2005 Nissan MAXIMA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
948 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 821 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 469 of 948 complaints (49.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 718 | 75.7% |
| Braking behavior | 67 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 59 | 6.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 26 | 2.7% |
| Steering behavior | 22 | 2.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 469 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 306 |
| Engine | 61 |
| Electrical System | 36 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 32 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 31 |
| Unknown Or Other | 27 |
| Structure:Body | 15 |
Power Train: 469; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 306; Engine: 61; Electrical System: 36; Vehicle Speed Control: 32; Engine And Engine Cooling: 31; Unknown Or Other: 27; Structure:Body: 15
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 37 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 42 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 198 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 310 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 201 |
| 150,000 and above | 33 |
Under 25,000: 37; 25,000 to 49,999: 42; 50,000 to 74,999: 198; 75,000 to 99,999: 310; 100,000 to 149,999: 201; 150,000 and above: 33
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (310). 127 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 23 |
| 2009 | 45 |
| 2010 | 137 |
| 2011 | 238 |
| 2012 | 149 |
| 2013 | 121 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 40 |
| 2016 | 42 |
| 2017 | 23 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 16; 2006: 11; 2007: 18; 2008: 23; 2009: 45; 2010: 137; 2011: 238; 2012: 149; 2013: 121; 2014: 65; 2015: 40; 2016: 42; 2017: 23; 2018: 6; 2019: 7; 2020: 2; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 718 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 67 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 59 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10109280 · 2005-01-31 (January 31, 2005)
THE VEHICLE WILL CRANK, BUT WOULD NOT START. WHILE DRIVING HOME THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. VEHICLE WAS INCHED INTO A PARKING LOT. TOWED THE NEXT DAY. THE IPDM MODULE WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE MODULE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER.*AK...A BRAND NEW DESIGN, AND CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A MAJOR FLAW IN DESIGN TO HAVE NO AUXILLIARY POWER OR WARNING WHEN THIS SHOULD OCCUR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 278 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110496 · 2005-02-14 (February 14, 2005)
I CALLED ON 1/31/05 AND FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT FOR MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM ANYONE AS YET AND I AM WONDERING HOW I NEED TO PROCEED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111997 · 2005-02-22 (February 22, 2005)
THE STEERING WHEEL MOVES WHEN THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE REMOTE CONTROL IS PRESSED. THIS OCCURS ON A RANDOM BASIS WHEN ONE INDIVIDUAL REMOTE CONTROL IS USED AND 100% OF THE TIME WHEN GOING BETWEEN ONE REMOTE TO THE OTHER. ON A RANDOM BASIS, DRIVER SEAT DOES NOT MOVE BACK WHEN EXITING VEHICLE AND THAT AREA OF THE EXIT FEATURE IS ENABLED. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS FOR THE MAXIMA EQUIPPED WITH THE MEMORY SEAT OPTION WHEN THE ENTRY/EXIT FEATURE IS ENABLED. EXTERIOR MIRRORS MOVE ON THEIR OWN WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. NISSAN HAS MADE 3 R…
Owner-reported narrative. 45 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10117729 · 2005-04-06 (April 6, 2005)
2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH SLOWING DOWN ONCE THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.*MR THERE IS A ONE SECOND DELAY FROM THE TIME THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED UNTIL THE ENGINE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER BUT THEY PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120858 · 2005-05-13 (May 13, 2005)
I PURCHASED A NISSAN MAXIMA SL AT THE START OF NOVEMBER 2004. A HARNESS INSIDE THE ENGINE CONTAINING A SENSOR TO DETECT ENGINE KNOCKS WAS DAMAGED BY A RODENT. THIS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BUCK, STOP SHIFTING, CHANGE SPEED OF THE CAR ON IT'S OWN,LOSE ACCELERATION, NOT SHIFT, SHIFT SUDDENLY AND PUT THE DRIVER IN A SITUATION WHERE IF THEY DID NOT COMPENSATE THEY COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR AND WORSENED OVER THE NEXT THREE THOUSAND MILES OF DRIVING. THE DEALER AND M…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10120858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121601 · 2005-05-19 (May 19, 2005)
PURCHASED 2005 MAXIMA AND HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME VIBRATING AND SHIMMYING PROBLEM THAT EVERYONE SEEMS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT. IF I HAD ONLY SEEN THIS WEBSITE BEFORE I BOUGHT ONE! THE DEALERSHIP TRIES THEY'RE BEST TO BLAME THE TIRES/WHEELS. THEY HAVE NOW PUT 5 SETS OF TIRE AND WHEELS ON MY BRAND NEW CAR...THE ONLY PERSON THERE THAT IS TRUTHFUL WAS THE SERVICE MANAGER. I TOOK HIM FOR A RIDE IN THE CAR AND FINALLY, HE SAID, THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR...THEY WISH NISSAN WOULD FIX IT. HE SAID MAYBE 1 OUT OF 25 PEOPL…
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121601 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122155 · 2005-05-25 (May 25, 2005)
PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA IN DECEMBER 2004. BY MARCH OF 2005, THE STRUT ASSEMBLIES (BOTH) HAD BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT OF NOISE IN THE STRUT ASSEMBLY BUT WAS REPAIRED TO NO AVAIL. MAY 25, 2005: NOISE IN THE FRONT END AGAIN. UPON INSPECTION FROM THE AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, IT WAS SAID THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM A FAULTY RACK AND PINION. PRIOR TO THIS (UPON CONCLUSION THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME), I ASKED NISSAN TO BUY BA…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10122155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125336 · 2005-06-15 (June 15, 2005)
STEEL BELT WIDEWALLS FAILED, ALL FOUR TIRES SIDEWALLS CRACK, SOME TO OPENING OF 3/8 INCHE. SOME ON INSIDE, SOME ON OUTSIDE , ONLY 28645 MILES ON TIRES WHEN NOTICED DUE TO HIGH SPEED WOBBEL
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125336 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V338000 · Child Seat:Latch Strap
Reported: 2005-07-26 (July 26, 2005)
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE LOWER ANCHORAGE BRACKETS IN THE REAR SEATS DO NOT MEET THE LOCATION REQUIREMENT IN THIS STANDARD. THIS MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN ATTACHING SOME CHILD SEATS TO THESE BRACKETS.
Consequence: IF A CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER ANCHORAGE BRACKETS WITH MODIFIED BRACKETS TO ENSURE THAT THE STANDARD IS MET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 28, 2006. THE INFINITI Q45 MODEL VEHICLES ARE BEING CAMPAIGNED UNDER A SEPARATE RECALL (PLEASE SEE 05V374000). OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V512000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
Reported: 2005-11-07 (November 7, 2005)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE DRIVER PREFERRED PACKAGE, THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT POWER LUMBAR SUPPORT SWITCH MAY BE ROUTED INCORRECTLY AND COULD BE PINCHED UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT.
Consequence: A PINCHED HARNESS, IN COMBINATION WITH DRIVING VIBRATION, MAY RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE HARNESS THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE IN THE SEAT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS AND ROUTE IT CORRECTLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 16, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗