- The 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.
- The 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.
- The 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.
Vehicle safety record
2004 Nissan Maxima Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1,426 complaints about the 2004 Nissan Maxima with NHTSA, most often about the transmission & drivetrain (934) and the wheels & tires (153). Those complaints describe 33 crashes, 16 fires, 30 injuries and 2 deaths. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in November 2005 for the power adjust. For comparison, the 2003 has 206 and the 2005 has 948.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Maxima year, for its age
#4 most complained-about 2004 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1,426
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 33
- Fires
- 16
- Injuries
- 30
- Deaths
- 2
Most common 2004 Nissan Maxima problems
Share of all 1,426 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2004 Nissan Maxima recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- On certain passenger vehicles equipped with skyview roofs, the glass for the roof may not have been quenched properly after the forming process, resulting in temper imbalance.
- The risk
- This could create excessive internal stress in the glass and eventually cause the glass to shatter, creating a risk of injury.
- The fix
- 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.
What owners say
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1,426 complaints about the 2004 Nissan Maxima
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 58.
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.
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...
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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.
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...
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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.
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
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
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.
When it rains the back passenger door has water in the door and soaks the back floor
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??
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
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 .
The floor boards on both the drivers and passenger side front have rusted out. Most of the other metal/ flooring has not rusted out like it has in these two spots. The rust does seem to lead up close to the sub frame which worries me of the integrity of the frame. The flooring has rusted out to the fabric/insulation portion of the interior. Also of concern is when you are getting in and out of the car the floor is so weak that your foot/leg could go through it. In time your feet can and will go through the floor with out warning.
The body control module keeps the front and back lights from working. The tail lights also not working. The license plate lights not working cost for replacing with labor and tax is over 1k in california. While I was driving at night I could not see the road. I had to pull over and get towed home.
When in motion the transmission starts to slip in 1 and 2 gear then 4 and 5 gear jumps out of gear then goes in to limp mode
Car was fine initially then started car which took longer than normal to start and car would not hardly go due to it not being in 1st gear. Put the transmission into manual mode and downshifted it to first and got a hard clunk but car would now go under its own power but when you put it back in auto mode it goes straight to 3rd gear. Shut car off came back later and started car it started right up and had no issues with transmission. Drove it for a bit turned car off for a bit and then went to start again and had the long start and bad shifts again.
When driving the car wil lose power and start jerking badly, cutting back like losing power. It feels as if it is going to stop in the middle of the road. I took it to a well know transmission specialist and was told that this is a problem with several nissan cars including mine. There are several recalls including the 2003 but not my year,i'm confused and it's getting worse. But it's a known issue. I don't understand. My safety is warranted???
Whenever I accelerate and the speedometer hits 20 mph the transmission jerks or if I'm going 60 mph on the freeway and start to brake and as my speed is decreasing when the speedometer hits 20 mph it jerks. The transmission must be slipping or have an issue.
The floor boards rusted out on both driver and passenger sides and we were not aware because the carpet covered but you can fit a fist through each one! Should not happen!!
These transmission should of been recalled years ago I always tend to feel a gear jump in the first gears when about to start moving the car or braking. This can be a serious problem when you suddenly need to make a hard stop and the transmission will make a huge jump then stop and with that extra time it takes to jump them stop can be a minor injury if a pedestrian is present or even death.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 nissan maxima. While the vehicle was parked in the garage at the contact's home, the hood blew up and the front end burst into flames. The contact opened the garage door and extinguished the fire. There were no injuries or property damage. The maintenance indicator illuminated. The vehicle was driven to five star nissan of florence (311 n cashua dr, florence, sc 29501, 843-628-0032) where it was diagnosed that the speed sensor failed. The contact stated that the insurance company totaled the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,149.
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING
On sunday, march 4, 2018, in the morning around a 11 am, I was driving my 2004 maxima and it started to loose power and turned off. I tried several times to start it, but it wouldn't hold the idle and turned off again. No nissan dealership or repair shop was open so I called the nearest pep boys shop to my home and they towed my car to their repair shop. They said my car was totally dead and needed a new battery even though my battery wasn't that old. I purchased a battery, still wouldn't start. Pep boys then said...
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I needed a new alternator, so that was installed, still wouldn't start. They then said it must be the engine, so the next day, monday, march 4, 2018, it was towed to the fairfield, ct nissan dealership where it is currently until I can figure out what to do. After 3 days, of calling the nissan dealership to find out what was wrong with my car, bet, in the nissan service department told me that they had taken off the side of my engine and tried to manually turn the drive shaft, but it wouldn't turn and that it was the timing chain and that it would cost anywhere from $2,600.00 To $3,600.00 To repair my car. Please help with start a case, I can't afford this. I'm in school for paralegal studies and a ct licensed tax preparer
Takata recall on light keeps going off! Already replaced bulb but it still goes off and comes back on when you turn it on!
My complaints is due to the cheap steal that nissan uses to build there vehicles just to save a buck. When I take my car in for an inspection and it failed because the passenger side floor panel has holes in the the floor that you could step right trhu. That is not the only rot from rust the frame of the vehicle up front has rotted so bad that the part of the frame that holds the motor in the vehicle has rotted so bad that the inspector was worried about me driving home after I had failed the inspection. This was...
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discovered by a mechanic that was going to fix my exhaust up front. I am a disabled veteran and this car with a real frame on it would have lasted many more years and I just do not have the funds to run out and buy a new car. This is the manufactures fault and they should be paying for it to be fixed. Sounds like the same problem that they had on all of those pickups that they had to fix. What is this going to that the motor to fall out on the high way and kill someone. This is and has been a big problem with this company going on for years. Someone do something for the consumer. After paying $40,000.00 Dollars for this car I thought I would get more out of it than having it rot out from under me.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 nissan maxima. The contact stated while the vehicle was unoccupied and it caught fire from the engine compartment. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report was not filed. A local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was unknown. The vin was not available.
Transmission jerks from p to dr, jerks when down and up shifting. Does not seem safe. 73, 0000 Miles on vehicle
Nissan Maxima: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 79 | 0 | B |
| 2007 | 129 | 1 | C |
| 2006 | 576 | 2 | F |
| 2005 | 948 | 2 | F |
| 2004 | 1,426 | 2 | F |
| 2003 | 206 | 4 | D |
| 2002 | 220 | 9 | F |
| 2001 | 181 | 7 | D |
| 2000 | 376 | 3 | F |
2004 Nissan Maxima vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Nissan Maxima | 1,426 | 2 | F | |
| 2004 Nissan Titan | 1,046 | 7 | F | Compare |
| 2004 Nissan Murano | 678 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 2004 Nissan Armada | 463 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2004 Nissan Quest | 445 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 2004 Nissan Altima | 276 | 5 | C | Compare |
| 2004 Nissan Sentra | 197 | 5 | F | Compare |
| 2004 Nissan 350Z | 144 | 3 | D | Compare |
| 2004 Nissan Crew | 87 | 1 | - | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2004 Nissan Maxima
Does the 2004 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2004 Nissan Maxima: power adjust (November 2005); sun / moon roof assembly (July 2004). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Nissan Maxima?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the transmission & drivetrain (934), wheels & tires (153), engine & cooling (121).
How many complaints has the 2004 Nissan Maxima had?
1,426 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 21, 2003 and the latest on September 24, 2026. Of these, 33 describe a crash and 16 a fire, and together they report 30 injuries and 2 deaths.
Is the 2004 Nissan Maxima a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 3 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Nissan Maxima year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Nissan Maxima years have the most complaints?
2004 (1,426), 2005 (948), 2006 (576). See every Nissan Maxima year compared.
What should I do if my 2004 Nissan Maxima has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data