FaultScore

2005 Nissan Maxima transmission problems

782 of the 1,152 complaints about the 2005 Nissan Maxima are about the transmission — 68% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 85,424 miles.

F

782

Complaints

8

Crashes

2

Fires

10

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Power Train 469 60.0%
Automatic Transmission 306 39.1%
Manual Transmission 6 0.8%
Axle Assembly 1 0.1%

Transmission & Drivetrain across every Nissan Maxima year

1990 11 0.5%
1991 11 0.5%
1995 12 0.5%
1996 13 0.5%
2000 22 0.9%
2002 14 0.6%
2004 942 39.6%
2005 782 32.9%
2006 397 16.7%
2007 16 0.7%
2009 11 0.5%
2010 15 0.6%
2011 22 0.9%
2012 18 0.8%
2013 24 1.0%
2014 21 0.9%
2016 33 1.4%
2017 12 0.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 120,000 miles Church Hill, TN

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11406226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 275,587 miles St.amant, LA

POWER TRAIN

I HAVE AN 05 NISSAN MAXIMA AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD AND ERRATICALLY

NHTSA complaint #11402506 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,500 miles Sabana Hoyos, PR

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11377303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 112,337 miles Littlestown, PA

POWER TRAIN

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

NHTSA complaint #11279650 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 125,000 miles Anchorage, AK

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11192878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Columbia, SC

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #11172452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,000 miles Jackson, MS

POWER TRAIN

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 DOES THIS LOUD BANGING JERK THAT JERKS THE ENTIRE CAR. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THE NISSIAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION AND NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION. CAR IS ONLY 13 YEARS OLD.

NHTSA complaint #11120805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 144,000 miles Murrieta, CA

POWER TRAIN

SUDDEN SURGES AND JOLTING WHEN TRYING TO PARK CAR EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE IS DEPRESSED

NHTSA complaint #11084870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 107,000 miles Bowling Green, KY

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #11053731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 72,000 miles Chaparral, NM

POWER TRAIN

CAR WOULD STAY IN 5TH GEAR WHEN TURNED. IT WOULD MOVE BUT AT SLOW RATE. NOW IT WILL MOVE ABOUT A 100 FEET THEN GEAR WONT ENGAGE. YOU CAN GIVE IT GAS BUT IT JUST WONT MOVE. ILL LET IT COOL DOWN AND IT MOVE AGAIN BUT WILL RESUME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #11032334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Houston, TX

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION FAILING DELAY IN GEAR SELECT FOLLOWED BY A HARD THUMP HARD SHIFTING AFTER 30MIN DID NOT EXPECT THIS FROM A CAR WITH 108K MILES WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

NHTSA complaint #11031450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 45,699 miles Spokane, WA

POWER TRAIN

SUDDEN TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 45,699 MILES ON MAXIMA 2005. PUT CAR IN REVERSE, BACKED OUT PUT IN DRIVE IT STALLED OUT. CAR DID NOT WANT TO START, I WAS IN MIDDLE OF STREET. CAR HAS NEVER EVER GIVEN ME ISSUES PRIOR. SUDDEN "SERVICE ENGINE" LIGHT, (NEVER ILLUMINATED BEFORE. PUT ACCELERATOR TO FLOOR TO START THEN CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE FORWARD, IT HAD NO 1, 2ND GEARS. DROVE IT OUT OF MIDDLE OF STREET. TOOK FOREVER TO GET TO 20MPH. PARKED CAR, STARTED EASIER IN THE MORNING BUT MADE HORRIBLE CLUNK WHEN PUT IN REVERSE. IT IS NOW AT REPAIR SHOP AND NOT SURE OF FULL DIAGNOSIS YET BUT TOLD WILL PROBABLY BEE A FULL TRANSMISSION REBUILD.

NHTSA complaint #10993038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Roswell, GA

POWER TRAIN

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER 100,000 MILES DUE TO SEVERE JERKING DURING SHIFTS BETWEEN LOW GEARS. THE WORST WOULD OFTEN BE SLOWING DOWN, AS IN APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC, THE KICK FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SLOWING (DOWN-SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 1ST) WOULD OFTEN CAUSE THE CAR TO NOSE-DOWN A BIT SUDDENLY, SUCH THAT DRIVERS BEHIND WOULD REACT AS IF I WERE MAKING A HARD STOP.

NHTSA complaint #10969991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,000 miles Amsterdam, MO

POWER TRAIN

WHEN DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES IT SHIFTS HARD LIKE THE TRANSMISSION ISN'T WANTING TO SHIFT RIGHT. AFTER READING ONLINE I FIND OUT THAT THIS YEAR OF MISSION IS KNOWN FOR SOME KIND OF FAULT IN THE TRANSMISSION! OTHER THEN THAT THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BUT AFRAID TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION BUT I CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND THE MONEY ON WHATEVER IS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION!

NHTSA complaint #10967088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles SAN Juan, PR

POWER TRAIN

I BOUGHT A NISSAN MAXIMA 2005 FROM A SECOND HAND AND LOOKS GREAT BUT ONE RIDING THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO MAKE A UFUL NOISE. ONCE I GOT HOME I TURNED OF THE ENGINE. THE NEXT DAY WHEN I START THE ENGINE AND SHIFTED TO DRIVE THE WOULDN'T MOVE. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I HAVE TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT IT'S TO EXPENSIVE. I HOPE YOU COULD HELP ME. THANK YOU

NHTSA complaint #10957732 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Steger, IL

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE DROVE ROUGHLY WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE OR BUMPY ROAD, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINTS ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES WERE RECENTLY REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10957700 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40 miles Waynesboro, GA

POWER TRAIN

HARSH SHIFTING, JERKING, LOTS SHIFT SLIPPAGE. ACTUALLY SLOWED DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY. DIAGNOSIS RETURNED AS FAILED TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY AND COST $4,100 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10956804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,000 miles Mukwonago, WI

POWER TRAIN

AROUND 103000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE ENGINE WOULD REV AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLAM INTO GEAR. I HAD A FLUID CHANGE DONE AND NOW NOT ONLY DOES IT SLIP ON ACCELERATION IT ALSO SLAMS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10956871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98 miles SAN Antonio, TX

POWER TRAIN

HARSH ENGAGEMENT AT REVERSE AND FORWARD GEARS. ERRATIC SHIFTING. AFTER START UP THE TRANSMISSION HAS A HARSH ENGAGEMENT IN REVERSE AND FORWARD. WHEN DRIVING THERE IS A HARSH UP SHIFT AND DOWN SHIFT. DRIVING ON CITY OR HIGHWAY THE TRANSMISSION IS DOING THE SAME OF HARSH UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING. HARSH ENGAGEMENT. THE VALVE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED. WE HAVE INSTALLED NEW (DEALER) CAM SENSORS. WE HAVE HAD IT REPROGRAMMED. WE HAVE REBUILT THE UNIT AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10946605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 170,000 miles Southaven, MS

POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE IS SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD IN LOWER GEAR AND AT STOPPING

NHTSA complaint #10946263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM

POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2005 NISSAN/MAXIMA IS HARD SHIFTING WHEN ENGINE/TRANSMISSIONIS IS HOT, DELAYING TAKE OFF AND KICKING EXTREMELY BAD WHEN PICKING UP SPEED AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS GEARS. TWO MOTOR MOUNT ARE ALREADY BROKEN AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. NISSAN DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACE TRANSMISSION. A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIZED SHOP INSPECTED AND TESTED THE TRANSMISSION FOR SECOND OPINION AND DID NO FIND PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION, OTHER THAN 2 BAD SENSORS. SENSORS WAS REPLACED AND 6 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. *INTERIOR SUNVISOR LIGHTNING COVER BROKEN IN BOTH SIDES, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER. *CD PLAYER NOT WORKING, NOT PLAYING. *ORIGINAL CHROME WHEELS ARE CORRODED, BREAKING THE SEAL ON TWO OF THE TIRES CAUSING PRESSURE TO LOWER AND MAKES TIRE GO FLAT IN LESS THAN A WEEK, IF NOT ATTENDED SOON.

NHTSA complaint #10944019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Goodyear, AZ

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THE HIGHWAY..

NHTSA complaint #10940307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 97,000 miles Vero Beach, FL

POWER TRAIN

THE CAR IS OVER WINDING AND SOUNDS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SPIKE IN THE RPMS BEFORE IT SHIFTS BETWEEN GEAR TO GEAR. IT'S ONLY GOT 98K AND IT'S METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. IT'S BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A THOUSAND MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10938918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 169,000 miles Upper Marlboro, MD

POWER TRAIN

MY TRANSMISSION JUST FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME AFTER BEING REPLACED THE FIRST TIME BY NISSAN AS IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. IT WAS REGULARLY FLUSHED/ SERVICED. THERE IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF AND NISSAN MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA complaint #10937231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 68,000 miles Holbrook, MA

POWER TRAIN

HARD SHIFTING TRANSMISSION,STALLING AT CRUISING SPEEDS,FLASHING DASH LIGHTS. TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10936389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Orange Park, FL

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION BANGS INTO GEAR. WINDS UP THEN SLAMS INTO GEAR AND ACCELERATES UP IMMEDIATELY. I ALMOST HIT ANOTHER CAR. THIS HAPPENED WHILE GOING 40 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10935251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 90,000 miles Pittsburgh, PA

POWER TRAIN

WHEN I WOULD SHIFT IT WOULD BANG , BUT THEN IT WOULD DRIVE FINE , AND WHEN IT IDLES IT WOULD GO REV BETWEEN 1000 AND 2000 RPM. ONCE YOU DRIVE IT LIKE IT HEATS UP THO IT WON'T DO IT , LIKE IT WILL DO IT IF YOU ARE SHIFTING WHEN YOU ARE FIRST STARTING THE CAR IT'S HIT AND MISS.

NHTSA complaint #10927003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hawthorne, CA

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING GEARS RIGHT AROUND 58,000 MILES. I WOULD DRIVE IT AND IT WOULD GET STUCK IN 5TH GEAR. I WOULD HAVE TO SWITCH OVER TO MANUAL TO TRY AND SWITCH GEARS AND WHEN I WOULD DO THAT I WOULD EXPERIENCE VERY HARD SHIFTING AND JERKING. IF I'M SWITCHING FROM PARK TO DRIVE WHILE STATIONARY, EXTREMELY HARD JERKING AND IT WOULD STALL FOR 5 SECONDS BEFORE GOING INTO DRIVE. NISSAN REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE. I GUESS THEY WANT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO DIE BEFORE ISSUING A RECALL! THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WHEN THE CAR DOES THIS. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CRAPPY NISSAN EVER AGAIN! NOT TO MENTION THE SENSORS THAT HAS CONSTANTLY BEEN REPLACED OVER AND OVER THINKING IT WILL FIX THE JERKING ISSUES, BUT IT DOESN'T. IMAGINE HAVING A CAR FULL OF KIDS WHILE IT DOES THIS. THANKS NISSAN FOR BEING SO CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY!

NHTSA complaint #10918957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 186,000 miles Brighton, CO

POWER TRAIN

HARD SHIFTING FROM TRANSMISSION WHEN COMING TO A STOP. SLIPPAGE OF GEARS WHEN IN A STATIONARY POSITION IN PARK GOING INTO DRIVE (TAKES ABOUT 5 SECONDS)

NHTSA complaint #10918136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 101,000 miles Milford CT, CT

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THE GEARS SLIP AND JUMP INTO GEAR WITH A VIOLENT JERK THAT IS AFFECTING MY DRIVING AND MAY CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND POSSIBLE INJURY MYSELF OR OTHERS. THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE VALVE BODY THAT IS CAUSING THIS VIOLENT SHIFTING AND IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS ISSUE. IT IS DISGRACE THAT THE NHTSA HAD DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS WIDE SPREAD ISSUE, MUST PEOPLE DIE FIRST SO IT DOES GET ADDRESSED. I WILL ALSO CONTACT MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE TO REPORT THE ISSUE. I OPENED UP A CASE WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WITH NO LUCK OR ADMITTANCE OF THEIR FAILED COMPONENT. NISSAN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION WITH A P0726 CODE AND HAD AN OPEN TECHNICAL BULLETIN NTB11'035 WHICH IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF NISSANS FAILED DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. NISSAN HAS QUOTED ME OVER $2500 TO REPAIR THEIR FAILED DESIGN COMPONENT.

NHTSA complaint #10915454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2005 Nissan Maxima problems

← Full 2005 Nissan Maxima report