Problems · by component

2005 Nissan Maxima engine problems

61 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Maxima cite engine, 6% of all 948 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
61
6% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 3, 2025Electrical system, EngineODI 11646032
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2021Power train, Electrical system, EngineODI 11406226
“VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND ALL OF A SUDDEN GEARS STARTED TO SHIFT ON ITS OWN , SO STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED OFF MY ENGINE THEN I TURNED IT BACK ON AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES AND IT WAS DRIVING WELL UNTIL AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE GEARS WOULDN'T GO PAST 2ND GEAR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2019EngineODI 11205400
“TL* 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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2018Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11139323
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE PROGRESSING FROM THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, BUT THERE WAS NO SERVICE CAMPAIGN OR MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO SOLUTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000...UPDATED 08/31/17 *BF *CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 14, 2017Electrical system, EngineODI 10995185
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER, BUT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL; THEREFORE, NOTHING COULD BE DONE. CASE NUMBER: 26278170 WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,376.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 2, 2017EngineODI 10983134

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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