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 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
5 / 0
Average Mileage:
83,971 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2005 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments

problem #14

Jul 012022

Maxima

  • 107,000 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 that the power steering would fail to operate. The steering wheel would require excessive force in order to steer the vehicle. The contact would frequently replenish the steering fluid however, the failure persisted. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000

- Wylie, TX, USA

problem #13

Sep 182017

Maxima

  • miles
Power steering gear

- Boonville, MO, USA

problem #12

Aug 132016

Maxima

  • 101,000 miles
While driving my 2005 Nissan Maxima the gears slip and jump into gear with a violent jerk that is affecting my driving and may cause me to lose control of the car and possible injury myself or others. There is a transmission issue with the valve body that is causing this violent shifting and it seems that I am not the only one that has this issue. It is disgrace that the NHTSA had done nothing to address this wide spread issue, must people die first so it does get addressed. I will also contact my state representative to report the issue. I opened up a case with Nissan Consumer Affairs with no luck or admittance of their failed component. Nissan dealership diagnosed transmission with a P0726 code and had an open technical bulletin ntb11'035 which is acknowledgement of Nissan failed design of the transmission valve body. Nissan has quoted me over $2500 to repair their failed design component.

- Milford Ct, CT, USA

problem #11

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 #10

Sep 272015

Maxima

  • 170,000 miles
Prior to incident car was shifting really hard and slipping gears. Once when driving, car suddenly went into a safety mode not letting it shift out of 5th gear. Going down hill caused the engine to stall because of being in 5th gear and car engine turned off, as well as power steering and braking. Had it been on a busy road a crash would have occurred.

- Millersburg, OH, USA

problem #9

Jul 142014

Maxima

  • 71,000 miles
I recently bought a 2005 Nissan Maxima from carmax it was about a month after I bought the car the transmission started to slip and change gears really rough. The transmission hesitates when changing gears either at idle or while driving the transmission does it the most between first and second and second to third and when downshifting in those same gears. My main concern is my family in this vehicle or any other families in the same vehicle when we are driving in the vehice our heads and necks get whipped back and forth very roughly. It is a safety hazard due to the transmission changing gears on its own while im driving the car. I only ask for you to please look into this and make it a recall. Nissan did not want to help me out or anyone else. I have seen numerous complaints and heard numerous stories about this problem. It needs to be resolved. Nissan put out a poor product and wont fix it. They need to own up to their mistake, before someone gets injured or dies. I ask of you please look into this. Not only for my safety or my infant's safety but for anyone who owns this vehicle. Ps. if I would have known about this issue before I bought the car I would have never gotten it. Pps. The test drive and the 1st month were fine until normal driving conditions occurred. Please help, please help! get this recall active! thanks, frank

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #8

Mar 282014

Maxima

  • 109,000 miles

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

I am having a transmission issue that cant seem to be figured out. I am experiencing a hard jerk when I shift gears from 1st-2nd gear. It wont happen for days but all of a sudden it will comeback. For some reason no one can tell me what's wrong but there seems to be lots of reports and complaints about the problem on 2004-early 2005 model Nissan Maximas. I love the car but Nissan needs to be made aware of this issue.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #7

Jan 012014

Maxima

  • miles
When turning in burger king drive thru turning the vehicle the drive shaft something in it broke and the wheels wouldn't turn. We would turn the steering wheel snd it wou ld just sound like popping sound. If I would have been driving down the highway it could have killed me.

- Darien , GA, USA

problem #6

Jul 132012

Maxima

  • 97,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact was traveling 20 mph when the vehicle started to jerk abnormally. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired and the VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 97,000 and the current mileage was 97,941.

- Meridan, MS, USA

problem #5

Apr 042012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • miles
I recently purchased an 05 Maxima with 107,000 miles on it. The next day I heard a loud ticking from engine. My tensioners are failing an estimated $2000 repair. In the same day upon acceleration my wheel jerked violently, a sign of a failing transmission. $3000+ this is ridiculous. This is absolutely criminal that a recall has not been initiated by Nissan.this is a problem for thousands of people, and a severe risk to the safety of the driver. I will be contacting every available newspaper and news Agency in my area and will try to contact national news agencies this is absolutely atrocious. I beg other Nissan owners to make this a problem for Nissan that wont go away until proper actions are taken.

- Dillsboro, IN, USA

problem #4

Nov 302011

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles

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

Bought car brand new 9/2005. Car was serviced multiple times and even a Nissan engineer tested steering and suspension. When speed is at 60 mpr, steering wheel shakes. New tires were put on by dealership several times, also. Engineer stated that car was supposed to do that. Well now my car's transmission is acting up. Please note that steering wheel still shakes, too. I did a google search and see that numerous people are having the same issue. This car has to be a lemon. I will be contacting Nissan North America to file a complaint also and request that they repair my car.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #3

Nov 302011

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 130,000 miles
Bought car brand new 9/2005. Car was serviced multiple times and even a Nissan engineer tested steering and suspension. When speed is at 60 mpr, steering wheel shakes. New tires were put on by dealership several times, also. Engineer stated that car was supposed to do that. Well now my car's transmission is acting up. Please note that steering wheel still shakes, too. I did a google search and see that numerous people are having the same issue. This car has to be a lemon. I will be contacting Nissan North America to file a complaint also and request that they repair my car.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #2

Sep 012009

Maxima

  • 85,000 miles
My 2005 Nissan Maxima started having shifting problems when slowing. I would be coming to a stop sign and the transmission wouldn't jump out of gear and the car would free roll. Once stopped the car would jerk and try to take off while foot on brake. Now the transmission shifts very hard to the point to feels like im in an accident or the engine is coming through the hood. When I accelerate onto freeway from ramp im scared that I may get rear ended because the car just wont accelerate properly to get into lane safe. This occurs everyday particularly when car warms up and I then begin to smell electric burn or oil burn.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #1

Aug 042005

Maxima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 600 miles
Vibration in steering wheel & seats - have had back to dealer four times in three weeks - they've replaced wheel (out of round/bent), rotors/brakes and are now investigating tires - vibration occurs in & out at various speeds-looking at lemon law.

- Lancaster, OH, USA

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