Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Nissan Maxima owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving on the nj turn pike at 70 MPH, my husband felt what seemed like a tire going flat. He proceeded to try to get to the shoulder. Suddenly, the left rear tire blew and he totally lost control of the vehicle. He was hit head-on and in the rear. Both he and the driver of the other vehicle were injured and transported to the hospital. Two days later we went to see the car at the towing garage and we saw the rear passenger tire was split on the sidewall. These tires were replaced recently and were rotated and checked by Goodyear three months ago. Goodyear saw nothing wrong with the tires at that time. Is Goodyear waiting for a death to occur before they issues a recall? There are many complaints about the rsa18" tires.
Dt: 2004 Nissan Maxima that has continental, contitouring , tire, size p225/55/r17 leaked air almost to the point of being flat. This happens over a period of time, such as two weeks, these leaks were slow, and occurred four tires. Consumer was driving about 35 MPH in a school zone and heard a pop, pulled ove,r and the right rear tire was completely flat on the rim. This occurred near a gas station ,and consumer drove there to gas station to put air in the tire, but the air system at the gas station would not work. Called family member to bring an air piggy and the tire would not inflate. Waited for tire dealer to open because this was early in the morning and they could not inflate the tire. Upon further inspection they note tha t inside of the tire running vertically from the rim to the top of the tire had a split. …
My Goodyear Eagle rs-a tires have split along the sidewall. The local retailer told me these tires are known to do that and that Goodyear has a strict policy of not allowing any replacement or pro-rated credit toward the purchase of replacement tires. This is an extremely dangerous defect which could cause fatalities in the event of tire failure. These tires need to be recalled immediately! I bought this vehicle new in July, 2003 and these tires were on the vehicle as original equipment. These tires have been garage kept and rotated every 7,500 miles with proper inflation. There's plenty of tread left on these tires and they should have lasted alot longer. The tires are splitting along the sidewall. Three of the 4 tires have done this, requiring replacement of all 4 of them. …
Eagle rsa p245/45r18 I was driving my 2004 Nissan Maxima down rt. 3 east in nj going approximately 65 MPH. All of a sudden I felt the car start to vibrate and shake terribly I realized I had a flat. Before I could even have any reaction, the car jerked to the left, then to the right, I tried to stop it and I spun out of control on the highway and crashed into another car who was trying to pass on my right. My car came to a rest with my driver's side door facing oncoming traffic, and my car blocking off the left and the middle lane, and literally 1 inch from crashing into the concrete divider. Luckily oncoming traffic stopped, and the passenger and myself in my car were not injured. However there were two people in the other car we hit claiming injury after the accident. The inside wall of the tire was completely separated from the rest of the tire. …
I have had problems with my 2004 Nissan Maxima since purchasing it brand new. Within 60 days of purchasing the car, I had to take it back to the dealership due to a malfunction with the brakes. I have spent over $1,500 since keeping the brakes and rotors repaired. I am on my fourth set of tires and have had three alignments and my front end inspected. I have had to replace an engine mount. In 2006 my air conditioner went out and I spent over $500 having that repaired. Now I am in need of a new transmission because there is internal damage due to the clutch slipping even though it is an automatic car. I have two friends with the same model/year car and they have experienced similar or the same problems. Once of my friends just replaced his transmission in his 2004 Maxima. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Nissan maxma. The vehicle has Goodyear Eagle rs-a tires, size p245/45r18. The contact stated that all four of her tires were replaced under a recall. A few days later, she felt a vibration when driving various speeds. The tire dealer stated that the failure was due to the road conditions. In March of 2008, she took the vehicle to the dealer for a tune-up and noticed that the steering wheel was shaking uncontrollably. The dealer stated that the failure was due to the replacement tires. The contact went back to the tire dealer and they replaced two more of the tires. After the replacement, the tire dealer stated that the vehicle would still drive "roughly" due to the road. In June, after a long road trip, the steering wheel shook so much that the contact could visibly see it shaking. She took the vehicle back to the tire dealer and they changed one more tire. …
I bought a 2004 Nissan Maxima about 6 months ago and the car has some defects that Nissan should be held responsible for. About a month after I bought the car I noticed a shaking in the steering when I stepped on the brakes or when I drive faster than 50mph. I took it into the dealership where I bought it from and they diagnosed that the rotors were slightly warped but that this wasn't necessarily a safety issue. Recently at 74,000 miles the cars transmission began to fail,slipping from first to second gear and from second to first gear. It jerks aggressively when it shifts and smells like burned rubber. I took it to be serviced for this and found that the transmission fluid was heavily contaminated and there was metallic residue in the transmission pan. …
My 04 Maxima currently has just over 50,000 miles on it. I have noticed some hard shifts over the past few months, but they had been very intermittent. The other day however I noticed the service engine soon light was on and when accelerating from a stop I realized that I barely had any power! After engine shut off the acceleration was back to normal. The service engine soon light remained on. The code was pulled and reset. P 0797 pressure control solenoid, stuck on. Repair cost approximately 4000 dollars. Problem outstanding. The struts have also gone bad. Problem outstanding. I have also had to replace the battery. The front right rotor is warped and causes steering wheel shim when downhill braking. Problem outstanding. My car had begun to idle very low twice and actually died once. Problem outstanding. …
Purchased car in July of 2007 four brand new chrome wheels from the dealer. By September of 2007 chrome began to peel on the inside of the wheel between the spokes on all four tires. Took it to the dealer in November and was told the best they could do was pay 50% of all costs. I called consumer affairs and they stated the same thing. I explained I couldn't afford the $1,500 it would costs me and that the dealer should warrant the cost since this incurred six months after I purchased the car. I refused the offer and continued driving on the peeling wheels. Recently, April 2008, my front passenger tire began to leak air. The car was bought back to the dealer and the rep stated the chrome was deteriorating from the inside. …
Tl contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving 55 MPH, the front driver's side tire blew out without warning. The vehicle was towed 10 miles away to a repair facility. The damage was so severe that the tire was unrecognizable and could have caused a fatal crash. Prior to the failure, the contact received a recall notice from Goodyear for tires with dot numbers with the 47th week and a range of 3104. The recall expired in December of 2007. Goodyear reimbursed him for two tires since the first failure occurred prior to December of 2007. The second failure occurred on February 5, 2009 with a replacement tire. The original and replacement tires were Goodyear Eagle rs-a, size 245/45/r18. The dot number was mga9cmdr0506. The low profile tires continue to fail due to the sidewall cracking. The contact is aware of the safety risk involved. He has photos and invoices. …
Wheel & Tire complaints in other Maxima years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2004 Nissan Maxima?
NHTSA has 146 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2004 Nissan Maxima, 10% of the model year's 1,426 complaints. The component named most often is sidewall (74 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Nissan Maxima wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 2004 Nissan Maxima, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2004 Nissan Maxima wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 30,000 miles, and 39% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 4 injuries to wheels & tires problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.