The 2004 Nissan Maxima has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 134,651 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,725 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS05V5120002005-11-07102,551 affected
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.
VISIBILITY04V3260002004-07-0732,100 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
THIS COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL STRESS IN THE GLASS AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER, CREATING A RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy
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.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
601
11crashes2fires4injuries
POWER TRAIN
315
3crashes4injuries
TIRES:SIDEWALL
74
2crashes2injuries
TIRES
61
1crashes2injuries
ENGINE
51
1crashes5fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
48
1crashes1fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
47
7fires
SUSPENSION
47
1crashes
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
38
7crashes2injuries2deaths
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
30
2crashes1fires2deaths
Total complaints1,725
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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”
“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??”
“When it rains the back passenger door has water in the door and soaks the back floor”
“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.”
“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 ..…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE04035 Opened 2004-04-12 · closed 2004-07-13
GLASS ROOF SHATTERING
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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2004 Nissan Maxima as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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