2005 NISSAN MAXIMA Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Maxima. This model year has 948 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Transmission / Drivetrain.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2005 Nissan Maxima Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Transmission / Drivetrain
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
Considering a 2005 Nissan Maxima?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Nissan Maxima. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 777 | 8 | 2 | — | |
| Engine Problems | 101 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 38 | 1 | 5 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 33 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 28 | 3 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 27 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 25 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Tire Issues | 18 | 2 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 17 | 1 | — | — | |
| Equipment | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 14 | 1 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 13 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 13 | 1 | 6 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 9 | 6 | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Door Lock Issues | 8 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Traction Control System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Child Seat | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electric | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2005 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 948 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
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 t…
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 de…
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the power steering would fail to operate. The steering wheel would require excessive force in order to steer the vehicle. The contact would frequently replenish the steering fluid however, the failure persisted. The d…
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.
I HAVE AN 05 NISSAN MAXIMA AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD AND ERRATICALLY
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 …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 20005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT BEGAN SMOKING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT JUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE AUTHORITIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AS THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN …
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 W…
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 …
THIS DANGER OF WHICH I COMPLAIN IS NOT ABSOLUTE TO MY VEHICLE BUT TO ALL OTHERS THAT ARE MADE WITH SUCH SHORTCUT. IN PREVIOUS DECADES CARS WERE MADE WITH A TRUNK KEY AND OR MECHANICAL CABLE FOR OPENING. MY 2005 MAXIMA AND MOST RECENT VEHICLES ARE MADE WITH ONLY AN ELECTRONIC BUT…
INDICATOR LIGHT IN VEHICLE SAYS PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS NOT WORKING.
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…
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE... CV TRANSMISSION COULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. CV TRANSMISSION COULD HESITATE IN SHIFTING TO NEXT OR PREVIOUS GEAR. THIS CAN CAUSE HARD, VIOLENT SHIFTING TO OCCUR WHICH COULD SERIOUSLY DAMAGE THE VEHICLE AND RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
HAVING DIFFICULTY FILLING UP GAS TANK I NOTICED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE GAS TANK, THE GAS PUMP KEPT SHUTTING OFF. I WAS SENT A NOTICE FOR FREE REPAIR BUT CANT FINE NOTICE PLEASE SEND ME ANOTHER ONE.
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 …
JUST AFTER 100K MILES THE CAR STARTED TO JERK FROM R TO D AND SLOWLY PROGRESSED INTO FULL BLOWN SLIPPING, RPMS SHOOT THROUGH THE ROOF WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIP AND SLAM INTO GEAR AT WHATEVER SPEED I'M GOING WHICH SOMETIMES CAUSE THE CAR TO BE UNCONTROLLABLE. I'VE SEEN…
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON FLASHING PERIODICALLY OVER A WEEKS TIME, SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, NEXT DAY THE PARKED CAR '5 HOURS COLD' CAUGHT ON FIRE AROUND FUSE BOX AREA EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL BURNED UP. POLICE REPORT WAS DONE BUT I DO NOT HAVE A COPY, STILL WAITING ON FIRE MA…
THE 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS A TERRIBLE TRANSMISSION. PROBLEMS SHIFTING GEARS AND WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE IT WONT SHIFT OUT OF GEARS TO GO FASTER. SUCH AS IF I STOP AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN AND THEN TRY TO GO AGAIN IT ACCELERATES VERY (5MPH). ALSO WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, IT…
I AM A FORENSIC CONSULTANT THAT HAS EXAMINED THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WHICH WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS FRONTAL COLLISION WITH AN APPROXIMATE 32 MPH LONGITUDINAL DELTA V. THE DRIVER WAS PROPERLY SAFETY BELTED BUT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AFFECTING …
SUDDEN SURGES AND JOLTING WHEN TRYING TO PARK CAR EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2005 Nissan Maxima.
Recalls for 2005 Nissan Maxima
2 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2005 Nissan Maxima. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2005 Nissan Maxima — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2005 Nissan Maxima reliable?▾
Notable Issues. The 2005 Nissan Maxima has 948 NHTSA owner complaints, 16 crash-related, and 2 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Transmission / Drivetrain (777 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Maxima?▾
#1: Transmission / Drivetrain (777 complaints). #2: Engine Problems (101 complaints). #3: Electrical Faults (38 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2005 Nissan Maxima?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2005 Nissan Maxima?▾
The 2005 Nissan Maxima has 16 crash-related complaints and 10 fire reports out of 948 total NHTSA complaints. 29 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2005 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?▾
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2005 Nissan Maxima. The largest issue: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2005 Nissan Maxima?▾
The 2005 Nissan Maxima has notable issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Transmission / Drivetrain issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Maxima reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2005 Nissan Maxima
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.