2004 Nissan Maxima

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 1,425 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

1,185 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles; the median is 80,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission588
924
Power Train289
204
Tires › Sidewall74
202
Tires39
102
Engine36
120
Engine and Engine Cooling28
000
Electrical System28
060
Structure › Body23
000
Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut22
000
Suspension22
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust05V512000
Filed Nov 7, 2005102,551 vehiclesNissan North America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly04V326000
Filed Jul 7, 200432,100 vehiclesNissan North America, Inc.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SKYVIEW ROOFS, THE GLASS FOR THE ROOF MAY NOT HAVE BEEN QUENCHED PROPERLY AFTER THE FORMING PROCESS, RESULTING IN TEMPER IMBALANCE.

Risk. THIS COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL STRESS IN THE GLASS AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER, CREATING A RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE GLASS IN THE SKYVIEW ROOF. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility
Filed Mar 28, 2025165,000 milesNY

The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormally loud popping sound, and the contact noticed that the sky view roof glass had shattered. The contact stated that pieces of shattered glass had fallen inside the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact had not sustained any injuries and resumed driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V326000 (Visibility). The failure mileage was 165,000.

Seats
Filed Apr 19, 2023HI

UNKNOWN - I recently purchased this vehicle today from a private seller on April 18, 2023. Previous owner had stated the driver seat adjuster motor(to move the seat forward and backwards) has never functioned properly and gets stuck in the far back position or rotates counterclockwise at times(while remaining in the far back position). This is a big safety issue for me as it is very difficult to reach the brake and gas pedals without compromising my field of vision whilst driving. I did a VIN check on vincheck.info and it comfirms a recall report for this specific seating problem for this vehicle's year, make, and model. As for everything else, it is unknown as I did just recently purchase the vehicle.

Electrical System
Filed Mar 21, 2021FL

04V326000 ONE OF THE RECALL NUMBER THE OTHER IS 05V512000 NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT I'VE CHANGED MY TIMING CHAIN ALSO ALREADY I ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER STATING IF I HAD TO REPLACE IT TO CONTACT NISSAN I BELIEVE I'M JUST GETTING THE RUN AROUND

Engine
Filed Mar 15, 202180,000 milesNY

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. TIMING CHAIN WAS BAD FROM DAY ONE. SPENT NEARLY 4000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. THEN TO LOOK UP ONLINE AND FIND OUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD PROBLEM. NOW A FEW YEARS LATER. SAME PROBLEM

Electrical System
Filed Dec 7, 202018,600 milesTX

FOR STARTERS I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THEN THE BATTERY AND THEN THE CRANKSHAFT SENOR AND THEN DORMAN THAT IS ON THE POSSESSIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY. AND IT DOESN'T WANT TO START STILL. NOW JUST MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME ON THIS.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 17, 2020167,000 milesDE

WHEN IT RAINS THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR HAS WATER IN THE DOOR AND SOAKS THE BACK FLOOR

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 10, 2020167,000 milesVA

CAR FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO RUSTING OF FLOORBOARDS ON DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. TURNS OUT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH MODEL YEARS 2002-2006. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE??

Structure › Body
Filed Nov 1, 2020120,000 milesNH

FRONT SUBFRAME COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT LOWER CONTROL ARM BECOME UNATTACHED, HAD TO REPAIR SUBFRAME AND ALL COMPONENTS, ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY RISK, MANY RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DON'T HAVE ONE FOR THIS VEHICLE

EngineCrash
Filed Jul 20, 202010 milesPA

ME AND MY BOYFRIEND WERE SOLD THIS CAR FOR 2500 AND THE CAR NEEDED A NEW BATTERY, A NEW CONVERTER . ONCE I BROUGHT THOSE ITEMS AND PUT THEM IN THE CAR STARTED HAVING COMPRESSION PROBLEMS TO THE POINT IT HAS A SLOW TAKE OFF , CANNOT GO UP HILLS , AND WE HAVE TO SHIFT GEARS JUST FOR IT TO MOVE .. THIS CAR WAS SOLD TO US LIKE THIS AND WE ALMOST FELL OFF A CLIFF BECAUSE OF THE COMPRESSION PROBLEM AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GO UP ANY HILLS .. THE PEOPLE WHO SOLD US THE CAR SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM OR REFUND OUR MONEY .

Structure › Body
Filed Mar 24, 2020103,000 milesVA

THE FLOOR BOARDS ON BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT HAVE RUSTED OUT. MOST OF THE OTHER METAL/ FLOORING HAS NOT RUSTED OUT LIKE IT HAS IN THESE TWO SPOTS. THE RUST DOES SEEM TO LEAD UP CLOSE TO THE SUB FRAME WHICH WORRIES ME OF THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRAME. THE FLOORING HAS RUSTED OUT TO THE FABRIC/INSULATION PORTION OF THE INTERIOR. ALSO OF CONCERN IS WHEN YOU ARE GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CAR THE FLOOR IS SO WEAK THAT YOUR FOOT/LEG COULD GO THROUGH IT. IN TIME YOUR FEET CAN AND WILL GO THROUGH THE FLOOR WITH OUT WARNING.

Electrical System
Filed Feb 3, 2020CA

THE BODY CONTROL MODULE KEEPS THE FRONT AND BACK LIGHTS FROM WORKING. THE TAIL LIGHTS ALSO NOT WORKING. THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS NOT WORKING COST FOR REPLACING WITH LABOR AND TAX IS OVER 1K IN CALIFORNIA. WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET TOWED HOME.

Power Train
Filed Jan 18, 202080,000 milesLA

WHEN IN MOTION THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO SLIP IN 1 AND 2 GEAR THEN 4 AND 5 GEAR JUMPS OUT OF GEAR THEN GOES IN TO LIMP MODE

Power Train
Filed Jun 23, 2019160,000 milesMO

CAR WAS FINE INITIALLY THEN STARTED CAR WHICH TOOK LONGER THAN NORMAL TO START AND CAR WOULD NOT HARDLY GO DUE TO IT NOT BEING IN 1ST GEAR. PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO MANUAL MODE AND DOWNSHIFTED IT TO FIRST AND GOT A HARD CLUNK BUT CAR WOULD NOW GO UNDER ITS OWN POWER BUT WHEN YOU PUT IT BACK IN AUTO MODE IT GOES STRAIGHT TO 3RD GEAR. SHUT CAR OFF CAME BACK LATER AND STARTED CAR IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND HAD NO ISSUES WITH TRANSMISSION. DROVE IT FOR A BIT TURNED CAR OFF FOR A BIT AND THEN WENT TO START AGAIN AND HAD THE LONG START AND BAD SHIFTS AGAIN.

Power Train
Filed May 16, 2019155,000 milesTX

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WIL LOSE POWER AND START JERKING BADLY, CUTTING BACK LIKE LOSING POWER. IT FEELS AS IF IT IS GOING TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I TOOK IT TO A WELL KNOW TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL NISSAN CARS INCLUDING MINE. THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS INCLUDING THE 2003 BUT NOT MY YEAR,I'M CONFUSED AND IT'S GETTING WORSE. BUT IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND. MY SAFETY IS WARRANTED???

Power Train
Filed Jan 21, 2019107,000 milesTX

WHENEVER I ACCELERATE AND THE SPEEDOMETER HITS 20 MPH THE TRANSMISSION JERKS OR IF I'M GOING 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY AND START TO BRAKE AND AS MY SPEED IS DECREASING WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER HITS 20 MPH IT JERKS. THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE SLIPPING OR HAVE AN ISSUE.

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 18, 201850,000 milesNY

THE FLOOR BOARDS RUSTED OUT ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES AND WE WERE NOT AWARE BECAUSE THE CARPET COVERED BUT YOU CAN FIT A FIST THROUGH EACH ONE! SHOULD NOT HAPPEN!!

Power Train
Filed May 23, 201814,000 milesCA

THESE TRANSMISSION SHOULD OF BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO I ALWAYS TEND TO FEEL A GEAR JUMP IN THE FIRST GEARS WHEN ABOUT TO START MOVING THE CAR OR BRAKING. THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHEN YOU SUDDENLY NEED TO MAKE A HARD STOP AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL MAKE A HUGE JUMP THEN STOP AND WITH THAT EXTRA TIME IT TAKES TO JUMP THEM STOP CAN BE A MINOR INJURY IF A PEDESTRIAN IS PRESENT OR EVEN DEATH.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone RingFire
Filed May 16, 201896,149 milesSC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AT THE CONTACT'S HOME, THE HOOD BLEW UP AND THE FRONT END BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE MAINTENANCE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO FIVE STAR NISSAN OF FLORENCE (311 N CASHUA DR, FLORENCE, SC 29501, 843-628-0032) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,149.

Power Train
Filed May 5, 2018150,000 milesVA

TRANSMISSION SLIPPING

Engine
Filed Mar 17, 2018CT

ON SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2018, IN THE MORNING AROUND A 11 AM, I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAXIMA AND IT STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND TURNED OFF. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START IT, BUT IT WOULDN'T HOLD THE IDLE AND TURNED OFF AGAIN. NO NISSAN DEALERSHIP OR REPAIR SHOP WAS OPEN SO I CALLED THE NEAREST PEP BOYS SHOP TO MY HOME AND THEY TOWED MY CAR TO THEIR REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID MY CAR WAS TOTALLY DEAD AND NEEDED A NEW BATTERY EVEN THOUGH MY BATTERY WASN'T THAT OLD. I PURCHASED A BATTERY, STILL WOULDN'T START. PEP BOYS THEN SAID I NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR, SO THAT WAS INSTALLED, STILL WOULDN'T START. THEY THEN SAID IT MUST BE THE ENGINE, SO THE NEXT DAY, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2018, IT WAS TOWED TO THE FAIRFIELD, CT NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY UNTIL I CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. AFTER 3 DAYS, OF CALLING THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR, BET, IN THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TAKEN OFF THE SIDE OF MY ENGINE AND TRIED TO MANUALLY TURN THE DRIVE SHAFT, BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN AND THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT IT WOULD COST ANYWHERE FROM $2,600.00 TO $3,600.00 TO REPAIR MY CAR. PLEASE HELP WITH START A CASE, I CAN'T AFFORD THIS. I'M IN SCHOOL FOR PARALEGAL STUDIES AND A CT LICENSED TAX PREPARER

20 of 1,425 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20231000Routine
20225010Routine
20213000Routine
202022100Routine
201918100Routine
201836210Routine
2017103420Routine
2016142840Routine
20151000Routine
201496010Routine
201362010Routine
2012107020Routine
2011106010Routine
2010275120Above average
2009339120Above average
200878000Routine
2007129110Routine
2006576240Above average
20059482100Above average
2004 — this page1,4252162Fatalities reported
2003206421Fatalities reported
2002205906Fatalities reported
2001172740Routine
2000360362Fatalities reported
1999165450Routine
19981136121Fatalities reported
19971026160Routine
199696530Routine
1995152550Routine
199489530Routine
199378640Routine
1992110530Routine
199176420Routine
1990106430Routine

Compare every Maxima year →

Reading this record

2 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 7, 2005. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.