2004 Nissan Altima vs 2004 Nissan Maxima
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2004 Nissan Altima | 2004 Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 276 | 1,425 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 91 | 114 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 14 | 33 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 16 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–23 | 21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 74,000 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Altima | Nissan Maxima |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 17 | 934 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 109 | 70 |
| Tires | 3 | 141 |
| Suspension | 10 | 102 |
| Structure | 42 | 56 |
| Electrical System | 32 | 56 |
| Engine | 30 | 51 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 | 61 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 73 | 86 |
| Rust / corrosion | 36 | 44 |
| Check engine light | 28 | 31 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 72 |
| Vibration / shaking | 9 | 69 |
| Loss of power | 8 | 10 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 206 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 36 |
2004 Nissan Altima
2004 Nissan Maxima
Compare all Nissan Altima vs Nissan Maxima years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.