The Lemon Index2004 Nissan Maxima.
The 2004 Nissan Maxima is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 281 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 409, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about tires, it has 2 recalls, and it gets 21 mpg combined. The best Nissan Maxima year is 2013.
Lemon alert. 4.1× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2013
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 1,426 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Nissan Maxima year. 2004 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 56K to 100K miles on the car (1,186 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 67K–101K miles
- tires complaints mostly came at 20K–44K miles
- suspension complaints mostly came at 2K–46K miles
Recalls 2
- seats 2005
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 2004
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Nissan told dealers about
Nissan sent dealers 114 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin provides information to identify: - A leaking strut or a…
- STRUT AND SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended
- Gurgling noise from heater core
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedGlass roof shattering2004
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
2004 Maxima with cracks on the sidewalls of the tires. Customer states that the tires had cracks in the sidewalls and goodyear further stated he is ineligible for reimbursement.
2004 Nissan Maxima owner · NHTSA complaint 10204985
More owner reports
2004 Nissan maixma. Consumer states that all four good year tires have sidewall cracks.
NHTSA complaint 10196937
Dt: contact states the tires on his vehicle have large cracks on the inside wall. The tires only had 20,000 miles, the service dealer stated they were 75,000 mile tires. The tires have been replaced by a local service dealer.
NHTSA complaint 10122571
Quick answers
Is the 2004 Nissan Maxima reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 4.1× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 409; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Nissan Maxima year by this measure is 2013.
What are the most common 2004 Nissan Maxima problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are tires (42%), suspension (24%) and visibility (8%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2004 Nissan Maxima have?
2 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Nissan Maxima get?
21 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2004 Nissan Maxima problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 56,100 and 100,000 miles. The middle report was at 80,000 miles, from 1,186 complaints.
Does the 2004 Nissan Maxima have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2004 Nissan Maxima cost in fuel a year?
About $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2004 Nissan Maxima have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Nissan Maxima year is better than the 2004?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2013, 2019 and 2011.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works