RoadVitals

2004 Nissan Maxima Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Feb 3, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
<1%
of 1,425 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Feb 3, 2020

THE BODY CONTROL MODULE KEEPS THE FRONT AND BACK LIGHTS FROM WORKING. THE TAIL LIGHTS ALSO NOT WORKING. THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHTS NOT WORKING COST FOR REPLACING WITH LABOR AND TAX IS OVER 1K IN CALIFORNIA. WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT NIGHT I COULD NOT SEE THE ROAD. I HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET TOWED HOME.

NHTSA ID
11306707
Incident
Jan 21, 2020
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 9, 2018

TAKATA RECALL ON LIGHT KEEPS GOING OFF! ALREADY REPLACED BULB BUT IT STILL GOES OFF AND COMES BACK ON WHEN YOU TURN IT ON!

NHTSA ID
11061502
Incident
Jan 2, 2018
Mileage
16,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 2, 2010

SAFETY ISSUE WHEN DIMMING HEADLIGHTS, LAMPS COMPLETELY TURN OFF - YES NO HEADLAMPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10369000
Incident
Nov 10, 2010
Exterior lightingSuspensionTransmission
Filed Sep 2, 2010

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT HAS 97.000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT WON'T GO INTO DRIVE FROM PARK WITHOUT A 3-5 SECOND DELAY, IT DOSEN'T DOWN SHIFT PROPERLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT'S TO THE POINT NOW THAT WHEN I COME TO A STOP IT DOWN SHIFTS SO ERRATICLY THAT THE TIRES CHIRP. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE OVER 150,000 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT, WHICH I THINK IS A FALSEHOOD. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THERE CLEARLY IS A DEFECT WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THEM. THE FOG LIGHTS SHORT OUT AND BURN OUT AFTER LIMITED USE. I HAVE SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON FOG LIGHTS, NOW I JUST GAVE UP AND LEAVE THEM BURNED OUT. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10353633
Incident
Jun 9, 2006
Mileage
40,000 mi
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting+2 more
Filed Apr 11, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS, THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED TWICE, AND THE BATTERY WIRING BURNED. CURRENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION PULLS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE FOR ANY OF THE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA ID
10224241
Incident
Mar 1, 2007
Mileage
26,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 19, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNAL BAR WAS LOOSE, AND THE TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATING, HOWEVER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER WHO DETERMINED SOMEONE INTENTIONALLY BROKE THE SIGNAL BAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WITH A LOOSE SIGNAL BAR. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, THE BAR WAS BROKEN. UPDATED 07/05/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10160190
Incident
Jun 19, 2006
Mileage
42,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 29, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ARE LOCATED ON THE SAME LEVER. WHEN PUSHING UP TO TURN THE RIGHT SIGNAL ON, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH INADVERTENTLY GETS TURNED ON, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE AT NIGHT AT A HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10154022
Incident
Mar 29, 2006
Mileage
58,000 mi
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Feb 25, 2006

10,522K MILES,- I BROKE DOWN DUE TO FAILURE OF ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH. 15,358K MILES,- I COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOUD RATTLING NOISE, LIKE A FLAT TIRE RATTLING GRINDING NOISE AND CAR FEELING SHAKY.= DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEM. CONTINUING DRIVING MY CAR THINKING EVERYTHING IS OK. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW SO I SHOULDN'T REALLY WORRY. I WAS WRONG FOR THINKING THAT. 27,500 MI. -I BROKE DOWN AGAIN GOT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP,WHERE THEY REPLACED ANOTHER ALTERNATOR. 27,732-I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE I JUST THOUGHT THE NOISE MY CAR STILL MADE DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT.= DEALERSHIP RESECURED HEATSHIELD 3. 26'099 MI.-R/F HEADLIGHT BULB BURNT OUT. DEALER FIXED THAT ONE. 28'071 MI.-LEFT SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT BURNT OUT. DEALER REPLACED . 29,276 MI.- I PAID $300.00 FOR MY MAJOR SERVICE THAT WAS DUE FOR MY CAR, ALSO THINKING MAYBE MY CAR WOULDN'T BE AS NOISY AS IT IS. MAYBE THE DEALERSHIP MIGHT FIND THE PROBLEM. 31'431 MI.- I STILL HEAR THE GRINDING NOISE,THE COVER UNDER ENGINE WAS LOOSE, MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT COLD ENOUGH, AND THE CENTER CONSOLE WAS LOOSE.=THIS TIME THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS THE HEAT SHIELD FOR THE GRINDING NOISE, THEY FIXED THE LOOSE COVER UNDER ENGINE,FIXED CENTER CONSOLE, AND REPLACED LOW PRESSURE HOSE IN THE A/C. 31'813 MI.- CAR STILL MAKING THE GRINDING NOISE, I HEAR KNOCKING NOISES FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR WHEN I REVERSE, AND THE A/T LIGHT STAYS ON LONGER THAN NORMAL,THEN TURNES OFF.= DEALER REPLACED FRONT EXAUST PIPE, SAID THE KNOCKING NOISE I HEAR IN THE BACK OF THE CAR, IS FROM THE AFTERMARKET AIR CLEANER.(THAT IS IN THE FRONT OF CAR).WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP, I FELT LIKE THIS TIME MY CAR WAS GOING TO BE FIXED.I GOT IN MY HEADED FOR HOME.I HEARD THE SAME NOISE I HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT SINCE 15,358 MI.I TURNED AROUND BROUGHT RIGHT BACK IN TO SERVICE.=THEY REPLACED THE REAR MANIFOLD AND CAT CONVERTER.I PICKED UP MY CAR BUT I STILL HEAR THE NOISE MY CAR MAKES AND IT IS LOUDER WHEN TURNING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10151198
Incident
Dec 14, 2004
Mileage
10,522 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 18, 2005

DT: THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS NOT WORKING. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE BULBS WERE GETTING HOT, WHICH CAUSED THEM TO BLOW. OUT. THE PROBLEM FIRST STARTED ON NOVEMBER 1, 2004. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
10136570
Incident
Nov 1, 2004
Mileage
37,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .