2004 Nissan Maxima: common problems and reliability

The 2004 Nissan Maxima has 1425 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and tires. Owners most often flag cvt reliability concerns: general anxiety about long-term durability, transmission "whine," and expensive repair costs ($6,000+ for a rebuild). frequency: very frequent.

Safety record for the 2004 model year

1,425
Owner complaints
2
Recalls
33
Crash reports
16
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2004 Nissan Maxima vehicles (US, public record).

Is 2004 a good year for the Maxima?

Across the 4 Maxima model years we track, complaint volume runs from 1 (2015) to 1,425 (2004). With 1,425 complaints, the 2004 Maxima sits abovethe model's median of 220.

These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.

Where owners report problems

power train
934
tires
148
suspension
102
service brakes
71
engine and engine cooling
70

Recalls affecting the 2004 Maxima

seats:front assembly:power adjust

Campaign 05V512000

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.

visibility:sun/moon roof assembly

Campaign 04V326000

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.

What owners say across generations

Sentiment is sharply divided by generation, with a clear consensus that reliability and owner satisfaction declined significantly after the early 2000s.

  • Catastrophic CVT failure: Premature failure often before 100,000 miles, characterized by slipping, jerking, loss of power, and high operating temperatures. Considered a severe safety risk. Frequency: very frequent (2013+ models).
  • CVT reliability concerns: General anxiety about long-term durability, transmission "whine," and expensive repair costs ($6,000+ for a rebuild). Frequency: very frequent.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Maxima. See the full Maxima owner picture and every model year.

Typical used price

Used Maxima listings typically run $13,498–$23,885 across 2014 to 2023 model years.

Other Maxima model years

Compare every Maxima year side by side to see how 2004 ranks against the rest.

Compare the Maxima against its rivals