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:
11 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,985 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.
My 2004 Nissan Maxima 3.5se shifts from 1st to 2nd gear very hard, also from reverse to drive when I back up. This has been happening for a month or so and now my mechanic is saying that I need a new transmission. After some internet research, I see that this problem is happening everywhere with the 2004 Maxima. This car has not been in an accident and it now has 100,600 miles. I have just had the rack & pinion replaced last week as well as that was bad ($1100).
My car Nissan Maxima 2004 (transmission 5 speed) when low of 3 to 2 to 1 or 2 is a very strange knocking, also accelerated brother skating too, but this case when the car is already a hot or warm weather use. The computer does not come out any code of failure. Change the oil and went black "burn" is performed twice and improved a little.
My 2004 Maxima SE, reported to dealership that my transmission was not shifting from 0km to 60km mileage (159km) before my warranty expires, told that this is normal wear and tear, change car, many times returning, dealership flush transmission, but problem still there, seems to be an intermittent thing, pressure related therefore days with no problem but then problem returning, finally became fed up so demand dealership to have me speak with the Nissan rep. To slove this problem. In my investigating I found that there is alot of complaint about this same exact issue and the mileage sometimes is just 60km or even lower thus proving that this problem is not mileage related but part related. Meaning that Nissan has a faulty transmission which should be recalled as this is a problem for consumers especially regarding the safety of the vehicle. The car at times jolts forward with no warning a potential of hitting someone especially in the winter months, not to mention that the car can just suddenly stop working in the middle of no where, which can be deadly in minus degree weather. The dealerships only answer is to repair or replace car, because the problem started before the warranty was expired then the repairs should be taken care of, in my opinion but according to the dealership, if you are not broken down at the side of the road then the transmission is not completely broken so Nissan will not repair. This I have a problem because once the part is not performing its function then repairs should be done as it is broken, it does not have to be ceased in its complete function but as long as a part of the it has ceased then something should be done to bring the vehicle back to its function and this should not be at the cost of the consumer especially if they have purchased extended warranty which includes this part of the vehicle. Now that the vesicle has passed the kms its easy to say well one should change to another vehicle but that is not the issue.
My transmission jerking from 1st to 2nd gear on my 2004 Nissan Maxima with 77,000 miles. I took it in to the Nissan dealer and they recommended a transmission fluid change. I agreed to the transmission fluid replacement but the problem persist. I later took the car back but they didn't find anything wrong. Now at 133,000 miles its very bad. There is a website where hundreds of other consumers have the same problem on the 04 Nissan Maxima. The dealer or the Nissan headquarters are listening to us and are refusing to help or even recall this faulty transmission.
I've noticed a pretty severe jerking motion when going from 1st to 2nd gear and again from 2nd to 1st gear in my Maxima. I bought it used with 40K miles on it and just recently started to notice the problem when the car hit 58K. Seems much worse when moving at slow speeds in the snow. I've noticed several other postings with the same issue.
- River Falls, WI, USA
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I started to notice my transmission slipping from 1st to 2nd gear on my 2004 Nissan Maxima with 58,000 miles. I took it in to the Nissan dealer and they recommended a transmission fluid change and was advised nothing was wrong with the transmission. I agreed to the transmission fluid replacement but the problem persist. I have encountered a website where hundreds of other consumers have the same problem on the 04 Nissan Maxima. The dealer or the Nissan headquarters are listening to us and are refusing to help or even recall this faulty transmission.
I began having problems with my automatic transmission on my 04 Nissan Maxima at approximately 60,000 - 75,000 miles. The car would aggressively jerk while driving in 1st and 2nd gear. The dealership kept telling me that there was no problem and had me pay for a transmission flush several times. After taking the car back enough times, the dealership informed me that I needed a new transmission, which by that time my warranty had expired (very suspect). Since I bought the car brand new in 2003, I have followed the Nissan guidlines regarding transmission care services (spending thousands of dollars). I paid for a rebuilt transmission and I am still having severe jerks in 1st and 2nd gear. This is unacceptable and Nissan Corp. Should be held accountable. This is definitely a safety hazard on the road. In addition, it is scary for the drivers who deal with these strong jerks causing our heads to severely jerk. The old parts to my vehicle transmission are not available, yet I have receipts and the phone number to the care repair place who replaced the transmission. Please help before this issue severely hurt someone.
Transmission need to be recall by Nissan at 50,000 miles that transmission is not functioning properly and my repair shop has informed me that the model above have apparent major problems and Nissan need to do something about it.
Have a 04 Nissan Maxima with 82,000 mile on it. Had the 75,000 schedule tune up done to it. Now at 82,000 miles my car has a hard jerk when shifting from 1st to 2nd. Has a hard deceleration. I took it to the dealership and was told to replace my transmission, a $4,000 cost to me. I found a website where I am not the only one that has this problem and I am to believe to think that this is a manufacture problem. Please help to resolve.
Transmission failure - 68,000 miles, car engine guns but does not move (can get a couple of meters before behavior is exhibited) when in drive. Turning off and on ignition will again give you a couple of meters. Was purchased new but told its not covered under warranty and that expired at 60,000 miles.
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. A weld on the heat shield of the catalytic converter has come loose and causes a noticeable vibration when accelerating when cold. This subsides once it's heated up probably due to metal expansion. Problem outstanding. I have also replaced the tires due too bad alignment camber on some and also castor I believe it was wearing the tires unevenly.
I replaced transmission twice. My car a 2004 Nissan Maxima shifts gears, loses power, doesn't run. Then it makes clicking noise. All mounts have been repaired numerous times. I have no money and the car iis back in the shop to repair the transmission.
I am experiencing issues with my transmission slipping between 1st and 2nd gears, as well as going between reverse and drive. When the transmission slips there is a loud pop and the entire car shakes.
Hi, I am so mad to the top of my head that Nissan is taking our money and giving low performing vehicle like the Maxima SE 2004. I just purchased this car (2004 Maxima 04) because of my prior Nissan that worked excellent for over 10 years. But my new Maxima at 54,000 has been jerking on me every time I accelerate from 1st to 2nd gear, brought the car to the dealer and had a rebuilt transmission put on it and frankly the car is still shifting and downshifting hard. Nissan has failed to recall this product and stand behind their word as the provider of reliable cars. Just the other day while exiting the freeway I almost rear ended somebody because the gears will now downshift properly and it seemed that the car just wanted to keep going. There are hundreds of people having the precise dilemma that I am current facing; just look at www.carsurvey.com thank you for your time and hopefully something will be done for all the people that are putting their life's at risk driving these vehicles with transmission problems.
My 2004 Nissan Maxima transmission keeps jumping in lower gears and it seems this is a recurring problem with many other owners of this model vehicle it is a defect with vehicle that Nissan has to apparently known about and since most of these cars have high mileage they will not honor any warranty.
I own a 2004 Nissan Maxima and my transmission is jerking in 1 and 2nd gear(drive) and I have went to have the transmission fluid checked and replaced and the problem still exists. There are numerous amount of complaints about the 2004 Nissan Maxima's transmission... please research and do a recall before someone ends up on 20/20... with a sad story... please help!!!!
I have 2004 Nissan maximum SE, I bought the car May 2008 and still driving. I have issue with transmission, it jerks when gear is changing from 2 to 3 and inverse too. The mileage on my car is about 61,000mi, the manufacture warrant is 60,000mi on transmission, however, I took the car to Nissan dealer at 59,000mi, and they told me that no problem detected on my transmission and I have to pay $106. The car still jerks on changing gears. This thing disappoints me and it is frustration. Please advice.
O4 Nissan Maxima. This car has a defective transmission that Nissan knows about. My wife stalled in the middle of a busy highway from the problem. There are thousands of posts about this transmission and Nissan will not do anything about it.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Shorewood, IL, USA