SERVICE INFORMATION If a customer describes lack of power or poor acceleration, perform the following checks before attempting any repair: * Check for stored DTCs. * Check if the driver is resting their left foot on the brake pedal while accelerating. Advise the customer not to rest their foot on the brake while accelerating. * Use CONSULT-III plus in Engine Data Monitor to check operation of the brake lamp circuit signal. Monitor the brake switch during the incident; it should be "OFF". Please see this bulletn for further details.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Nissan Maxima powertrain problems
moderate 738 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
738
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
6crashes
2fires
10injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 738 powertrain complaints filed for the 2005 Nissan Maxima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 13 mileage-bearing powertrain complaints filed against the 2005 Nissan Maxima by each odometer reading. Median failure: 88,000 mi.
10% have failed by58,000 mi
Half the fleet by88,000 mi
90% have failed by105,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Of the 12 model years of Nissan Maxima we track for powertrain problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 738.
Powertrain accounts for 78% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2005 Nissan Maximas—and some from 2004–2006—report a consistent automatic transmission defect. The most common complaint is violent jerking and hard shifts, especially between 1st and 2nd gear, starting around 50,000 to 85,000 miles. The problem gets worse as the transmission warms up and during slow-speed traffic. Many owners report a 5–15 second delay when shifting from Park into Drive or Reverse, followed by a hard jerk into gear.
As the issue progresses, owners describe transmission slipping into neutral at highway speeds—engine revving freely to 4,500+ RPM before slamming back into gear with a loud clunk. Some report the transmission getting stuck in 5th gear on the freeway, requiring a shutdown and restart. In severe cases, vehicles stall during driving, causing loss of power steering and brakes—a serious safety hazard.
Dealers consistently misdiagnose the problem. Most first recommend a transmission fluid flush ($200–$250), which provides no lasting relief. Next, they blame motor mounts (usually broken due to the jerking) and charge $400–$1,000 to replace them. When the jerking continues, dealers finally admit the transmission needs replacement at $3,000–$4,500. Nissan denies warranty coverage once the vehicle exceeds 60,000 miles or 5 years old, even though many owners report meticulously maintained vehicles. A technical service bulletin (NTB11-035, April 2011) acknowledges the issue but no recall has been issued. One owner's vehicle caught fire in the garage, with the fuse box area melting.
Same Nissan Maxima powertrain reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Hard shifting and jerking between gears (1st-2nd, 2nd-3rd)
Transmission shifts violently and roughly, particularly between 1st and 2nd gear during acceleration and deceleration. Occurs during slow-speed traffic and highway driving. Problem worsens as transmission warms up.
When: Starts around 50,000-85,000 miles; worsens with vehicle warm-up and higher mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Violent jerking when shifting between 1st and 2nd gear; Hard downshifts from 2nd to 1st gear; Delayed engagement when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse (3-10 second lag); Rough shift quality that intensifies when transmission is warm; Problem worsens during slow-speed traffic and acceleration
Codes mentioned: P0797 (Pressure Control Solenoid Valve Stuck), Shift malfunction codes
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement $3,000-$4,600; valve body repair $1,500-$2,000 (often performed as temporary fix); transmission fluid flush $200-$250 (ineffective); motor mount replacement $400-$1,000 (misdiagnosis—does not resolve issue)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB NTB11-035 (April 2011) addresses harsh 1-2 and 3-4 upshifts and 4-3 and 2-1 downshifts for 2004-2006 Maxima with RE5F22A 5-speed automatic; Nissan typically denies warranty coverage once vehicle exceeds 60,000 miles or 5 years; no recall issued despite hundreds of complaints
Transmission slipping and loss of power engagement
Transmission slips out of gear during driving, causing engine to rev freely at high RPMs before slamming back into gear with a loud clunk. Occasionally, transmission becomes stuck in a single gear or refuses to engage into gear entirely.
When: Intermittently from 50,000+ miles; becomes more frequent and severe with age and mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission slips into neutral during driving; RPMs shoot up to 4,500+ without corresponding vehicle acceleration; Transmission gets stuck in 5th gear on freeway; requires shutdown and restart to recover; Vehicle will not move when put into gear; sits motionless despite accelerator input; Sudden disengagement in middle of traffic
Codes mentioned: Service Engine Soon/Check Engine Light, Transmission fault codes
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement $3,000-$4,500; fluid drain and refill $500+ (temporary relief only); transmission specialist diagnostic $100+
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan denies warranty coverage for out-of-warranty vehicles; offers trade-in at steep discount instead of repair assistance
Transmission hesitation and delayed engagement
Transmission hesitates 5-15 seconds after shifting lever is moved to Drive or Reverse before finally engaging with a hard jerk. Delay often occurs when car is cold or warming up.
When: Throughout ownership; more pronounced during cold starts and warm-up period
Symptoms owners cite: 5-15 second delay between shift lever movement and actual gear engagement; Hard jerk when transmission finally engages; Hesitation worse when vehicle is cold; Creates safety hazard in traffic when acceleration is unpredictable
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission fluid flush (ineffective); transmission replacement; no cost-effective repair confirmed to resolve issue long-term
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers recommend transmission flush as initial troubleshooting step; no permanent solution offered
Engine stalling during driving and gear shifts
Engine suddenly stalls while driving, causing loss of power steering and brakes. Most dangerous when vehicle is moving at highway speeds or in traffic. Can occur during gear transitions or after transmission problems escalate.
When: Develops as transmission issues worsen, typically after 80,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls unexpectedly during driving; Loss of power steering and power brakes when stall occurs; Stalling during gear engagement or transition; Stalling occurs after transmission has warmed up; Vehicle may restart after several seconds
Codes mentioned: Check Engine Light / Service Engine Soon Light, Multiple dashboard warning lights illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Requires transmission diagnostic ($100+); potential transmission replacement; camshaft sensor replacement ($300-500) attempted but often ineffective
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan offers no assistance; owners are directed to dealers for diagnosis at owner's expense
Electrical fire in dashboard/fuse box area
One documented case where a 2005 Maxima caught fire in the garage while parked. Dashboard, fuse box, and driver-side interior components melted. Fire originated in the fuse box area. Related to electrical system failure, possibly triggered by repeated transmission electrical issues.
When: 2014; vehicle had prior transmission and electrical problems
Symptoms owners cite: Headlights flashing on and off erratically; Smoke and burning smell in vehicle; Melted dashboard and fuse box on driver side; Cracked windshield from heat; Fire completely disabled vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; insurance write-off; fire department response required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented
Broken/damaged motor mounts secondary to transmission jerking
Motor mounts break due to the violent jerking and harsh shifting caused by transmission malfunction. Dealers often misdiagnose this as the primary problem and recommend motor mount replacement as the fix, when the underlying transmission issue persists after repair.
When: Develops as transmission problems escalate; typically 50,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine vibration and excessive movement in engine bay; Broken engine mounts visible upon inspection; Jerking and vibration continue even after motor mount replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Motor mount replacement $400-$1,000 (does not resolve transmission problem); two or more mounts often damaged ($800-$1,000+ total repair)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers recommend motor mount replacement as first step; often misdiagnoses transmission issue as secondary symptom
Clutch pedal sticking to floor (manual interaction with transmission)
In one documented case (2005 Maxima with manual clutch interaction), clutch pedal stuck to the floor in hot weather, preventing gear changes. Dealer attributed to vapor lock in clutch fluid. Replacement of clutch master and slave cylinders required, but issue recurs every few months.
When: First occurrence in hot weather (90°F); recurring issue every 5-6 months
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch pedal gets stuck to the floor; Unable to change gears when stuck; Fluid turns to vapor in high temperature; Issue recurs despite master cylinder replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Clutch master cylinder replacement $150-300 (temporary fix; recurs); slave cylinder replacement $200-400; dealer diagnostic $150 (could not replicate problem)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer suggested DOT4 fluid as preventive measure; no permanent fix provided
Synthesized from 738 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 17 most recent
The car is over winding and sounds like the transmission is slipping. There is a significant spike in the rpms before it shifts between gear to gear. It's only got 98k and it's meticulously maintained. It's been happening for about a thousand miles.
December 2007 - took car into Nissan dealer because transmission was hesitating and slamming hard into the "drive" gear. Dealer discovered transmission needed to be replaced. January 2008, I received my car back with a reman transmission from Nissan. February through may 2008 - took car into dealer a few more times due to issue with transmission again. October 2008 - returned car again to…
Transmission hard shift from park into drive. Seconds delay then bangs into gear.
When I brought my car after 2-3 months I had transmission problems, I took it to the Nissan dealership to get it fix. After , a couple of weeks I still was having problems with the car , I took it back they said , it wasn't nothing wrong with it . Then my air condition went out, it was my air compressor took it in to the Nissan dealership to get it fix, after, a week or two it went out again took…
My car started jerking all of a sudden. I , took it to transmission shop and was told that it was my transmission going bad. I was told that it will cost me $3,000 or more to repair. I had only had the car for a year. I didn't realize this is an going issue until I started researching further into the history for the male and model of this car. Nissan needs to step up and own up to their…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Nissan maxima. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the vehicle began to jerk, lunge and slammed into gear. The failure recurred numerous times, typically in the lower gears. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic at least five times but the cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The…
I have a transmission issue with my 2005 Nissan maxima. I bought this car in april 2009 with a little over 36k miles. As of december 28, 2009 my car has 56k miles. Car has really bad jerking motion up shifting and down shifting between 1st and 2nd gears every day. The transmission is slipping. Brought maxima to Nissan dealer ship who suggests to flush transmission and change motor mounts…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Nissan maxima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds there was a violent jerk when shifting from first to second gears, and also when shifting from second and third gears. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or a dealer. The manufacturer was not notified. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 105,000.
I own a 2005 Nissan maxima sl. At about 65000 miles I started to experience problems with my transmission. When changing the gear from park to drive the car would violently kick back and forth. The same would occur when ever the car transitioned between the 5 gears. I have researched this transmission problem online and have also surveyed many local mechanics. I have learned that this is a…
2005 Nissan maxima se, transmission problems. Sometimes shifts violently, when in reverse & jumps from 2 to 3 gear, almost like being rear ended, also revs up to 5 or 6 RPM on the tact without foot on pedal, and looses power. I took it to a Nissan dealer who told me I needed a new transmission for $4000.00 and because of the shifting the motor mounts also need replaced. One time the car will…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2005 Nissan Maxima?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2005 Nissan Maxima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 738 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 649 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 70,000 and 103,000 miles, with the median around 86,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,000; a quarter make it past 103,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Nissan/Maxima.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.