Is the 2005 Nissan Maxima a bad year?
947 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 776, 78× a quiet Maxima year.
Consider selling
Half of all transmission complaints about the 2005 Nissan Maxima were filed between 70k and 102k miles. You're at 85,000 miles.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2005 Maxima owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 85,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 776 (82%) | 70k–102k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 100 (11%) | 72k–109k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 38 (4%) | 65k–114k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 33 (3%) | 78k–125k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 28 (3%) | 51k–110k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structure | 25 (3%) | 60k–118k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Steering | 16 (2%) | 9k–97k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Seats | 13 (1%) | 47k–122k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 9 (1%) | 35k–108k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Stability control | 6 (1%) | 84k–133k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Tires | 18 (2%) | 20k–45k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Equipment | 14 (1%) | 27k–76k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 13 (1%) | 5k–68k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 9 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 85,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 947 complaints: 16 mention a crash · 10 mention a fire · 19 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Mar 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I currently own a 2005 Nissan maxima sl automatic transmission I bought it used at about 80,000KM and its now at 103,000KM.
Transmission problem w/ 2005 Nissan maxima. Have done all recommended service and been to several repair shops who can not find a problem.
Started out jerking hard when going from reverse to drive, began to hesitate between gear changes, and eventually shake.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 85,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2005 Nissan Maxima: 2
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. 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.
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. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 44
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2005 Nissan Maxima. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
If a customer describes lack of power or poor acceleration, perform the following checks before attempting any repair: * Check for stored DTCs. * Check if…
Voluntary service campaign air bag warning light
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
Nissan; fuel tank is extremely difficult to fill
Neighbouring years
2004 Maxima: 1,425 complaints, consider selling · 2006 Maxima: 576 complaints, consider selling.
Every Nissan Maxima year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · All Maxima years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan 370Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2005 Nissan Maxima a bad year?
947 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 776, 78× a quiet Maxima year. At 85,000 miles the tool says: Consider selling. Half of all transmission complaints about the 2005 Nissan Maxima were filed between 70k and 102k miles. You're at 85,000 miles.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan Maxima?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (776), engine (100), electrical system (38), speed control (33), brakes (28). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 70k–102k miles.
How many recalls does the 2005 Nissan Maxima have?
2 recall campaigns list this model year: Seats (NHTSA 05V-512), Other (NHTSA 05V-338). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.