STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Nissan Maxima suspension problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension 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.
STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item listed, if any should occur. - Most brake incidents fall into the following categories: a. Brake Noise: A squeak, squeal, clunk, or groan that occurs when the brakes are applied or released. b. Brake Judder: A vibration that can be felt in the vehicle, steering wheel or brake pedal when the brakes are applied. c. Pedal Feel: The effort needed to operate the brakes is too high or too low. SERVICE PROCEDURE 1. Verify the condition by road testing the vehicle with the customer. 2. Determine the specific brake incident based
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin provides information to identify: - A leaking strut or a shock absorber that qualifies for replacement under warranty. - A strut or shock absorber that has slight oil seepage, a condition which is considered normal, does not affect strut/shock absorber operation or performance, and does not require replacement. - A strut or shock absorber that should be replaced due to rod resistance/noise issues. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN REAR SUSPENSION MEMBER REPLACEMENT/ BUSHING REPLACEMENT AND SEALING. UPDATED 6/12/12.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Front suspension vibration dominates the complaint cluster. Owners consistently report steering wheel shake and shimmy at highway speeds (55 mph and above), plus rough driving on inclines and bumpy roads. The issue started early in ownership and persisted despite extensive work: tire rotation, balancing, alignment (repeated 7+ times on one vehicle), strut replacement (one owner had struts replaced 5 times), brake and rotor service, control arm and ball joint replacement, and even wheel replacement. One owner had a rear suspension ABS recall performed but the vibration continued. Dealers blamed East Coast road conditions on one case, but the pattern spans multiple regions.
Transmission problems run parallel and are plainly the worst issue. Owners describe jerky, hard shifts between gears accompanied by loud clunking, delayed engagement (5+ seconds to engage Drive), and transmission slipping out of gear while driving—engine revving freely before jerking back in with a burnt smell. These events are unpredictable, sometimes absent for days, other times recurring a dozen times daily. One owner paid $3,000 for a used transmission and immediately had the identical problems resume. Multiple transmission shops told owners this is a known defect in these vehicles and should be recalled.
A handful of owners report metal fatigue noises from the front end, right-side suspension dysfunction with temperature-dependent noise, and front-end shake during braking—all proved difficult or impossible for dealers to resolve.
Same Nissan Maxima suspension reports on nearby years: 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Front suspension vibration and shimmy
Owners report steering wheel shake and vibration at highway speeds (55 mph and above) and rough driving at lower speeds (40 mph). Multiple complaints note the issue persists despite tire rotation, balancing, alignment, strut replacement, brake service, rotor replacement, and wheel replacement. One owner had rear suspension ABS recall performed but problem continued.
When: Reported from early ownership; one case at 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Shaking steering wheel at 55+ mph; Vehicle shake on inclines or bumpy roads; Rough driving feel when accelerator depressed; Shimmy and vibration over 55 mph; Front end shaking during braking
Repairs/costs cited: Tire rotation, balancing, and alignment attempted 7+ times with no resolution; brakes and rotors replaced; struts replaced multiple times; control arms and ball joints replaced on front driver and passenger sides; rims replaced (some noted as bent); wheel bearing assembly replaced under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Rear suspension ABS recall performed on at least one vehicle; front struts replaced under warranty on multiple occasions; wheel bearing assembly replaced under warranty
Transmission jerking and slipping
Owners report hard jerky shifts between gears, transmission slipping out of gear during normal driving with engine revving freely, and delayed engagement. Symptoms are intermittent—sometimes absent for days, other times occurring multiple times daily. One owner replaced the entire transmission at cost of $3,000 and still experienced the same problems.
When: Started about one year into ownership on 96,000-mile example; another owner purchased used and had transmission failure requiring replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Jerky shifts between 1st and 2nd gear and 2nd to 1st; Loud clunking noise during shifts; Transmission slips out of gear during regular driving; Engine revs freely after slipping out of gear; Takes approximately 5 seconds to click into gear after shift lever placed in Drive; Burnt oil or electrical smell following shift events; Intermittent symptoms with no clear pattern; Vehicle jumps when switching gears or applying/removing foot from gas
Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid approximately $3,000 for used transmission replacement; multiple transmission shops reportedly told owners these cars have a known transmission problem and believe a recall should be issued
Front suspension metal fatigue noise
Owner reports loud metallic clunking sound as if metal fatigue is occurring in the front of the hood. The sound occurs every time the car moves from side to side. Dealer could not diagnose the problem and stated it is a factory defect. Owner expresses fear the engine may fall to the ground.
Symptoms owners cite: Loud hard blow sound from front of hood; Sound occurs each time car moves side to side; Sound consistent with metal fatigue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated it is a factory defect but did not repair or further diagnose
Right side suspension dysfunction and noise
Owner reports continuous suspension malfunction on the right side of vehicle that feels like loss of control may occur. Loud noise occurs on right side when outside temperature exceeds 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Multiple dealer service trips attempted to address issue. Rear shocks were replaced on one occasion.
Symptoms owners cite: Suspension not properly functional on right side; Feeling of potential loss of control; Loud noise on right side when temperature above 75 degrees Fahrenheit
Repairs/costs cited: Rear shocks replaced
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had suspension 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 suspension problem on the 2005 Nissan Maxima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, suspension issues most often appear around 60,200 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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.