Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering 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.
17
Latest Aug 10, 2022
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.
2%
of 948 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.
5
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 steering
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Steering
Filed Aug 10, 2022
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the power steering would fail to operate. The steering wheel would require excessive force in order to steer the vehicle. The contact would frequently replenish the steering fluid however, the failure persisted. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000
NHTSA ID
11478670
Incident
Jul 1, 2022
Mileage
107,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 19, 2017
POWER STEERING GEAR
NHTSA ID
11024209
Incident
Sep 18, 2017
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Oct 12, 2016
WHILE DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA THE GEARS SLIP AND JUMP INTO GEAR WITH A VIOLENT JERK THAT IS AFFECTING MY DRIVING AND MAY CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND POSSIBLE INJURY MYSELF OR OTHERS. THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE VALVE BODY THAT IS CAUSING THIS VIOLENT SHIFTING AND IT SEEMS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS THIS ISSUE. IT IS DISGRACE THAT THE NHTSA HAD DONE NOTHING TO ADDRESS THIS WIDE SPREAD ISSUE, MUST PEOPLE DIE FIRST SO IT DOES GET ADDRESSED. I WILL ALSO CONTACT MY STATE REPRESENTATIVE TO REPORT THE ISSUE. I OPENED UP A CASE WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WITH NO LUCK OR ADMITTANCE OF THEIR FAILED COMPONENT. NISSAN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED TRANSMISSION WITH A P0726 CODE AND HAD AN OPEN TECHNICAL BULLETIN NTB11'035 WHICH IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF NISSANS FAILED DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. NISSAN HAS QUOTED ME OVER $2500 TO REPAIR THEIR FAILED DESIGN COMPONENT.
NHTSA ID
10915454
Incident
Aug 13, 2016
Mileage
101,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureBrakes+9 more
Filed Jul 4, 2016
Crash reported3 injuries reported
"TAMARA INFLATORS" SEAT BELTS DIDN'T LOCK OR LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. SMASHED BODY ALL THE WAY TO BACK SEAT BOTTOM TO GROUND. ENGINE WAS IDLING VERY HIGH FELT/SOUND AS IF WE WERE GOING 60 BUT ONLY WAS GOING 40. NO AIR BAGS CAME ON. BRAKES GRINDING. BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT AND TIRES FLAT IN BACK.. WINDOWS SLOW ON DRIVERS SIDE. WHEN THE SHERIFF TAHOE HIT US AT 80MPH ON U.S. 40 GREENFIELD IN WAS IN THE SHOP AT J&M TRUCK AN TRAILER ON THE WEST SIDE OF INDIANAPOLIS HAVING THE OIL LEAKED FIXED AND TIRES ALL FIXED AND ROTORS AND LIGHTS BY [XXX] A COUPLE MONTHS PRIOR. I HAD MY LITTLE GIRL IN THE BACK SEAT AS WELL WHERE SHERIFF HIT AND RAN. I UPLOADED A BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURE. VIN#[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ID
10882397
Incident
Feb 12, 2016
Mileage
175,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Sep 28, 2015
PRIOR TO INCIDENT CAR WAS SHIFTING REALLY HARD AND SLIPPING GEARS. ONCE WHEN DRIVING, CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO A SAFETY MODE NOT LETTING IT SHIFT OUT OF 5TH GEAR. GOING DOWN HILL CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL BECAUSE OF BEING IN 5TH GEAR AND CAR ENGINE TURNED OFF, AS WELL AS POWER STEERING AND BRAKING. HAD IT BEEN ON A BUSY ROAD A CRASH WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.
NHTSA ID
10778054
Incident
Sep 27, 2015
Mileage
170,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Aug 6, 2015
2 injuries reported
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA FROM CARMAX IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP AND CHANGE GEARS REALLY ROUGH. THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN CHANGING GEARS EITHER AT IDLE OR WHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION DOES IT THE MOST BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND AND SECOND TO THIRD AND WHEN DOWNSHIFTING IN THOSE SAME GEARS. MY MAIN CONCERN IS MY FAMILY IN THIS VEHICLE OR ANY OTHER FAMILIES IN THE SAME VEHICLE WHEN WE ARE DRIVING IN THE VEHICE OUR HEADS AND NECKS GET WHIPPED BACK AND FORTH VERY ROUGHLY. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION CHANGING GEARS ON ITS OWN WHILE IM DRIVING THE CAR. I ONLY ASK FOR YOU TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND MAKE IT A RECALL. NISSAN DID NOT WANT TO HELP ME OUT OR ANYONE ELSE. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND HEARD NUMEROUS STORIES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. NISSAN PUT OUT A POOR PRODUCT AND WONT FIX IT. THEY NEED TO OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKE, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR DIES. I ASK OF YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS. NOT ONLY FOR MY SAFETY OR MY INFANT'S SAFETY BUT FOR ANYONE WHO OWNS THIS VEHICLE. PS. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I WOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN IT. PPS. THE TEST DRIVE AND THE 1ST MONTH WERE FINE UNTIL NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS OCCURRED. PLEASE HELP, PLEASE HELP! GET THIS RECALL ACTIVE! THANKS, FRANK
NHTSA ID
10746773
Incident
Jul 14, 2014
Mileage
71,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Mar 29, 2014
I AM HAVING A TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT CANT SEEM TO BE FIGURED OUT. I AM EXPERIENCING A HARD JERK WHEN I SHIFT GEARS FROM 1ST-2ND GEAR. IT WONT HAPPEN FOR DAYS BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL COMEBACK. FOR SOME REASON NO ONE CAN TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE LOTS OF REPORTS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON 2004-EARLY 2005 MODEL NISSAN MAXIMAS. I LOVE THE CAR BUT NISSAN NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10575458
Incident
Mar 28, 2014
Mileage
109,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 1, 2014
WHEN TURNING IN BURGER KING DRIVE THRU TURNING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVE SHAFT SOMETHING IN IT BROKE AND THE WHEELS WOULDN'T TURN. WE WOULD TURN THE STEERING WHEEL SND IT WOU LD JUST SOUND LIKE POPPING SOUND. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT COULD HAVE KILLED ME. *TR
NHTSA ID
10558102
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Steering
Filed Jul 17, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,941.
NHTSA ID
10465978
Incident
Jul 13, 2012
Mileage
97,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Apr 4, 2012
I RECENTLY PURCHASED AN 05 MAXIMA WITH 107,000 MILES ON IT. THE NEXT DAY I HEARD A LOUD TICKING FROM ENGINE. MY TENSIONERS ARE FAILING AN ESTIMATED $2000 REPAIR. IN THE SAME DAY UPON ACCELERATION MY WHEEL JERKED VIOLENTLY, A SIGN OF A FAILING TRANSMISSION. $3000+ THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL THAT A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN INITIATED BY NISSAN.THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, AND A SEVERE RISK TO THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER. I WILL BE CONTACTING EVERY AVAILABLE NEWSPAPER AND NEWS AGENCY IN MY AREA AND WILL TRY TO CONTACT NATIONAL NEWS AGENCIES THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ATROCIOUS. I BEG OTHER NISSAN OWNERS TO MAKE THIS A PROBLEM FOR NISSAN THAT WONT GO AWAY UNTIL PROPER ACTIONS ARE TAKEN. *TR
NHTSA ID
10454030
Incident
Apr 4, 2012
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Dec 19, 2011
BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW 9/2005. CAR WAS SERVICED MULTIPLE TIMES AND EVEN A NISSAN ENGINEER TESTED STEERING AND SUSPENSION. WHEN SPEED IS AT 60 MPR, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON BY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, ALSO. ENGINEER STATED THAT CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. WELL NOW MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. PLEASE NOTE THAT STEERING WHEEL STILL SHAKES, TOO. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND SEE THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS CAR HAS TO BE A LEMON. I WILL BE CONTACTING NISSAN NORTH AMERICA TO FILE A COMPLAINT ALSO AND REQUEST THAT THEY REPAIR MY CAR. *TR
NHTSA ID
10440439
Incident
Nov 30, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Dec 19, 2011
BOUGHT CAR BRAND NEW 9/2005. CAR WAS SERVICED MULTIPLE TIMES AND EVEN A NISSAN ENGINEER TESTED STEERING AND SUSPENSION. WHEN SPEED IS AT 60 MPR, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON BY DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, ALSO. ENGINEER STATED THAT CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. WELL NOW MY CAR'S TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. PLEASE NOTE THAT STEERING WHEEL STILL SHAKES, TOO. I DID A GOOGLE SEARCH AND SEE THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS CAR HAS TO BE A LEMON. I WILL BE CONTACTING NISSAN NORTH AMERICA TO FILE A COMPLAINT ALSO AND REQUEST THAT THEY REPAIR MY CAR. *TR
NHTSA ID
10440436
Incident
Nov 30, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
SteeringTransmission
Filed Sep 18, 2010
MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS WHEN SLOWING. I WOULD BE COMING TO A STOP SIGN AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T JUMP OUT OF GEAR AND THE CAR WOULD FREE ROLL. ONCE STOPPED THE CAR WOULD JERK AND TRY TO TAKE OFF WHILE FOOT ON BRAKE. NOW THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD TO THE POINT TO FEELS LIKE IM IN AN ACCIDENT OR THE ENGINE IS COMING THROUGH THE HOOD. WHEN I ACCELERATE ONTO FREEWAY FROM RAMP IM SCARED THAT I MAY GET REAR ENDED BECAUSE THE CAR JUST WONT ACCELERATE PROPERLY TO GET INTO LANE SAFE. THIS OCCURS EVERYDAY PARTICULARLY WHEN CAR WARMS UP AND I THEN BEGIN TO SMELL ELECTRIC BURN OR OIL BURN. *TR
NHTSA ID
10356291
Incident
Sep 1, 2009
Mileage
85,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 18, 2008
STEERING COLUMN MOVEMENT,ONCE STEERING COLUMN IS IN THE DRIVING POSITION IT CAN BE MOVED UP AND DOWN ABOUT 1 INCH. *TR
NHTSA ID
10221626
Incident
Mar 12, 2008
Mileage
44,850 mi
Steering
Filed May 22, 2007
THE CAR WAS EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED STEERING WHEEL. ATHIS WINTER I USED IT ALMOST DAILY. I BEGAN TO NOTICE IN MARCH THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING DISCOLORED. THE AREAS WHERE THE HEATING MECHANISM WERE NOW BLACK AND GREEN. *AK
NHTSA ID
10191486
Incident
Mar 15, 2007
Mileage
43,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Aug 14, 2005
VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL & SEATS - HAVE HAD BACK TO DEALER FOUR TIMES IN THREE WEEKS - THEY'VE REPLACED WHEEL (OUT OF ROUND/BENT), ROTORS/BRAKES AND ARE NOW INVESTIGATING TIRES - VIBRATION OCCURS IN & OUT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS-LOOKING AT LEMON LAW. *NM
NHTSA ID
10132761
Incident
Aug 4, 2005
Mileage
600 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed May 25, 2005
PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA IN DECEMBER 2004. BY MARCH OF 2005, THE STRUT ASSEMBLIES (BOTH) HAD BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN AN ADDITIONAL TIME FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT OF NOISE IN THE STRUT ASSEMBLY BUT WAS REPAIRED TO NO AVAIL. MAY 25, 2005: NOISE IN THE FRONT END AGAIN. UPON INSPECTION FROM THE AUTHORIZED NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, IT WAS SAID THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM A FAULTY RACK AND PINION. PRIOR TO THIS (UPON CONCLUSION THAT THE STRUTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A THIRD TIME), I ASKED NISSAN TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE. THEY REFUSED. THIS VEHICLE'S FRONT END IS NOT REPAIRABLE AND HAZARDOUS. THE CAR, AT THIS TIME, HAS 17K MILES AND NEEDS TO BE EITHER REPLACED OR BOUGHT BACK.
NHTSA ID
10122155
Incident
May 25, 2005
Mileage
500 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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own