Overview & Reviews

The Maxima has been fully redesigned for 2004. It now rides on the same underpinnings as the well-received Nissan Altima. This year's Maxima is longer, wider and more powerful than the previous version.

• Roomy interior, lots of upscale options, sweet V6, available with a manual transmission.

• Some small, oddly arranged controls.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 681.00

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  Dont Buy a 2004 Nissan Maxima - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By mortega1 - September 15 - 6:34 am

  In 2007 I began to notice that the “chrome finish” on the front grill was beginning to peel off. This was also beginning to happen on the “chrome” accents that are embedded on the roof of the vehicle. In late 2008 the power window motor located in the driver’s door began to malfunction and now it is not functional at all. In 2009, the power door locks located on the driver’s side (front and rear doors) also began to malfunction. Power to the steering wheel column and the drivers seat have now also failed. I have also experienced issues with the air conditioning system and I have had several leaks in the o-rings that have been addressed several times. Do not purchase a Nissan product!!

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  GOOD CAR HAS BEEN BUILT VERY CHEAPLY - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Dave12114 - July 4 - 10:00 am

  Nice, solid car killed by cheap tricks in attemps to keep costs down. Next time will get Acura 3.2TL or like For this sticker price VDC ( taking on account horrible steer tork) MUST BE standard - hey, NISSAN - if you screwed something up - be honest - PAY FOR IT! Cheapest insterior materials Ive ever seen for this price! Suggested Improvements "SKYVIEW" made only to force pay more for "regular" sunroof - cheap trick Options - they put together to make you pay for the stuff you dont want! Warranty period - comeon guys - you (NISSAn) dont trust your car?

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  Maxima really worth buying????? - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By shavis - May 26 - 9:40 pm

  My husband and I had our 04 Nissan Maxima for 11 months & 23 days. We bought our Max in Sept.03 we traded it in Sept.04. The first time we had a problem it was 35 degrees outside. Max had problems starting. The colder it got the more it would not start at all. I had about 15 mornings when the veh would not start at all. I missed 1.5 hrs of work one day. & it was 15 degrees I spoke w/dealer from where we purchased Max & they bring it in, but could not find anything wrong w/it. We started having quality issues in Apr04 grill began to bubble up, rear door weather strip had to be replaced 5x. Not happy with quality of veh. luv speed and exteior of veh not happy w/ many other things!

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  Could have been much better.... - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By nissan fan - April 8 - 2:00 am

  I love the power of this. Its very fun to drive espeically with the 3.5 liter power house. However, my biggest complaint with the car is the interior quality. Its all PLASTIC, and has a very cheap look and feel to it. After 1,500 miles my sunroof and front dash is already rattling. Im not sure what Nissan was thinking with this car when it came to the interior. The exterior is so-so. My biggest worry with the exterior the cheap front grill. I drive on the highway, and I usually get rock chips. Now my plan is to get rid of this car and get an Accord, at least the interior isnt made of cheap plastic.

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  Major disappointment - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By nissanguy - February 25 - 2:00 am

  Fun to drive, but no way this car can justify sticker price of $28.000. Poor quality inside the car. Plastic moldings on the seat are pealing off. Ugly strip of carpet-like material runs on the dashboard. Poor rear window visibility. Even top of the line SL has cheap looking plastics (wood imitation). Outside - front grill is terrible. Made of cheap shiny pieces of plastic. The whole thing moves to the touch of hand. Nissan tried to separate Maxima from Altima and they only succeeded in placing a higher price sticker, since the only good thing that this car has (engine) is also available in Altima 3.5, which costs thousands $ less and looks better.

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  ITs EHHH - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Gary - October 16 - 1:20 pm

  Got it in 08, three days later new transmission, thank god it was under warranty. Slowly other parts started wearing out, motor mounts, inner tire rods and ac compressor have to be replaced according to the dealer all this comes up to 3k. I never again will buy another Nissan, Ive had Hondas all my life. Stick with acura if you want upscale quality that wont dissapoint you. Im waiting a little longer before I jump into a tl.. Oh yeah turning radius is terrible! A semi does a better u turn!

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  Worst car Ive owned - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By Eric - September 24 - 5:40 am

  This is the 3rd and last Maxima I will own. The car is/was beautiful and had all the perks, leather, heated seats, sunroof, heated steering wheel, Bose. I always got compliments on what a good looking car that is was. But that was it. During the 5 years of owner ship, replaced brakes 3 times, rotors twice, 3 wheel bearings, 1 steering knuckle, AC system had a leak at factory fitting, the rear end could not be aligned and ate tires every few months, and the transmission started to go (Google it). I hear many of the same complaints from this $30k+ car. Got to the point that I did not enjoy driving it because I was worried of what would go wrong next. Now I drive a 2009 Hyundai Sonata that I love!

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  Big Letdown - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By irisp - August 7 - 9:25 pm

  I had a 1994 Nissan Maxima for 10 years with minimum problems,then got the 2004 and it has been a headache ever since. Got it in 2004 and by 2009 the transmission went out!The front end has every problem in the book.Struts, rack and pinion,shocks,..you name it its bad.I get new tires every 2 years,no matter what I have done it still sucks.Corporate will not help.Has to be the worst car ever!The CD player wont play unless you are sitting still,the power windows get stuck,just a horrible car. I will NEVER buy another Nissan.

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  2004 Maxima Quality Problems - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By paulfromfl - July 19 - 6:50 am

  I am writing this to confirm other Quality Issues. 1. My transmission failed after 86,000 miles and was replaced by the dealer at a cost of $3,400. Coroporate Nissan would do nothing for me or the dealer although this was my second Maxima. I am shocked at how bad they treat loyal owners of their brand. 2. The chrome accent strips along the roof are peeling and Corporate Nissan will do nothing. 3. The dealer now wants me to replace the valve cover gasket at 95,000 miles due to it leaking at a cost of $690. The gasket cost is around $40 on line. 4. The leather steering wheel is coming apart and this is the second one, as the original was replaced for the same problem.

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  2004 nissan opinions - 2004 Nissan Maxima
  By CARL BURT - July 10 - 10:00 am

  It is entirely to rough for me. performance is there but I would like a car with a much better ride. It just dont smooth out the small imperfections in the road. The low profile tire is most of the problem.