2005 Nissan Maxima

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Transmission & Drivetrain

Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 777 of 948 complaints (82%) mention it.

Complaints filed fell from 1,425 in 2004 to 948 in 2005.

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	vs. 2005 Midsize Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)	2,950–3,100	2,950	2,950	2,950	3,700
Combined MPG	20–21	21	21	21	21
City / Highway MPG	17–19 / 24–26	18 / 25–27	18 / 26–27	18 / 26–27	19 / 25
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)	423–444	423	423	423	423
Complaints filed	206	1,425	948	576	129	Not compared
Recalls issued	4	2	2	2	1	Not compared
Crash-involved complaints	13	33	16	21	4	Not compared
Fire-involved complaints	2	16	10	4	1	Not compared
Injuries reported	12	30	29	12	3	Not compared
Deaths reported	1	2	0	0	0	Not compared
Configurations compared	2	3	2	2	1

2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

Transmission & Drivetrain: 777 of 948 NHTSA complaints (82%) mention it.

EPA rates it 21 MPG combined across 2 configurations.

EPA estimates $2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
Configuration	Transmission	Cylinders	Displacement	Drivetrain	Fuel Type	Vehicle Class	City	Highway	Combined	Annual Fuel Cost	CO₂
Configuration 1	Manual 6-spd	6	3.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	18 mpg	27 mpg (high)	21 mpg	$2,950	423 g/mi
Configuration 2	Automatic (S5)	6	3.5L	Front-Wheel Drive	Regular	Midsize Cars	18 mpg	26 mpg (low)	21 mpg	$2,950	423 g/mi

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
Category	Complaints	Crash-Involved	Fire-Involved	Injuries
Engine	101	2	0	5
Transmission & Drivetrain	777	8	2	15
Fuel System	8	0	0	0
Electrical	38	1	5	3
Brakes	32	3	2	6
Steering	17	1	0	5
Suspension, Wheels & Tires	37	3	0	7
Airbags & Restraints	11	6	1	12
Driver Assistance & Speed Control	33	1	0	0
Body, Seats & Latches	43	1	7	4
Visibility & Lighting	6	0	0	0
Other	32	1	0	3

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST · Campaign 05V512000 · Nov 8, 2005
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
CHILD SEAT:LATCH STRAP · Campaign 05V338000 · Jul 28, 2005
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.