Problems · by component

2004 Nissan Maxima service brakes, hydraulic problems

61 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Nissan Maxima cite service brakes, hydraulic, 4% of all 1,426 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
61
4% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2018Service brakes, hydraulic, EngineFire reportedODI 11094124
“I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW NISSAN MAXIMA 2004. AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 YEARS, IT HAS GIVEN NOTHING BUT HEADACHE AND STRESS. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR WOULD BE JERKING/SHAKING AFTER STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHILE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY, MY CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN AND COULDN'T DRIVE PASS 20 MILE PER HOUR, THEN ENGINE DIED. I HAD REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER ,SENSORS, MUFFLERS,BRAKES. AND THE PROBLEMS STILL HAVEN'T RESOLVED. AS OF TODAY, I DON'T HAVE A CAR, IT IS AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 23, 2013Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10536899
“WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS STOPPING. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE IS PULSING WHILE STOPPING. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WHO ALSO STATED IT IS A PROBLEM & THERE IS A BULLETIN REGARDING THE ABS SYSTEM. YET THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT. ONCE AGAIN NISSAN NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES. NISSAN IS TELLING ME THAT THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM CAN BE IN EXCESS OF $1500.00. THIS IS DISGRACEFUL. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A PROBLEM. I CANNOT WAIT TO GET RID OF MY NISSAN. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. I WILL ALSO BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH BBB, CONSUMER REPORTS, ALL AUTOMOBILE OUTLETS AND OF COURSE THE INTERNET. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2013Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10516200
“2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE (EQUIPPED WITH SIX SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION) COMPONENT FAIURE: CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER 1ST OCCURENCE - APRIL 2008 ~31,000 MILES SUDDEN TOTAL LOSS OF CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSURE RESULTING IN INABILITY TO PUT CAR INTO ANY GEAR WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS, EXPERIENCED TOTAL LOSS OF CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A BRIDGE, RESULTING IN EXTREME SAFETY CONCERNS TRYING TO GET OUT OF HARMS WAY. JAMMED CAR INTO GEAR WITHOUT PRESSURE CLUTCH RESULTED IN SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS OF CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES TO THE TRANSMISSION GEARS. NISSAN REPLACED THE FAILED CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $400.00. TRANSMISSION WAS FIXED BY NISSAN UNDER WARRANTY. 2ND OCCURENCE - MARCH 2013 ~58,000 MILES SUDDEN PARTIAL LOSS (1/2) OF CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSURE WHILE DRIVING HOME IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. NO LONGER CAN DRIVE CAR DUE TO SAFETY/RELIABILITY CONCERNS. IN BOTH OF THE OCCURENCES ABOVE, FULL CLUTCH PRESSURE RETURNED AFTER LETTING CAR SIT AND COLL DOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/2 HOUR. A SEARCH OF THE WE REVEALED THAT MANY DRIVES OF NISSAN'S OF THIS VINTAGE HAVE EXPERIENCED IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS OF CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSURE FAILURE.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 13, 2013Service brakes, hydraulic, EquipmentODI 10502643
“MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT A YEAR AGO, I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC SHOP TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. AND THEY TOLD ME I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE REAR WHEEL HUB AND THE ABS SENSOR SO I DID WHICH COST ME $800 DOLLARS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY GET A LOT OF MAXIMA IN THERE SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS A NISSAN MANUFACTURERS FLAW. SO MAKE THE LONG STORY SHORT AFTER I REPLACED THE HUB AND THE ABS SENSOR MY ABS LIGHT STILL STAYS ON AND NOW I NEED AND ABS CONTROL MODULE WHICH WENT BAD BECAUSE OF THE WHEEL HUB GETTING RUSTY. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2012Service brakes, hydraulic, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10444971
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE SYSTEM ACTIVATED ERRONEOUSLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 18, 2012Service brakes, hydraulicFire reportedODI 10444424

Showing 6 of 61 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.