2004 Nissan Maxima recalls and problems

The 2004 Nissan Maxima has 2 recalls and 1,426 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is power train.

How the 2004 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 24 Maxima model years — the most of any year.

2recalls

1,426complaints

33crashes

16fires

30injuries

80,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

2 recalls

Seats

Nov 7, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V512000 · 102,551 vehicles

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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 & notes

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.

Nissan recall no. Pb011.customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Visibility

Jul 7, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V326000 · 32,100 vehicles

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Risk: This could create excessive internal stress in the glass and eventually cause the glass to shatter, creating a risk of injury.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL STRESS IN THE GLASS AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER, CREATING A RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy & notes

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.

Nissan recall no. Pu401. Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Power Train934

Tires141

Engine121

Suspension102

Service Brakes72

Electrical System56

Structure56

Vehicle Speed Control38

Steering37

Visibility30

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

GLASS ROOF SHATTERING

PE04035 · opened Apr 12, 2004 · closed Jul 13, 2004 · led to recall 04V326000

Summary

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON APRIL 12, 2004, BASED ON FIVE REPORTS INDICATING THAT THE SKYVIEW GLASS-PANELED ROOF, WHICH IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES, WOULD SUDDENLY SHATTER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE.FIVE INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO ODI, RESULTING IN CUTS TO THE HEAD, HANDS, ARMS, OR FACE.NISSAN DISCOVERED THAT THEIR SUPPLIER FOR THE SKYVIEW GLASS PANELED ROOF DID NOT PROPERLY QUENCH (COOL) THE GLASS AFTER IT WAS FORMED.THE RESULTING TEMPER IMBALANCE COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL STRESS IN THE GLASS AND CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER.NISSAN REPORTS THAT GLASS PRODUCED BEGINNING OCTOBER 23, 2003 WAS PROPERLY QUENCHED.NISSAN HAS INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL RECALL 32,100 MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMAS BUILT FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION THRU DECEMBER 17, 2003.IT REPORTS THAT VEHICLES BUILT AFTER DECEMBER 17 ARE NOT AFFECTED.TO CORRECT THE CONDITION NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING SKYVIEW GLASS WITH NEW PROPERLY QUENCHED GLASS.NISSAN WILL BEGIN OWNER NOTIFICATION ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004.ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY ONE COMPLAINT AND NISSAN REPORTS NO COMPLAINTS OF SKYVIEW GLASS PANELED ROOF BREAKAGE ON VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THE DECEMBER 17 DATE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED, HOWEVER THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AS APPROPRIATE.

2004 vs. other Nissan Maxima years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2004. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2004 Nissan Maxima have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2004 Nissan Maxima, the latest from Nov 7, 2005 (seats). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Nissan Maxima?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention power train (934), tires (141), engine (121). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.