CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2004-2006 Nissan Maxima has widespread transmission problems. It starts with the vehicle jerking when shifting, & progresses to full-blown transmission failure.
Maxima owners report spending $3,000 to replace the transmission, typically around when the odometer hits 100,000 miles.
There's a class action lawsuit filed in late 2011, & it is still in the "discovery" stage. Apparently, these things take time ... far too much time.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
90,422 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Suddenly after putting my car in drive from reverse after being parked in a parking lot my car jerked so bad I thought my neck was broke. It has continued. I live on a budget and am disabled so I don't have the money to replace or make repairs on my transmission.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While accelerating from a complete stop, the transmission exhibited a delayed response without warning. Additionally, the transmission jerked violently whenever the gear lever was shifted from the park position into drive. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission sensor failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shook violently when downshifting and would sometimes stall without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
When auto is in motion when the transmission shifts from low to higher gear engine revs to exceedingly high RPM's as if in nuetral. When letting off the accelerator after slowing the transmission reengages with a violent jerk, very dangerous at interstate speeds
- Louisville, KY, USA
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What is wrong with Nissan" why is there not a recall on the Maxima transmissions" something needs to be done about ! not everyone has the money to throw away on a problem that the manufacturer caused. Someone should really help solve this issue. Cannot drive the car because the transmission is shot. So much for a reliable car for my son to get back and forth to college with. My husband has served this country for close to 25 years and is shocked that Nissan is not being made to be accountable for their mistakes.
Transmission gave out on the highway, almost crashed into another vehicle, had to pull off the side of the highway, was written up at work for being late. I had bought the car less than 6 months ago. Nissan looked at it said it was fine. 150,000 miles
Same problem as many others with this horrible transmission. At low throttle, major jolt when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear. Just about rips the engine off it's mounts.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the brake pedal was depressed and the gear shift failed. The check engine warning indicator illuminated continuously. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the solenoid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 188,000.
I took my car in for an inspection, found out that the floor on the passenger side had rusted from the inside out and there was a good size hole. It cost me a couple hundred to fix because it wouldn't pass the inspection. The next thing was the slack timing chain, the car sounds like a truck. I've been told it would cost up to $3000 to fix. Then the biggest safety issue is the transmission, this one is really concerning. The jerking, bucking, kicking, clanging, the seconds of hesitation between drive and reverse and then suddenly it engages and the kick could give you whiplash. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a rodeo. When the car sits for awhile (overnight) there is no issue with the initial start but once it warms up that's it. You can't accelerate properly once the car slows down, or is making a turn, going around a bend or comes to a stop because it drops out of gear, then there is the hesitation and at that point it just revs, this happens 2 or 3 times before it engages again then there is a massive bang and the car lunges forward, by then the traffic is right under your rear bumper. After this happens a few times there is no more acceleration, the pedal has to be pushed to the floor for the car to move. The engine light came on a month or two ago and hasn't gone off. This is a real dangerous, safety issue. A few days ago another issue appeared, I cannot open the driver side door with the remote door opener or the electronic door opener on the inside of the door. At this point I've read many complaints about these issues, they are all manufacture problems but the timing chain and transmission is the biggest when it comes to safety because you do not know when the car will stop. Why hasn't Nissan done a recall"???" there are enough complaints.
This is the 4th time the transmission has gone out on this vehicle, and this time it happened on the street. I feel I was very fortunate to not get struck by another vehicle as I got the vehicle home. I purchased the vehicle in 2006, there has to be an issue with the transmission in these vehicles.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While reversing the vehicle, the gear jerked, vibrated, and hesitated to shift into drive. The failure occurred on numerous occasions prior to receiving a manufacturer's recall related to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who indicated that the transmission fluid needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the transmission fluid and serviced the transmission. The contact stated that the dealer's remedy did not prevent the failure. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was to be diagnosed and repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 112,000.
My Nissan Maxima jerks from 1st to 2nd gear. Its uncontrolable and extremely dangerous. It isalso delayed when switching from drive to reverse. I could live with repairing these issues if they werent common but the amount of people that ive read about with the same issues shows me that its nothing I did. Its clearly a manufacturing issue and its a shame that Nissan doesnt stand by their products
Car lurches forward when coming out of turns, seems like it is getting caught downshifting from what must be 3rd gear down to second..when it catches, the car takes off and accelerates forward quickly. Bought the car without a warranty at 79,000 and am shocked this hasn't been made into a recall yet for the extremely dangerous nature of the problem.
Transmission shift erratically! slips, clunks, slams into or out of gear! there are times it is so bad the car is unsafe to operate on public roads or highways. Since I've experienced this problem I have read many other of the complaints whom describe the same problems. Nissan needs to recall this car/transmission. The know it is a deadly problem. If there have been "unexplained" injury or deadly accidents involving the Nissan Maxima the nhtsb may want to look into the transmission failing and causing the deadly accident.
Transmission failed at 76,000 miles. Nissan would not help in repairs. Failed again @ 139,000 miles. Safety issue would be when car stops completely and your car could get rear ended and/or when it just all of the sudden slows even when accelerating. All this with little ones in the car!
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While at a stop light, the vehicle jerked forward without warning. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked when attempting to accelerate or decelerate. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 146,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving at any speed, the vehicle jerked forward without warning. The vehicle jerked when attempting to accelerate or decrease in speed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Rocky Mount, NC, USA