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:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,983 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #32

Dec 032018

Maxima

  • 125,000 miles

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

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 #31

Sep 262018

Maxima

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. While driving 40 mph up a hill, the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, the engine revved, the vehicle switched gears, and the vehicle began moving in reverse. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The contact was able to coast the vehicle to a parking lot where it stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was not towed, diagnosed, or repaired. The dealer was not notified. The manufacturer was notified and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The contact was referred to NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Blakeslee, PA, USA

problem #30

Aug 082018

Maxima

  • 170,000 miles
The 2005 Nissan Maxima has a terrible transmission. Problems shifting gears and when trying to accelerate it wont shift out of gears to go faster. Such as if I stop at a stop light or stop sign and then try to go again it accelerates very (5mph). Also when shifting into drive, it does this loud banging jerk that jerks the entire car. Was told transmission is slipping. There are thousands of other complaints for the nissian Maxima transmission and needs to be a recall on the transmission. Car is only 13 years old.

- Jackson, MS, USA

problem #29

Feb 232017

Maxima

  • 40 miles

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

Harsh shifting, jerking, lots shift slippage. Actually slowed down on the highway. Diagnosis returned as failed transmission assembly and cost $4,100 to repair.

- Waynesboro, GA, USA

problem #28

Dec 102016

Maxima

  • 101,000 miles
At 101,000 miles transmission cut out. Gears not changing. Jerking movement when accelerating. In motion or stationary

- Riverdale, GA, USA

problem #27

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 #26

Jul 042016

Maxima

  • 164,365 miles

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

Driving home with car on cruise control and vehicle on its on Accord revved the rpms over 5000 and then we heard a metal clinking and listed all power.

- Lexington, SC, USA

problem #25

Apr 162013

Maxima

  • miles
Transmission skipping

- Alexandria, AL, USA

problem #24

Apr 012016

Maxima

  • miles
Nissan asked me to pay a diagnostic fee of 190$ and then they say entire transmission to be replaced Nissan Consumer Affairs is not helpful as well worst company

- Union City, NJ, USA

problem #23

Dec 152014

Maxima

  • 200,000 miles
Bought the car used in 2013 with 120,000 miles on it. The car has overheated several times since we bought it, but we were able to control it and keep it from causing any issues. Suddenly, when I was shifting from park to reverse the car jerked extremely hard, while driving the car hesitates to accelerate, and has a high RPM reading when shifting gears. After researching this issue, I have come across no fewer than 30 complaints of the same problems with this make/model/year.

- Whitmire, SC, USA

problem #22

Sep 152014

Maxima

  • 104,455 miles

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

Car jerks when acceleration and deceleration reaches appx 20 mph.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #21

Aug 082014

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 154,008 miles
Automatic transmission:1) when you shift from park to drive the car does not engage at first then suddenly engages and accelerates very quickly. 2) hard jerking shifting from 1st to 2nd and from 2nd to 1st. 3) when de-accelerating from a higher gear transmission disengages then engages hard. 4) the car intermittently does this going a day or two performing normally.

- Hickory Flat, MS, 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

Feb 282014

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 150,000 miles
Transmission problems. The car has a hard jerk when putting into gear. Sometimes while driving there is a delay in the shift change causing the vehicle to idle hard.

- Halifax, VA, USA

problem #18

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 #17

Dec 192013

Maxima 6-cyl

  • miles
2005 Nissan Maxima SE, transmission problems. Sometimes shifts violently, when in reverse & jumps from 2 to 3 gear, almost like being rear ended, also revs up to 5 or 6 RPM on the tact without foot on pedal, and looses power. I took it to a Nissan dealer who told me I needed a new transmission for $4000 and because of the shifting the motor mounts also need replaced. One time the car will drive fine then the next all the problems are back. I have looked on several Nissan web sites for complaints on this car, there are hundreds of people with the exact 2005 Nissan Maxima SE transmission problem, why Nissan does not look into a recall on this car is unbelievable. There is no way several hundreds of people can be having the very same problem and it not being because of the car. This defect in this car is extremely dangerous. Please look into this before someone gets seriously hurt or killed. Look for yourself and see how many people are demanding Nissan recall the 2005 Nissan Maxima SE.

- Nevada, MO, USA

problem #16

May 122010

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 78,000 miles
I have a 2005 Maxima and I am having very bad transmission issues. When I take off it jerks real bad between 1st and 2nd gear and then when I am slowing down about to come to a stop it also kicks and jerks real bad when it gears down to 1st and 2nd. And sometimes it just wont go at all..and then when I sit there a min and put my car from park to drive it hesitates for at least 7 to 10 secs. And then jumps real bad and then goes into drive.it usually does all this when the car is hot.

- Birmingham, AL, USA

problem #15

Nov 012012

Maxima

  • 74,000 miles
I have had problems with this car since I purchased it. I bought the car as a used car with about 72,000 miles on it when I bought. About a month after the car started to drive differently. I noticed that the car would start to jerk when accelerating. The car jerks really bad when the RPM goes between the number 2 & 3. there are times where I can be pushing all the way down on my gas pedal and the car takes forever to accelerate. After purchasing the car I read reviews online that show a lot of people have these issues. I took my car to two different transmission shops that specialize in transmission and they refused to even work on the transmission because there are so many problems they can't guarantee there work. I feel that this is a major safety issue because if anyone was to pull out and the car won't accelerate or you pull out to oncoming traffic and your car starts to go then stops and jerks before shifting into gear can cause a serious accident. I hear about recalls for all kinds of other problems so I don't understand how Nissan hasn't gotten in trouble for making these horrible cars.

- Hampton, VA, USA

problem #14

Sep 052012

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 105,000 miles
This Nissan has been having issues where it jerks from reverse to drive, upshifting from first to second, and second to third. The vehicle also jerks when down shifting from third to second, second to first and first to park is delayed in shifting. This issue is a safety concern due to affecting the ability to stop the vehicle as the vehicle specifications indicate stopping distance for the vehicle should be. The issue is highly unpredictable as to the severity of the jerk the car will experience which has been known to cause the vehicle to either not stop or slide in inclement weather such as snow.

- Elizabeth, CO, USA

problem #13

Aug 072012

Maxima

  • 94,800 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact was driving 10 mph when the vehicle began to lunge forward abnormally. The failure recurred as the contact drove at higher speeds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis where the contact was informed that there was a manufacturing defect. The contact was not aware of the specified defect. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 94,800.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

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