2005 Nissan Maxima Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2005 Nissan Maxima.

20042006
Complaints
1,152
per 10K Sold
152.7
US Sales
75,425
Crashes
32
Fires
17
Injuries
74
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0

Worst 2005 Nissan Maxima Problems

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

#1469 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:97,138 mi
Crash-related:4
Fires:2
#2306 complaints

Automatic Transmission

Avg mileage:81,821 mi
Crash-related:4
#361 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:100,241 mi
Crash-related:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2005 Nissan Maxima.

Transmission / Drivetrain
469
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
2
Avg Miles
97,138
Automatic Transmission
306
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
81,821
Engine Problems
61
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
100,241
Electrical Faults
36
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Avg Miles
90,600
Unintended Acceleration
32
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
104,938
Engine & Cooling
31
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
75,105
Body Structure
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
106,210
Steering Defects
14
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
106,873
Brakes
13
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
98,453
Hydraulic Brakes
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
73,727
Suspension Failures
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
78,274
Tire Defects
10
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
47,793
Airbags
8
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
91,802
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
65,550
Seat-Related Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Avg Miles
90,714
Wheel Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
74,086
Latches / Locks
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
57,157
Structural Problems
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
82,258
Tires:Sidewall
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
31,494
Manual Transmission
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,333
Electronic Stability Control
5
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Avg Miles
112,667
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
150,000
Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
82,450
Other Equipment
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

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.

Other Nissan Maxima Years

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2005 Nissan Maxima — FAQ

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

Is the 2005 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2005 Nissan Maxima has 1,152 NHTSA complaints, 32 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Transmission / Drivetrain with 469 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2005 Nissan Maxima?
Top reported problems: Transmission / Drivetrain (469 complaints, avg 97,138 mi); Automatic Transmission (306 complaints, avg 81,821 mi); Engine Problems (61 complaints, avg 100,241 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 2005 Nissan Maxima?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 90,602 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2005 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA complaints for the 2005 Nissan Maxima include 32 crash-related reports, 17 fire reports, 74 injuries, and 0 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 2005 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2005 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 2005 Nissan Maxima?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2005 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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