The 2005 Nissan Maxima has 2 safety recalls and 948 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (782 complaints).
Recalls2safety recalls
Complaints948filed by owners
Crashes · fires16 · 10reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths29 · 0reported in complaints
2005 Nissan Maxima in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
NHTSA recall 05V512000 · Nov 7, 2005 · 102,551 vehicles
Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE DRIVER PREFERRED PACKAGE, THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT POWER LUMBAR SUPPORT SWITCH MAY BE ROUTED INCORRECTLY AND COULD BE PINCHED UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Child seat › Latch strap
NHTSA recall 05V338000 · Jul 26, 2005 · 90,016 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." THE LOWER ANCHORAGE BRACKETS IN THE REAR SEATS DO NOT MEET THE LOCATION REQUIREMENT IN THIS STANDARD. THIS MAY CAUSE DIFFICULTY IN ATTACHING SOME CHILD SEATS TO THESE BRACKETS.
Risk: IF A CHILD SEAT IS NOT PROPERLY SECURED, THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LOWER ANCHORAGE BRACKETS WITH MODIFIED BRACKETS TO ENSURE THAT THE STANDARD IS MET. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 28, 2006. THE INFINITI Q45 MODEL VEHICLES ARE BEING CAMPAIGNED UNDER A SEPARATE RECALL (PLEASE SEE 05V374000). OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash test
2005 Nissan Maxima 4-DR. w/SAB
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Maxima
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
Maxima
21mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 26 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Power train Automatic transmission; Manual transmission
782
8
2
15
85,424 mi
Engine
61
1
0
5
93,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling Engine; Exhaust system
40
1
0
0
80,000 mi
Electrical system Wiring › Interior/under dash; Ignition › Module
39
1
5
3
78,360 mi
Vehicle speed control Accelerator pedal
33
1
0
0
101,000 mi
Unknown or other
27
1
0
3
112,000 mi
Structure Body; Body › Roof and pillars
25
1
1
3
97,500 mi
Steering Rack and pinion; Steering wheel/handle bar
17
1
0
5
99,000 mi
Tires Sidewall
17
2
0
4
32,732 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Pedals and linkages; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
14
1
0
1
64,000 mi
Suspension Front; Front › Macpherson strut
13
1
0
3
59,250 mi
Seats Front assembly › Power adjust
13
1
6
4
82,800 mi
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Mar 2, 2025Engine 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 canât 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…
Jun 6, 2019 · crash · 5 injuriesAir bags 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).
Jul 1, 2022 · 107,000 milesSteering 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 dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000
Mar 25, 2021 · 120,000 milesElectrical system 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.
Jan 4, 2021 · 275,587 milesEngine I HAVE AN 05 NISSAN MAXIMA AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING HARD AND ERRATICALLY
Dec 5, 2018 · 45,500 milesStructure › Body 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.
Apr 24, 2020 · 112,000 miles · fire · 1 injurySeats › Front assembly › Power adjust 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 FLAMES, THE FIRE WAS THEN EXTINGUISHED. A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. DUE TO HER FRANTIC EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO BOTH KNEES AND HER RIGHT ANKLE; HOWEVER, SHE DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER WERE INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED NHTSA…
Mar 29, 2019 · 112,337 milesElectrical system 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…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
