2004 Nissan Maxima Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Maxima.

20032005
Complaints
1,725
Crashes
43
Fires
32
Injuries
34
Fatalities
4
Recalls
0

Worst 2004 Nissan Maxima Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#1601 complaints

Automatic Transmission

Avg mileage:86,482 mi
Crash-related:11
Fires:2
#2315 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:101,003 mi
Crash-related:3
#374 complaints

Tires:Sidewall

Avg mileage:29,216 mi
Crash-related:2
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2004 Nissan Maxima.

Automatic Transmission
601
complaints
Crashes
11
Fires
2
Avg Miles
86,482
Transmission / Drivetrain
315
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
101,003
Tires:Sidewall
74
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
29,216
Tire Defects
61
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
33,572
Engine Problems
51
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Avg Miles
103,518
Engine & Cooling
48
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
77,203
Electrical Faults
47
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
7
Avg Miles
85,470
Suspension Failures
47
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
39,804
Unintended Acceleration
38
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,640
Hydraulic Brakes
30
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
66,397
Steering Defects
29
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
41,809
Body Structure
29
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
98,773
Suspension:Front:Macpherson Strut
26
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
11,807
Suspension:Front
22
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
30,552
Sunroof/Moonroof
20
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
26,823
Manual Transmission
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,029
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
16
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
62,153
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
15
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
23,324
Other Equipment
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
36,012
Seat-Related Issues
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
135,429
Structural Problems
10
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
63,788
Air Bags:Frontal
7
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
57,125
Visibility
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
66,720
Airbags
6
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
69,750
Electronic Stability Control
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
98,000
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
50,875
Fuel System
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
114,060
Latches / Locks
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
90,200
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
84,583

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2004 Nissan Maxima. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Nissan Maxima Years

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2004 Nissan Maxima — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2004 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2004 Nissan Maxima has 1,725 NHTSA complaints, 43 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Automatic Transmission with 601 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2004 Nissan Maxima?
Top reported problems: Automatic Transmission (601 complaints, avg 86,482 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (315 complaints, avg 101,003 mi); Tires:Sidewall (74 complaints, avg 29,216 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2004 Nissan Maxima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 78,013 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2004 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA complaints for the 2004 Nissan Maxima include 43 crash-related reports, 32 fire reports, 34 injuries, and 4 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2004 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2004 Nissan Maxima as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2004 Nissan Maxima?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2004 Nissan Maxima shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Nissan Maxima reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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