2004 Nissan Maxima Problems: Transmission / driveline (1,364 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2004 Nissan Maxima is Transmission / driveline (62% of 1,364 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Transmission / driveline — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-10-16 1,364 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 2004 Nissan Maxima?

845 of 1,364 filings named Transmission / driveline (62% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Tires (89 reports).

There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2003 has 204 reports on file; this year has 1,364. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2004 Nissan Maxima

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  3. Tires. Check age, tread depth and uneven wear. Uneven wear often points back to alignment.
  4. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Transmission / driveline. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Transmission / driveline 845 complaints · 62.0% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 32
  • Fires 16
  • Injuries 28
  • Deaths 2
All Nissan Maxima years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) appears in 845 of 1,364 owner complaints (62.0%) in this vehicle snapshot. Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 845 complaints, 62.0% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 12 crash reports 845 · 62.0% Tires (TIRES): 89 complaints, 6.5% of reports Tires (TIRES) 2 crash reports 89 · 6.5% Engine (ENGINE): 77 complaints, 5.7% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 crash reports 6 fire reports 77 · 5.7% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 73 complaints, 5.4% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 crash reports 73 · 5.4% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 51 complaints, 3.7% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 crash reports 1 fire reports 51 · 3.7% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 44 complaints, 3.2% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 44 · 3.2% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 27 complaints, 2.0% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 3 fire reports 27 · 2.0% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 26 complaints, 1.9% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 26 · 1.9% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 25 complaints, 1.8% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 4 crash reports 25 · 1.8% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 882 complaints, 64.7% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 20 crash reports 9 fire reports 882 · 64.7% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 845 62.0% 12 crashes · 0 fires
Tires (TIRES) 89 6.5% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 77 5.7% 1 crashes · 6 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 73 5.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 51 3.7% 1 crashes · 1 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 44 3.2% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 27 2.0% 0 crashes · 3 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 26 1.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 25 1.8% 4 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 882 64.7% 20 crashes · 9 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Oct 2003; the first recall shown was reported in Jul 2004. 2003-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2004-Q1: 18 owner reports 18 2004-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2004-Q3: 17 owner reports 17 2004-Q4: 20 owner reports 20 2005-Q1: 15 owner reports 15 2005-Q2: 12 owner reports 12 2005-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2005-Q4: 9 owner reports 9 2006-Q1: 14 owner reports 14 2006-Q2: 20 owner reports 20 2006-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2006-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2007-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2007-Q2: 14 owner reports 14 2007-Q3: 30 owner reports 30 2007-Q4: 10 owner reports 10 2008-Q1: 30 owner reports 30 2008-Q2: 36 owner reports 36 2008-Q3: 57 owner reports 57 2008-Q4: 58 owner reports 58 2009-Q1: 75 owner reports 75 2009-Q2: 56 owner reports 56 2009-Q3: 54 owner reports 54 2009-Q4: 48 owner reports 48 2010-Q1: 54 owner reports 54 2010-Q2: 63 owner reports 63 2010-Q3: 36 owner reports 36 2010-Q4: 31 owner reports 31 2011-Q1: 47 owner reports 47 2011-Q2: 50 owner reports 50 2011-Q3: 65 owner reports 65 2011-Q4: 31 owner reports 31 2012-Q1: 21 owner reports 21 2012-Q2: 20 owner reports 20 2012-Q3: 23 owner reports 23 2012-Q4: 18 owner reports 18 2013-Q1: 41 owner reports 41 2013-Q2: 23 owner reports 23 2013-Q3: 15 owner reports 15 2013-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2014-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2014-Q2: 7 owner reports 7 2014-Q3: 20 owner reports 20 2014-Q4: 14 owner reports 14 2015-Q1: 12 owner reports 12 2015-Q2: 13 owner reports 13 2015-Q3: 9 owner reports 9 2015-Q4: 11 owner reports 11 2016-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2016-Q2: 8 owner reports 8 2016-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2016-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2017-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2017-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2021-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2003 Jul 2026 Recall campaign 04V326000 ◆ Recall campaign 04V326000 Recall campaign 05V512000 ◆ Recall campaign 05V512000 Investigation PE04035 ● Investigation PE04035
  • Campaign 04V326000 was reported 145 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 05V512000 was reported 696 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2003-Q4 Owner reports 2
2004-Q1 Owner reports 18
2004-Q2 Owner reports 6
2004-Q3 Owner reports 17
2004-Q4 Owner reports 20
2005-Q1 Owner reports 15
2005-Q2 Owner reports 12
2005-Q3 Owner reports 15
2005-Q4 Owner reports 9
2006-Q1 Owner reports 14
2006-Q2 Owner reports 20
2006-Q3 Owner reports 23
2006-Q4 Owner reports 10
2007-Q1 Owner reports 9
2007-Q2 Owner reports 14
2007-Q3 Owner reports 30
2007-Q4 Owner reports 10
2008-Q1 Owner reports 30
2008-Q2 Owner reports 36
2008-Q3 Owner reports 57
2008-Q4 Owner reports 58
2009-Q1 Owner reports 75
2009-Q2 Owner reports 56
2009-Q3 Owner reports 54
2009-Q4 Owner reports 48
2010-Q1 Owner reports 54
2010-Q2 Owner reports 63
2010-Q3 Owner reports 36
2010-Q4 Owner reports 31
2011-Q1 Owner reports 47
2011-Q2 Owner reports 50
2011-Q3 Owner reports 65
2011-Q4 Owner reports 31
2012-Q1 Owner reports 21
2012-Q2 Owner reports 20
2012-Q3 Owner reports 23
2012-Q4 Owner reports 18
2013-Q1 Owner reports 41
2013-Q2 Owner reports 23
2013-Q3 Owner reports 15
2013-Q4 Owner reports 11
2014-Q1 Owner reports 5
2014-Q2 Owner reports 7
2014-Q3 Owner reports 20
2014-Q4 Owner reports 14
2015-Q1 Owner reports 12
2015-Q2 Owner reports 13
2015-Q3 Owner reports 9
2015-Q4 Owner reports 11
2016-Q1 Owner reports 4
2016-Q2 Owner reports 8
2016-Q3 Owner reports 7
2016-Q4 Owner reports 7
2017-Q1 Owner reports 4
2017-Q2 Owner reports 5
2017-Q3 Owner reports 3
2017-Q4 Owner reports 6
2018-Q1 Owner reports 2
2018-Q2 Owner reports 3
2018-Q3 Owner reports 1
2019-Q1 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 2
2020-Q1 Owner reports 3
2020-Q3 Owner reports 1
2020-Q4 Owner reports 4
2021-Q1 Owner reports 2
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2025-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q3 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 04V326000
Recall campaign 1 05V512000
Defect investigation 1 PE04035
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras.

  1. Recall campaign 04V326000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    THIS COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL STRESS IN THE GLASS AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER, CREATING A RISK OF INJURY.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE GLASS IN THE SKYVIEW ROOF. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 05V512000

    Safety recall 05V512000

    Report date
    Component:
    Unclassified NHTSA leftover
    Consequence:
    A PINCHED HARNESS, IN COMBINATION WITH DRIVING VIBRATION, MAY RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE HARNESS THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE IN THE SEAT.
    Remedy:
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS AND ROUTE IT CORRECTLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 16, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-10-16
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 1,364 complaints · page 1 of 55
2026-09-24Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11766671
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the ABS independently activated. In addition, the contact became aware of an abnormal sound. The failure was a persistent failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
2025-03-28Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
NHTSA ODI 11651242
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormally loud popping sound, and the contact noticed that the sky view roof glass had shattered. The contact stated that pieces of shattered glass had fallen inside the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact had not sustained any injuries and resumed driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V326000 (Visibility). The failure mileage was 165,000.
2023-04-19Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11517777
CrashFireInjuryDeath
UNKNOWN - I recently purchased this vehicle today from a private seller on April 18, 2023. Previous owner had stated the driver seat adjuster motor(to move the seat forward and backwards) has never functioned properly and gets stuck in the far back position or rotates counterclockwise at times(while remaining in the far back position). This is a big safety issue for me as it is very difficult to reach the brake and gas pedals without compromising my field of vision whilst driving. I did a VIN check on vincheck.info and it comfirms a recall report for this specific seating problem for this vehicle's year, make, and model. As for everything else, it is unknown as I did just recently purchase the vehicle.
2021-03-21Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11404075
CrashFireInjuryDeath
04V326000 ONE OF THE RECALL NUMBER THE OTHER IS 05V512000 NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT I'VE CHANGED MY TIMING CHAIN ALSO ALREADY I ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER STATING IF I HAD TO REPLACE IT TO CONTACT NISSAN I BELIEVE I'M JUST GETTING THE RUN AROUND
2021-03-15Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11403107
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. TIMING CHAIN WAS BAD FROM DAY ONE. SPENT NEARLY 4000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. THEN TO LOOK UP ONLINE AND FIND OUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD PROBLEM. NOW A FEW YEARS LATER. SAME PROBLEM
2020-12-07Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11378265
CrashFireInjuryDeath
FOR STARTERS I REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THEN THE BATTERY AND THEN THE CRANKSHAFT SENOR AND THEN DORMAN THAT IS ON THE POSSESSIVE SIDE OF THE BATTERY. AND IT DOESN'T WANT TO START STILL. NOW JUST MAYBE YOU CAN HELP ME ON THIS.
2020-11-17Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11374976
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHEN IT RAINS THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR HAS WATER IN THE DOOR AND SOAKS THE BACK FLOOR
2020-11-10Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11373935
CrashFireInjuryDeath
CAR FAILED SAFETY INSPECTION DUE TO RUSTING OF FLOORBOARDS ON DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. TURNS OUT THIS IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM WITH MODEL YEARS 2002-2006. HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE??
2020-11-01Body / frame (STRUCTURE)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11372497
CrashFireInjuryDeath
FRONT SUBFRAME COMPLETELY ROTTED OUT LOWER CONTROL ARM BECOME UNATTACHED, HAD TO REPAIR SUBFRAME AND ALL COMPONENTS, ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY RISK, MANY RECALL ON THESE VEHICLES BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY DON'T HAVE ONE FOR THIS VEHICLE
2020-07-20Suspension (SUSPENSION)
NHTSA ODI 11340304
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ME AND MY BOYFRIEND WERE SOLD THIS CAR FOR 2500 AND THE CAR NEEDED A NEW BATTERY, A NEW CONVERTER . ONCE I BROUGHT THOSE ITEMS AND PUT THEM IN THE CAR STARTED HAVING COMPRESSION PROBLEMS TO THE POINT IT HAS A SLOW TAKE OFF , CANNOT GO UP HILLS , AND WE HAVE TO SHIFT GEARS JUST FOR IT TO MOVE .. THIS CAR WAS SOLD TO US LIKE THIS AND WE ALMOST FELL OFF A CLIFF BECAUSE OF THE COMPRESSION PROBLEM AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GO UP ANY HILLS .. THE PEOPLE WHO SOLD US THE CAR SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM OR REFUND OUR MONEY .

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2004 Nissan Maxima?

Owners named Transmission / driveline most often — 845 of 1,364 reports (62%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2004 Nissan Maxima?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Glass / wipers / cameras. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2004 Nissan Maxima?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-10-04 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-10-04
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-10-16 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-10-16. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources