YearToAvoid

2005 Nissan Maxima Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2005 Nissan Maxima has 948 complaints and ranks worst of 19 model years, with a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict. Transmission and powertrain issues make up 82% of complaints, with failures reported around 85,000 miles.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
100/100
#1 of 19 Maxima years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
948
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
2
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
16
reported in complaints
Fires
10
Injuries
29
Top issue
Transmission & Powertrain
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 26.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
29 / 0

Top 2005 Nissan Maxima problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain777 (82%)
  2. Engine126 (13%)
  3. Structure & Body43 (5%)
  4. Electrical System41 (4%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires37 (4%)
  6. Other33 (3%)
  7. Brakes32 (3%)
  8. Steering17 (2%)
  9. Airbags9 (1%)
  10. Fuel System8 (1%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Transmission slips or hesitates then lunges forward with sudden, forceful acceleration when pressure is applied to the accelerator pedal.
  • Owners report the transmission jerking violently and taking several seconds to change gears, sometimes stopping the car in traffic.
  • Frontal airbags failed to deploy in crashes, while side curtain airbags deployed instead, leaving occupants with head and shoulder injuries.
  • A burning smell traced to the seat belt mechanism was reported after starting the vehicle.
  • Fire reportedly started under the driver's seat, with smoke and severe burn damage to the interior.
  • A front tire reportedly exploded at highway speed, causing the driver to lose control and roll the vehicle.
2005 Nissan Maxima complaints: complaints filed per quarter702005 Q12007 Q22009 Q32011 Q42014 Q12016 Q22018 Q42023 Q3
948 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q1 to 2025 Q1; peak 2011 Q3 (70).

2005 Nissan Maxima recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 05V512000Nov 7, 2005Structure & Body102,551 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:power adjust

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 05V338000Jul 26, 2005Other90,016 vehicles

    Child seat:latch strap

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

2005 Nissan Maxima fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
26.5 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,100
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Maxima years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Avoid100948221
2006Avoid89576221
2007Caution50129121

All Nissan Maxima years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Nissan Maxima reliable?
Compared with other Maxima model years, the 2005 ranks worst of 19 years tracked, with a complaint index of 100 and an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What is the biggest problem with the 2005 Nissan Maxima?
Transmission and powertrain complaints account for 82% of all reports, 777 out of 948, with a median failure mileage of 85,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Nissan Maxima have any recalls?
NHTSA lists two recalls for the 2005 Maxima: one for a pinched driver seat wire harness and one for rear seat child restraint anchorage brackets that did not meet federal standards.
How does the 2005 Maxima compare to other years?
The 2005 Maxima has the highest complaint index (100) of any year in the dataset, worse than 2006 (89) and far worse than lower-risk years like 2013 (33) and 2019 (22).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.