Problems · NHTSA complaints
2005 Nissan Maxima problems
Owners filed 948 complaints about the 2005 Nissan Maxima with NHTSA between Jan 2005 and Mar 2025. The most-cited component is power train (777).
Complaints
948
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
16
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
29
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train777
- Engine61
- Engine and engine cooling40
- Electrical system38
- Vehicle speed control33
- Structure25
- Tires18
- Steering17
- Equipment14
- Service brakes, hydraulic14
- Suspension13
- Seats13
- Service brakes13
- Air bags9
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
16
11
18
23
45
137
238
149
121
65
40
42
23
6
7
2
2
1
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
777 reports8 crashes2 fires
“VEHICLE MAKES CLUNKING, JERKING NOISES AND BAD CLUNKING SOUNDS WHEN YOU PUT IT INTO GEAR OR SHIFT GEARS, DIGITAL GEAR DISPLAY SHOWS VEHICLE IS IN 5TH GEAR ALL THE TIME, ACCELERATES VERY SLOWLY.”
Engine
61 reports1 crash
“While driving my car down the road the vehicle randomly shut off lost power and I had to quickly pull into a plaza but was almost hit, looking through many different Nissan forums a lot of mechanics and owners are saying that the original crankshaft/camshaft position sensors on the Altima/maxima have experienced faulty mechanics over time that cause it to overheat and stop working and locking up the system completely. This is a huge problem as I can’t afford to fix this myself and it could have caused a serious accident this should be investigated due to other recalls on the Altima with the faulty sensors, the maxima 3.5 is also starting to experience these issues if you look through multiple forums and research the issue that’s happening. Please investigate this soon so that nobody gets seriously hurt.”
Engine and engine cooling
40 reports1 crash
“I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA BRAND NEW IN APRIL OF 2005. I PAID COLD HARD EARNED CASH ($35,000) FOR THIS CAR. WE REFINANCED OUR HOME TOO BUY AN RELIABLE, STURDY, DEPENDABLE, STYLISH, ROAD CAR (INSTEAD WE GOT A LEMON). I HAVE HAD MANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR. THE HEADLINER CONSTANTLY FALLING DOWN OVER MY HEAD WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SUNROOF OPEN, THE SUNROOF NOT OPENING AND CLOSING PROPERLY, THE O2 SENSORS GOING OUT CONSTANTLY, , THE BRACKETS BEING REPLACED, THE LEATHER SEATS LOOK AS IF I HAVE RAZOR BLADES ATTACHED TO MY BOTTOM SIDE, AND THE TRANSMISSION IS AWFUL!!! AT 65,000 MILES IT STARTED GOING OUT. THE LOCAL DEALER REPLACED THE TRANNY WITHOUT ADMITTING ANY FAULT ON NISSANS BEHALF. AT THE TIME WE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE TROUBLING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2004-2005 TRANSMISSIONS. THEY ONLY CHARGED US FOR THE LABOR COST. WE ACTUALLY THOUGHT "WOW, THEY ARE COOL"!! HERE WE ARE AT 157,000 MILES (ABOUT 70,000 LATER AND THE TRANNY IS:JERKING EXTREMELY HARD ( IT FEELS LIKE I AM BEING RAMMED FROM THE REAR BY A 18 TON SEMI-TRAILER) BETWEEN GOING INTO 1ST AND SECOND GEAR AND AGAIN BACK IN REVERSE FROM 2ND INTO 1ST GEAR. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN SO BAD THAT IS NOW HESITATING IN…”
Electrical system
38 reports1 crash5 fires
“MY CAR ONLY HAS 112337 MILE AND NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION , NOW AT 112954 HAVE TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE . THE TRANSMISSION WAS HARD SHIFTING/ JERKING WHEN YOU GET TO ABOUT 30-35 MPH . SO IT COST ALMOST 4,000.00 TO FIX AND THE THE SPEEDOMETER AND ODOMETER QUIT WORKING AFTER 500 MILES WITH NEW TRANSMISSION AND TOOK THE CAR TO ELECTRICAL SHOP TO FIND OUT I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL MODULE AND AFTER ALL THE MONEY PUT IN THIS CAR I DON'T THINK IT IS WORTH FIXING THE ABS CONSIDERING I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR IN OCT. 2018 AND THOUGHT I GOT A GREAT CAR AND ALREDY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY PUT IN IT AND COULD NEVER SELL IT FOR THE MONEY I HAVE IN IT NISSAN SHOULD BE FIXING THESE ISSUES NOT ME CONSIDERING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THESE CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AT THE SAME MILEAGE”
Vehicle speed control
33 reports1 crash
“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.”
Structure
25 reports1 crash1 fire
“THE CAR HAS A SOUND AS IF IT WERE METAL FATIGUE IN THE FRONT OF THE HOOD A HARD BLOW SOUNDS LOUD EVERY TIME THE CAR MOVES FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM THEY SAY WHAT IS A FACTORY DEFECT I AM AFRAID THAT IT IS A METAL THAT IS UNDER FATIGUE AND THE ENGINE FALLS ON THE GROUND RUNNING ON THE STREET.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.