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:
4 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
86,782 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 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2005 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments (Page 16 of 24)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #169

Aug 072012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 85,000 miles

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

Transmission slips, jerks and goes in and out of gear while driving. Shifts hard in the lower gears after it warms up, slips and engine reving during shifts, slamming hard when slowing down, and delays when placing in gear.

- Holbrook, NY, USA

problem #168

Mar 072012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 107,000 miles
When beginning to accelerate, transmission slipped. Issue worsened when accelerating or decelerating rapidly. Fluids changed regularly. Problem was intermittent at first. Has now become recurring. Upon review, it appears to be wide spread throughout the 2005 and 2006 year model with the aisin re5F22A 5 speed automatic transmission.

- Goodlettsville, TN, USA

problem #167

Aug 012012

Maxima

  • 78,000 miles
Hello : I am having problems when I shift into and out of gear. There's a big clunk sound, it goes and comes. I love Nissan I had 3 in my life and this is my fourth and by far the worse one so far please recall this problem ppl don't have the time nor money to spend on a problem that should have been fixed.

- Windsor , CT, USA

problem #166

Jul 312012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 96,100 miles

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

Experienced hard jerky shifts while driving and when shifting between drive and reverse gears.

- Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

problem #165

Jun 012009

Maxima

  • 85,000 miles
Transmission jerky and slipping despite being well maintained. Stalled in middle of intersection and other times making unsafe. Transmission replaced. 50,000 miles later, same exact problem. Transmission must be replaced. Unsafe car to drive. Must be defective design.

- Dalton, GA, USA

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problem #164

Jul 102012

Maxima

  • 134,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving 65 mph the vehicle jerked before stalling. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the dealer performed a diagnostic test and confirmed there was a faulty transmission that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not drivable. The failure mileage was 134,000.

- Columbus, OH, USA

problem #163

Jan 242012

Maxima

  • 90,000 miles

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

I bought 05 Nissan Maxima 3 years ago!! it start having transmission problems when I was under warranty I took the car back to Nissan dealership they said its motor mount problem!! I got new motor mounts and nothing happened! having the same problem as I got out of the warranty I went back to Nissan dealership for same problem and they said its transmission problem that it jerks going from 2nd to 3rd gear and same when going back from 3rd to 2nd gear!! dealer said it would cost $3500 to fix it!!! I called corporate office with the problem they said after 3 days that they cant help bc its out of warranty! I still owe $5000 on the car and making payments I cant afford to get the transmission replaced!!

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #162

Dec 202011

Maxima

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact was driving approximately 30 mph when the transmission began to slip out of gear. The failure recurred whenever the vehicle was in operation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the recurring failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000....updated 08-03-12

- Clovis, CA, USA

problem #161

Jun 122012

Maxima

  • 89,000 miles
The contact owns 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the vehicle experienced a very hard jerk while shifting into the next gear. The contact also stated that the vehicle sometimes experienced difficulty starting. The dealer was notified and stated that there were no recalls or warranties covering the failure. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the contact should take the vehicle to a dealer for a diagnosis. The failure mileage was 89,000.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #160

May 062012

Maxima

  • 92,000 miles
The contact owns 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly shifted in and out of gear, especially third gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 92,000.

- Mint Hill, NC, USA

problem #159

Feb 012012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 74,300 miles

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

Transmission is slipping, especially at low speeds and when putting car into or out of reverse. When the transmission slips out of drive the engine revs and there is a sudden jerk. The car also jerks whenever switching from reverse to drive. The transmission failures are becoming more frequent. The car has 70K+ miles and research shows that transmission failure is a common problem with this car at this mileage.

- Burbank, CA, USA

problem #158

Mar 252012

Maxima

  • 119,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact was driving 30 mph when the vehicle jerked while changing gears. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic. The mechanic stated that there was a problem with the transmission. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 119,000 and the current mileage was 120,200.

- Garden Grove, CA, USA

problem #157

Mar 012012

Maxima

  • 130,000 miles
Vehicle started shaking/jerking when pressing breaks for a red light, continued shaking/jerking as I was pressing on the break. Shaking and loud noise when car is turned on, jerking of gears as I am driving on freeway, seems to jump gears and takes a long time to catch itself on automatic gear changes. Have had this car since brand new and has given all kids of problems. For the last few years I've invested too much on repairs and replacement of parts that had no reason to fail. I expected this car to be a dependable and reliable vehicle based on the reputation of the maker. Love the internal features of comfort and luxury but this car fails where it counts....the transmission and under the hood workings. ---I read other complaints about a foul odor in the car... I have recently experienced that strange/stinky odor in my car and thought it was milk or food my kids left in the car...I tend to have my car very clean and after a thorough inspection haven't been able to identify the source of the odor...after reading the other entries I can say it comes from the car itself as other's are experiencing the same thing.

- Lancaster, CA, USA

problem #156

Jun 152012

Maxima

  • 79,000 miles
My 2005 Nissan Maxima's automatic transmission is jerking when shifting into reverse. The transmission also is not switching to the proper gear when going from a stopped to an accelerated movement.

- Baton Rouge , LA, USA

problem #155

Jun 162012

Maxima

  • 108,000 miles
While entering highway from side road, transmission halted as though stuck in overdrive. I accelerated, but the engine just would not go. A truck had to brake hard to avoid collision. After a few seconds the car started to accelerate like a standard transmission had bee started in 4th or 5th gear. I have gone online to forums to see that Nissan has been having this same problem for sometime. These cars need to be recalled to check for this latent defect that can result in someone getting killed.

- Longwood, FL, USA

problem #154

Oct 262010

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 120,000 miles
I bought this 2005 Maxima used and not long after I bought it, the transmission would lag in the shifting then when it shifted into gear it would lurch. (feels like being kicked by a mule.) it happens on & off but has become more frequent especially in bumper to bumper traffic. There's also a foul smell noted when this happens like rotten eggs. I read reviews that confirmed my suspicions about the transmission. Of course every time it has been checked out it wouldn't do it, and no computer check showed anything. Nissan is aware of this problem, there really needs to be a recall on these transmission never buy another Nissan again, and that's just sad because that's all I have ever owned.

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #153

May 122012

Maxima

  • 100,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated the transmission failed in second gear. Whenever the vehicle was shifted from second to first gear, there was a loud noise before shifting. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who inspected the failure and advised that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was also contacted who advised that a regional representative would be contacted for further assistance. The vehicle was not repaired.the failure mileage was 100,000.

- English Town, NJ, USA

problem #152

Jun 012011

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
Slam shifting into reverse and drive, intermittent rev limitations, high revs with no transmission engagement, stall & rough idle, feels like someone slams into the back of me when I come to a stop, car revs up and then hard jerks forward very dangerous to drive, Nissan refuses to acknowledge there is a problem with the cvt transmission and someone is going to be killed.

- Lakeside, CA, USA

problem #151

Jun 102012

Maxima

  • 68,000 miles
Transmission jerked hard and car turned off. The tranny no longer engages into drive and literally jumps into reverse.

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #150

May 152012

Maxima

  • miles
I bought a 2005 Nissan Maxima about a year ago and the past couple of months (just right over 100K miles), I have noticed major jerking and pulling while driving or shifting gears. It is an automatic, but when I start to go, it takes it a few seconds to get in gear and jerks. I have heard many others have the same issue with 2004-2005 models. Are there any recalls as of yet? I have always heard great things about Maximas and do not want to have to replace my transmission, especially this early on! please help! thank you!

- Kingston, TN, USA

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