Used 2005 Nissan Maxima Sedan Consumer Reviews
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pretty good, could be better
I have had this for for 2 years now and still look forward to driving it. Acceleration: Off the line is decent but there is lots of torque steer to get used to. Highway acceleration is pure bliss. I mean wow. It's a great looking car as well. The interior is kind of cheap and the climate control isn't very good. It gets good highway mpg (30ish) but if you floor it around town, you will get about 220 miles to a 22 gal tank. The turning radius is horrendous and the headlights are not very good and I can barely tell the difference when I turn the brights on. I have a shimmy in the brakes when I am braking downhill that no mechanic seems to be able to reproduce. Would seriously consider rebuying.
Second Max
I had a 2002 SE Max - sold it after 20K miles back in summer 2004. Bought my current Max in 7/05. It is a blast! Great Combination of performance, sedan, room, looks, features, price, uniqueness. No regrets here whatsoever. I cannot believe how easy it is to approach 100 mph.
- 3.5 SL SedanMSRP: $7,000163 mi away
- 3.5 SL SedanMSRP: $4,495173 mi away
- 3.5 SE SedanMSRP: $4,495298 mi away
5 time Nissan Owner!
In my opinion you can not go wrong when you purchase from Nissan. The company is top notch and the customer service is superb. I drive a 2004 Maxima SL and I absolutely adore it. This is my 4th Maxima and I also drove a Pathfinder. The Pathfinder (2001) drove just about as smooth as the luxurious Maxima. I missed having a car, so I bought the Maxima the last time. You can't beat the value because the cars come standard with so many great features. The buying experience was good and I feel like I received a fair deal each time. As far as reliability...the cars have been virtually flawless. Go get one!!!!
satisfied customer
I drive approximately 2000/month all over the state of PA and am intending to drive Maxima to Florida in Jan. I have had no problems. This is my third Maxima. I always get it loaded with options, especially the sunroof.
fun with $$
had the maxima 2 weeks and its performed beyond my expectations. opted for the cloth interior SE and my only problem is with the velcro like seats that really hold you in place even at really slow speeds. seats are comfortable though and the engine is so sweet.
Love it but needs some improvements!!!
The car is a very nice car and I love the power. Have taken the car on two long trips. One I was alone so it was fine the other was very cramped. Not made for traveling, or maybe i just travel with too much stuff. Has pretty much every feature available. However the car seems very thin and I sometimes feel unsafe. The car looks great though, I love the new body style! If you buy one, buy it with all the features you want, dont put aftermarket xm radio or subs in it or you will have trouble if you have radio problems. The dealerships like to blame problems on other people!!! They think you like to spend hours at the dealership for no reason at all. They can never find anything wrong
Nissan wins again
Had this car for 2 years. I have 120k miles on it. Asside from regular maintenance, I have had no problems. It drives very nicely in all conditions. Awesome for long hauls on the highway. Plenty of power when you need it. This car is the best one I have ever owned, and I plan to drive it until the wheels fall off.
Buyer Beware
The sunroof leaks in the car wash. After 3 attempts to have the problem fixed, I received a copy of the Nissan work instruction stating 'If water leaks occur only when using an automatic car wash or high pressure water spray, no repair is necessary'. All the positive aspects of the car are overshadowed by the leaking sunroof. Buyer Beware -- Nissan does not warranty the sunroof in a car wash and this information is not available to consumers prior to purchase. If you never use an automatic car wash, this is the car for you. Otherwise, buy a Toyota.
Nukenight Nissan Maxima
Probably the best vehicle in the full size luxury class. We considered BMW 5 Series and Toyota Avalon, before deciding on the Maxima SL. It has been excellent riding, luxurious, gets good mileage (on regular, no less)! The extras are well thought out and well placed. Did not get Nav System or Power Moonroof, but love the Skyview roof. Average 23 mpg in combined city/hwy driving and almost 30 on hwy only. Only thing missing is the DRL system which would be a nice touch. Wife was even more enthusiastic that I about the styling. She was impressed with BMW, but cost too much. Said the Avalon was a 'hoo-hum' vanilla vehicle. "This is a real car!"
'THE BEST YET"
I have had many cars in my life and the Maxama that I own now a 2005 Is the best car that I have owned yet. The performance is fabulous. The power is unbelievable and the outside design is the most beautiful car that I have owned Yet. A few times that I was in bumper to bumper traffic, I had some people roll down their windows and motion to me and then tell me how beautiful the car is. Nissan hit a home run with the Maxama and I will buy another one in a heart beat. Thank You Nissan. George Allen Eiring
My first Maxima
I had traded in my '01' Quest for this first time beauty. I am floored by its performance and handling. At first glance it is easy to mistake it for a heavy luxury car. Drive it once and put that myth to bed. It is 'practical' for the family issue, yet 'youthful' for some solo time. I actually wake up earlier than normal, ready to shred some much driven road. Cannot say enough what an absolute blast this car is to drive.
A good one
Very sporty looking car. Get a lot of looks. Lot's of interior room. Easy to get baby into car seat in rear. Like the security of side curtain air bags. Fun to drive. Need to have lighted controls on wheel. Need to get a better tire on the car. Goodyear SRA's are terrible for reliability and wear. 18" design means costly replacement. Easy to pass with all the power. Wish the car would ride softer in bumpy roads.
Very Good Value
I purchased my vehicle in May 2005. Negotiated hard and got it off the lot at dealer invoice plus an aggressive trade-in value. I love the car. It has performance, comfort and good looks all at a price signficantly lower than cars with a higher brand name. My only complaint is that the door handles are hollow and feel cheap and the gas milage is a little less than advertised. But if you are looking for a comfortable car with most options standard and good performance and not worried about the brand name, the Nissan Maxima is for you.
Incredible fuel economy
Traded a basic black 1995 Maxima for a red 2005. Few family sedans are fun to drive. The Maxima is fun, handles well, has tight steering and suspension, attractive. It's very fuel efficient when you're not tempted to take advantage of its great acceleration. Drivers who have a Maxima with manual transmission have a much more exciting, yet economical, car than those who drive an automatic. This is a car that must be driven with manual transmission to fully appreciate both its fun factor and its economy. Worth it to learn to drive a stick shift for this car.
Flawless Acceleration
I test drove other mid-size cars in similar price ranges; Camry, Accord Ex, Mustang GT 4.0 and none accelerated like the Maxima. I do a lot of highway driving, and hate not being able to pull out and away from a bunch of slow pokes, who love riding each others bumpers.
I wouldn't buy another Nissan
I've had this car for just under 3 years and have had all sorts of problems. First there was this weird "air leaking" noise around the front-passenger side. Second, The exhaust bracket started making noise right around 30,000 miles. By this time I had moved to Dallas and a dealership couldn't figure out what was wrong with it at first. I had to take it back to them like 5 times before they could figure out what was wrong with it. They fixed it and the problem came back within 6 months. Also, about this time, the cover under the sun-roof fell. Now, just around 60,000 miles the air condition stopped worked. I would not buy a Nissan again
The Best!!!
I love my 2005 Nissan Maxima SL. I had a 2003 Maxima SE and i loved it but instead of going for another maxima i got a explorer and hated it. but then I got a BMW hated it so gave it to my daughter and got another Maxima and LOVE IT!!!! I bought the car with 81000 Miles on it and now has about 83000 on it. No Squeaks or rattles ( that i've heard) ride is perfect, and is very fun to drive. Engine is quiet and QUICK!!! Very roomy and BOSE sound system is GREAT. LOVE the xenon lights and the heated steering wheel. The Traction control came in handy during a bad thunderstorm the other day.
My Maxima
I purchased my Maxima in June 2005. It is a nice car. The only thing that I don't care for is the gas mileage. Mine has a 20 gallon tank, and costs about $65.00 everytime I fill it up.
Could have been a 10!
Love everything about it. Plenty of pickup from any situation, everyone admires looks, needs better suspension or clearance. If loaded with 4 pax it will bottom out over driveway. Wouldnt stop me from buying it again, just add better shocks.
This car saved my LIFE!!!!
The car is fun to drive and easy to handle. I have had this car for almost [?] when I was involved in a wreck. A car traveling in the opposite direction spun out of control and hit my nearly new Maxima in the front right, deploying airbags and spreading car parts everywhere. After sliding a good 100 feet on my rims I was struck again from behind by a second car. All the safety features work as designed! Unfortunately, my 2005 Maxima is totaled but I am not!!
Best in it's class
A fun to drive car in a innovative package. Lots of pick up, some torque- steer though. All in All Great car for the money.
05 Maxima SL
Overall nice car. I had it for 6 months. Transmission is lazy in traffic. Don't step on it or your on board computer will show your MPG going as far down as 12MPG through out an average of normal and traffic driving. Most confortable ride ever. Make sure to opt for the driver preffered package. I didn't and I am sorry now. Stereo is great. Heated seats take a litle too long to warm up. Neat features that let you open the front windows from the remote (why not all 4, I can't understand...). Plenty of space for 5, comfortable with 4 on board. Overall, I believe it is a great car for the money. I can't wait to see what the 2008 will have to bring to the table...Its worth it and ready to move up
My Maxima
The design of the new Maxima caught my eye. Upon a closer inspection I fell in love with it. The interior is very roomy for my children. I am in my 20's and I do not feel as though I am driving a granny car, but rather a sophisticated and stylish one. The safety features such as the quick release latch in the truck are a bonus among others. The only complaint I have would be the touchy gas pedal.
Awesome Vehicle
Great Style, lots of power. Rides like a full size Caddy, Dependable most importantly. Proven Nissan 3.5 V6 Engine. Great Paint. Oil, Gas, Brakes for first 200,000 miles You Go figure! Nothing Aftermarket needed to improve looks. Looks great right from the showroom floor.
This Car is over rated
I've never had a worst experience with a car than what I had with my new Maxima. The back panel came loose and the driver side door pillow also came lose. The car has a lot of cabin noise, and after only 12,000 miles the lumbar broke. Not to mention there's noise in the front end of the car. I would much rather buy a hyndai than purchase another nissan. After 9 months I decided to sell my nissan an purchase a used lexus. I have to say the service at lexus is 100 times better than the service at nissan. Stay away.
Find another car
I love the performance and handling of the car, but for the money, I wish that I had bought something more comfortable. The suede-type fabric inside is getting dirty after only 6 months, and moldings inside & out are beginning to loosen. The gas mileage is not nearly what I expected for a car of its size and class. My salesperson led me to believe that it would be good also. My husband & I are ready to trade for an Acura--similar price with many more features and creature comforts, and hopefully better gas mileage.
Mediocre Maxima
Very disappointed with my first Maxima, expected much more. Quality is lacking. Overall, nice looks, but mediocre performance and rough drivetrain.
Could be better ......
Erratic transmission shifts with the 5- speed auto. Noise in cabin after 35 MPH or on highways. Excellent suspension settings. Great exterior view.
Disappointed with 2005 Maxima SE
At 34,600 miles, my brake light and battery light began to blink intermittently. I took it to the Nissan dealer the next day and the service writer told me it was most likely a bad alternator. Four hours and $671.56 later the car was repaired. I did not buy the extended warranty so I paid for it in full. The next day I called Nissan's customer service line to see if there were any recalls or if there was any way they could at least give me a break on the price of the alternator ($345.00). Of course, there were no recalls, and no, they would not reimburse me for the replacement cost of the faulty alternator. Sorry, Nissan, I will not purchase or recommend a Nissan product again.
Just Short of Perfection
One issue separates this car from the great review that it truly deserves - I'm talking about world class torque steer. When you jump on the gas, two things happen, exhilaration and the immediate need to latch on to the steering wheel. If you change the drive wheels to the rear pair, you'll have perfection.
Satisfied
Having narrowed my search to the Maxima, Avalon, and Accord, I settled for the Maxima primarily because of ease of negotiating with the dealer. Now that I've driven the Maxima for the past four weeks, I have only one real complaint. A deafening pecking noise began under the dash below the steering wheel. Talked with the service dept and if you have a similar problem, turn on the defroster and it should stop. It turned out to be coming from the heat/cooling system. A part will have to be replaced that controls the doors within the unit. Had same problem with my 2004 Chev truck (but it wasn't as loud).
Unhappy Owner
Car has shimmy in front wheels, dealer says they can't fix it. A/C works intermittently, chrome is coming off all 4 wheels, rattles in front and rear of car. Every time I take it in for repair, dealer says no problem found. Car had a rattle underneath it, I found a nut missing off of the tailpipe hangar. Not the dealers problem, but had to replace the tires at 15k because of cracking in sidewalls. This is the first and last Nissan I will own, because of poor build quality and lousy customer service from dealer.
05 MAX
Black exterior with Burnt Orange Interior gets tons of attention. People always comment on how nice of a car the Maxima is. Performance is good. This car gives you a high feature content, and is a step above the everyday family car.
My Maxima Review
This Maxima in black looks awesome. Great power and handling. A lot of car for the money. Mileage is also pretty decent.
Not as expected!
The car has little more than a year with over 19,000 miles on it and it has already been in the dealer 7 times. 3 of those times was because of a short circuit that burns the interior and taillight fuse. The other four because of the struts. Service is horrible and they have not found the problem of the short circuit. The car moves well but the turning radius is really bad. Thinking of dumping the car and look for a more reliable car like the new 2007 Toyota Camry.
Truly Dissappointed
I bought an 05 SE in Jan and now 8 mon. later I'm looking to get rid of it. The build quality of this car is horrible. I'm getting a clucking noise in the front everytime I take off, stop or turn. Dealer says they can't duplicate it but I hear it all the time. Entire dash squeaks, rattles, & cracks everytime the weight of the car shifts. Dealer wants to charge me to fix this as "adjustments" aren't covered under warranty after 12,000 mi. There's a vibration in the tranny when I shift from reverse to drive that the dealer says is normal (yeah right). Rotors have warped 3 times within 16,000 mi. wheel shimmies at 60 mph. I'm in the process now of trading it in on an 07 Camry.
Great car
I have owned about 20 cars in the past 15 years and the 2005 Nissan Maxima is by far the best car I have ever had the pleasure to drive
Great Performance
Been a Great Car so far. Fun to drive, great for road trips. 33 MPG on the highway! Love the engine, friend has a 2005 Mustang GT and the Max gives it a run for its money. Looks spectacular with tinted windows and 18" Chrome Wheel Package.
Consumer Reports is accurate
This is a great car with a couple of minor drawbacks. My one big hesitation was the wide turning circle, which I read about in Consumer Reports. I went from a much smaller car with a turning circle of 30 feet to this one, with 40. It makes U-turns a nerve-wracking experience, but fortunately, I don't have to make those turns often. I also think the climate controls would be better in analog (levers or dials) instead of digital, since there are so many buttons on the center console.
Great vehicle
This car gives me no reason to ever buy another car, at least for years to come. I added the Nismo cold air intake accessory to the vehicle and love the extra sound at 5500 rpm with a mild extra boost. The acceleration is prime and the style rivels the exotics in my opinion. I have always been an accord fan, but this car takes the blue ribbon. I would not want another car or could not think of another car to buy that compares to this. I'm not sure what consumer reports tested or JD Power for that matter. When Motortrend has got 5 Hyundais in the motortrend finalists, it makes me wonder if Hyundai owns shares in Motortrend. This car is the real deal and you wont be dissatisfied.
Believe the hype
I bought a used 05 Max SE in July, black on black with 20,000 miles. For the money I paid, this car has really impressed me. Mine is black with black leather and the 18" chrome wheel package; with aftermarket window tints it looks awesome. I've gotten tons of compliments on its exterior looks. My complaints with the car are the same as others'..wide turning radius, some cheaper-looking interior plastic, etc. However, the car has much more upside than downside. Awesome acceleration, good handling for a car its size, great sound system, and better than expected fuel economy. Overall, a solid option for those looking for a blend of performance, practicality, and style.
Mixed feelings...
I purchased my 2005 Maxima SE (used) about 6 mths ago. Loved it at first, but over time I've noticed some neg things. Sharp exterior though the chrome on the front grille is starting to peel off. I've noticed this is a common problem in these cars. It has a lot of get up and go, but the steering is a little unstable with acceleration. Also, rattling noise with accel. Handles terribly in the snow! I expected more from this car. Interior is roomy and comfortable, but kinda cheap & confusing. Defaults to A/C when you change the mode. Also, gas mileage is not as good as I thought it'd be. Turning radius is awful! Parking is more difficult than a car this size should be. Not sure I'll buy another.
FAULTY TRANSMISSION
Purchase in 2006, with 32,000+ miles. Loved the ride!! Once I reached 60,000 miles I started having problems with my transmission. Come to find out this is a problem with the Maxima for years and its going to cost me $3500.00+ to repair. In addition, my CD player stopped working a year ago and the locks don't always open with the remote.
lemon??
So $31k and 15 trips to the dealership later, needless to say, def never buy a Nissan again. Cheap interior components, rotten egg smell, chipping paint & peeling grille, falling headliner, etc. etc. Too many probs, not enough cooperation from dealership; they never fix ANYTHING. A total disappointment. Ive spent more $ on rental cars than I spent on the warranty itself. It is fun to drive, but the issues Ive had outweigh the 265hp engine. The interior suede door panels are hard to keep clean & the mpg stinks. It is an extremely safe car (been in front end & rear crash). But, not worth the money or the dozens of trips to the dealership. Blah. HATE IT. Never make that mistake again!
Dont like imports
I purchased my wife's 2005 Maxima in march 2006 from Enterprise Car Sales and I must say that it took a lot of out of me to buy. Because I don't like imports! But let me tell you something, this luxury/muscle car is worth it. It's and head turner, My wife just get compliments everywhere she goes. Great acceleration, and handling. Great interior room (buying point) and comfort. If there's anyone who doesn't like this car, they must be on drugs. I hate imports, but I like this car. Some small improvements needed. Is this car perfect No. But it comes very close. I hate to say it, Go Nissan
I love with my 05 Maxima
I love my Maxima. For the first time in my life I was blessed to buy a dependable car. Glad I chose the Maxima!!. Ask me if I would buy the 07 or 08? Heck yeah!!
Love My Maxima
This is my fourth Maxima. I love this car. It drives wonderfully. At first I didn't know whether or not I would like it as much as I liked my 2000, but it has proved to be an outstanding car. The ride is so smooth. I love the interior. It feels like you are in the cockpit of a plane. I would recommend this car to everyone!
Fun car to drive
Poor cup holder arrangement. Too much torque steer when accelerating, Visibility toward rear corners poor.
05 Maxima SE
This has been a great car, it's the third Maxima we've owned. Wish it had Nav. It hasn't been back to dealer for anything but scheduled service. The tires on the SE are not great in snow even with traction control. Took it to Mo., and it got 31.7 mpg on premium. Do not appreciate the torque steer or the soft paint, otherwise love the vehicle.
maxima
This is a very fun and practical car. It turns a lot of heads with it's looks and drives really nice. I installed a K&N air filter and get about 29 MPG on the highway and about 21 MPG in town. Really enjoy. Test drove a Camry before this Maxima and it made my choice really easy.