The 2005 Nissan Maxima has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 192,567 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,152 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.
CHILD SEAT05V3380002005-07-2690,016 affected
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…
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN
469
4crashes2fires9injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
306
4crashes6injuries
ENGINE
61
1crashes5injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
36
1crashes5fires3injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
32
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
31
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
27
1crashes3injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
15
1crashes1fires3injuries
STEERING
14
1crashes5injuries
SERVICE BRAKES
13
2crashes5injuries
Total complaints1,152
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“While driving my car down the road the vehicle randomly shut off lost power and I had to quickly pull into a plaza but was almost hit, looking through many different nissan forums a lot of mechanics and owners are saying that the original crankshaft/camshaft position sensors on the altima/maxima…”
“While driving my car down the road the vehicle randomly shut off lost power and I had to quickly pull into a plaza but was almost hit, looking through many different nissan forums a lot of mechanics and owners are saying that the original crankshaft/camshaft position sensors on the altima/maxima…”
“The contact owns a 2005 nissan maxima. The contact stated that the power steering would fail to operate. The steering wheel would require excessive force in order to steer the vehicle. The contact would frequently replenish the steering fluid however, the failure persisted. The dealer nor the…”
“Vehicle makes clunking, jerking noises and bad clunking sounds when you put it into gear or shift gears, digital gear display shows vehicle is in 5th gear all the time, accelerates very slowly.”
“Vehicle makes clunking, jerking noises and bad clunking sounds when you put it into gear or shift gears, digital gear display shows vehicle is in 5th gear all the time, accelerates very slowly.”
“Vehicle makes clunking, jerking noises and bad clunking sounds when you put it into gear or shift gears, digital gear display shows vehicle is in 5th gear all the time, accelerates very slowly.”
“I have an 05 nissan maxima and the transmission is shifting hard and erratically”
“I have an 05 nissan maxima and the transmission is shifting hard and erratically”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2005 Nissan Maxima as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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