving, it jerks and launches forward at will. My children could have got seriously hurt riding in this car. I paid close to $800 toget this car fixed in may of 2013, only to have it all happen all over again as the Nissan corporation knew of defective transmissions in the Nissan maxiamas. Yet, they continue to sell these "death traps", to citizens.. this is an atrocity, what the Nissan corporation has to done it's consumers.

- Erie, PA, USA

problem #17

Mar 152013

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
I was driving on the freeway and went to go and apply my brakes. At this time my dashboard lights lit up with an ABS and brake light being illuminated. I talked to Firestone and told them the issue as I was out of town. They told me to bring it in and they would run a quick diagnostic. I did and they found it to be a known issue at Nissan. I took it to the dealer as there is a tsb on the vehicle for this issue. They told me they would have to change the ABS sensor and possibly the wheelhub, if all was done I would be out about $3000. I asked the dealer what issues could arise and they told me my brakes could lock up when driving. I find this to be unacceptable, especially if driving down the freeway at 70 with a big truck following. I got in touch with Nissan Consumer Affairs and they did some research, but came back with the would not help with any repairs. I have been following numerous complaints online about the same issue with the 2004-2006 Nissan Maxima. For some people this has gone on too long with Nissan not wanting to help out. A recall should be done before someone gets seriously hurt or killed.

- Wauwatosa, WI, USA

problem #16

Jul 072012

Maxima

  • 79,562 miles
Car revs up on its own, also slips when accelerating I parked the car and gear would slam when shift from park to drive, reverse and whenever shifted told it is due to a bad body valve which is a very common problem for the 2004 thru 2006 Nissan Maxima and other Nissan models.

- Bronx, NY, USA

Read the next 15 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?