2005 Nissan Maxima problems
Owners have filed 1,152 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Nissan Maxima. Drivetrain & axles is the most reported problem area, at 41% of complaints. After that come transmission (27%) and engine (9%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 1,152 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Drivetrain & axles 41% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 32 and 17
- Injuries and deaths
- 74 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 86,000 miles 984 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 46 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 18 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 72 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 251 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 290 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 157 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 78 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 24 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 35 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 12 |
What the data shows
Among the 984 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 86,000 miles. For drivetrain & axles specifically, the median reported mileage is about 90,000 miles (418 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 32 complaints mention a crash; 17 complaints mention a fire; 74 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 30 model years of the Nissan Maxima with enough data (414 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
On June 6th. 2019 my 2005 nissan maxima struck a disabled vehicle left in the middle lane of the Long Island Expressway (a 3 laned highway). Although I was traveling at 60 mph when the collision occurred and struck the disabled vehicle from the rear, the passenger airbag never deployed. This resulted in the passenger receiving significantly more serious injuries than that of the driver (who's airbag did deploy).
"tamara inflators" seat belts didn't lock or light did not come on. Smashed body all the way to back seat bottom to ground. Engine was idling very high felt/sound as if we were going 60 but only was going 40. No air bags came on. Brakes grinding. Back window blew out and tires flat in back.. Windows slow on drivers side. When the sheriff tahoe hit us at 80MPH on u.s.
Tl*the contact owns 2005 nissan maxima. The transmission failed when the gear was shifted from park to drive and slipped into third or fourth gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer numerous times for the failure. The dealer stated that it could have been a miscommunication with the computerized system. None of the parts were replaced. The manufacturer stated that they would not assist with the repairs. The VIN information wasn't available. The failure mileage was 62,000 and the current mileage was 72,000.
My 2005 nissan maxima has severe transmission problems. The gears jerk very hard and slips. I've had the transmission fluid changed,nothing has helped.