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:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,392 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.
When putting the car from park to drive it hesitates and then jerks into gear. Hard shifting from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. When downshifting this also happens in the same gears. This started around $40,000 miles and happens everytime the car is drove. When the car is hot it jerks alot harder when shifting.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. While driving at any speed, the contact noticed that the vehicle would vibrate, violently jerk, and stall sporadically. The failure began two years ago and the dealer made seven attempts to duplicate the failure but to no avail. The manufacturer offered the contact $800 toward repairs yet the failure persisted. The current mileage was 108,696 and the failure mileage was 60,000.
I have 2005 Nissan Maxima it had a problem with transmission I went to the dealer ship they said this model coming with a minor defect with the transmission they told me to file a complaint with you to get the recall start.
2005 Nissan Maxima was shifting from 1st to 2nd and also downshifting very hard as well. The transmission would also slip occasionally when driving slow through for an example a row of stop signs. 2 weeks after I purchased the car I had to replace the transmission $3800 from a dealer and the dealership I bought it from offered no help because I paid cash for the car. Now I have my new transmission and it shifts better but I have been having the same slippage problem as before and only had the new transmission 3 months. There is a major defect in these cars and Nissan should fix that. I have owned 3 Nissan but after I get rid of this car I will never own another one if Nissan doesn't take some responsibility and fix their mistakes. No matter how costly, they will end up loosing alot of long time customers if they don't.
2005 Nissan Maxima-having issues with the transmission-jerking and jumping between 1st & 2nd gear when starting, slowing down, and shifting gears. Also jerking when on cruise control. Hesitation when going from park to drive, and forward to reverse. This is my 3rd Maxima so I'm loyal but very upset!!! I have been told by a former Nissan mechanic that this is a common problem with the 2004 and 2005's Maxima transmission and Nissan is doing nothing to fix the problem.
- Marietta, GA, USA
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My 2005 Nissan Maxima has never had any major problems. I bought it new. I do a lot of highway driving to and from work and have about 93,000 miles now on the car because of the long distances every day. The problem with the transmission has become more noticeable within the past couple months. The automatic transmission shifts very hard from 1st to 2nd and sometimes 3rd and back down and feels like a bucking Bronco. Today the trans slipped completely while accelerating at least three times on my drive in to work and the RPM's went flying. It's never slipped completely until today. The transmission is failing and it should be lasting a lot longer than 5 years. Over the past 2-3 months the problem has gotten worse. Now it does the bucking Bronco thing every day, several times a day. I have already taken the car in once (to a local transmission shop) and they tried a transmission flush that cost nearly $400. It seemed to help for a couple weeks but the problem is back and is much worse now. I am planning to take it in again but I'm being told that it may cost me $1,500 to $2,000 to replace the transmission. I have seen hundreds and hundreds of reports online for the same issue. This can't be a coincidence and something needs to be done by Nissan corporate right away!
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that when shifting into gear, the transmission knocked roughly. When driving, the gears would slip and the rpms would rev. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified. The current mileage was 100,557. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Have a 2005 Nissan Maxima. It has automatic transmission. It is jerking real hard between 1-2 gear and when slowing down it also jerks. It jerks so hard it feel like im being rearended. This is ridiculous and Nissan is aware of this problem and offers no assistance! they know they put a messed up taransmission in these cars! it is not fair! I am not goin to get killed because my car will not go when I pull out on freeway. I could of got killed! it jerks when going from drive to park. I pulled out on freeway this morning and my car would not go, almost got hit by a vehicle. This is a defected transmisiion and there are 1,000's of complaints all over the web about these cars. Nissan will not help me at all. This is a major safety issue. Someone can get killed because of poor workmanship done on these transmissions. This is not right! this needs a recall and Nissan needs to fix this! Nissan needs to fix this! they need to fix this!!! my family will sue them if we get hit by a car and me and my kids die because of my transmission not going into gear and getting stuck!
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. While driving approximately between 5-15 mph, the contact heard a loud knocking noise coming from the transmission. Also, the transmission failed to shift correctly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated that the transmission solenoid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 97,000. The VIN was unavailable.
The transmission is slipping in between 1st to 2nd gear. A very hard jerk often. A hard jerk when going into reverse. It happens when the car is warmed up. I am being told that this is a very very common problem with the 2004 and 2005 Maximas and looking online it is a defect in the cars transmission assembly. I am being told I have to replace the transmission and it is very costly. Then to most likely have the same problem with the new transmission gets about 60,000 miles on it. Have been having problem for months, so being that we do not have finances to repair, the car is sitting.
I purchased a new 2005 Nissan Maxima. Since then I have replaced the engine mounts 4 times. Now at 88,000, I am told I need a new transmission. I am 47 years and have owned many cars in my lifetime. I researched this topic and found many americans with similar transmission problems who own 2004-2005 Nissan Maximas. The car jerks forward when going from 2-3 gear, neutral to reverse and neutral to drive. Engines revs high when this is happening and jerks forward when driving. This is a public safety issue that has lead to accidents and engine fires. Similar experiences and complaints can be found at-www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/nissan_maxima.html updated IVOQ 05/10/11
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 35 mph and trying to accelerate that the vehicle would lunge forward violently. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised him that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
I own a 2005 Nissan Maxima and I have been having a shifting problem for a while. There is a delay in shifting from reverse to drive and also a big jerk when it shifts from reverse to drive. I recently changed the tranny mount because I thought that was the problem. I problem did not go away. I think there is a general problem with the 2005 model of Nissan Maxima and it should be recall for transmission and shifting.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact was driving approximately 40 mph when the transmission began to violently jerk with hesitation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they informed the contact that the transmission was defective and the failure was a common issue with the model year. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
2005 Maxima..very hard jerking. Goes really high in rpms without notice. Have read alot of complaints just like mines. Motor mounts have been replaced because of the hard hitting from the transmission. Nissan knows that there is a serious problem and just doesnt care. Car stalls and I was in traffic and was glad that the car behind me noticed that something was wrong. I dont feel safe driving. Such a nice car but not worth all the pain its causing.
I have a 2005 Nissan Maxima, and have had a problem with the transmission sticking in 3rd gear while going down a hill. It jerks very badly when going from 1st to 2nd...and back down from 2nd to 1st. It also jerks when I go from park to drive. I've taken it to Nissan and they explained that I will need a new transmission. This problem started at 65K miles. I first had the valve body fixed, and it stopped jerking for 6 months....but started back. Now, I'm told new transmission. I have spent $3,600 on repairs for a car that is 6 years old (5 at the time of repairs), and I am now being ask to spend $4,500 more. Nissan will not help as I have called and filed a complaint. After further research, I've discovered that this is a very common problem and is obviously a defect in the parts that make up the transmission. Very frustrating and disappointed with Nissan. Will never purchase another one again.
Around 95,000 miles my 2005 Nissan Maxima began to jerk and buck while shifting gears. I took it in and had the codes read - there were none. The jerking and bucking has intensified as well as delays while accelerating and hesitation, then "drop" going from park to drive or reverse. I took it to a transmission specialist and they said I had to replace broken motor mounts but that there most likely would still be an issue, after doing research. I did pay for new motor mounts and the transmission is still jerking. It will be $3700 to put in a new transmission. Nissan should recall the 2005 Maxima. Never again!
The automatic transmission is defective. During acceleration, there are delays shifting into first and second gear causing the transmission to rev at high levels and a sharp jolt when it does shift into gear. Slowing down and accelerating have the same bucking problem. On line consumer blogs indicate this is a fairly common problem.
The contact owns 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that when shifting from first to second gear or when shifting into reverse, the vehicle would exhibit an abnormally violent jerk. In addition, when attempting to accelerate while driving 20-25 mph, the engine would exhibit an unusual increase in rpms and the transmission would hesitate to respond to acceleration attempts. Once the vehicle responded, it would begin jerking abnormally. The contact took the vehicle to a mechanic where the transmission was flushed and the contact was advised that the repair would not completely correct the failure because the transmission valves had failed. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 69,800 and the current mileage was 70,900. Updated 04/15/11 updated 08/18/11
Nissan has a huge transmission problem. It seems to be a serious and common problem with 2005 Nissan Maxima cars! my Maxima was jerking between 1st 2nd and 3rd gears, rpms reaching 4 during shifting, hard jerks in down shifting; a 5 sec pause when putting the car into reverse or drive, I also heard grinding noise when shifting. This occurred on a daily bases.I had to pay $3,500 for a rebuilt trans. Nissan headquarters refuse to; look at my car...at that time I only had 95,000 miles Nissan said my warranty expired. Nissan told me I wasn't a true customer because I wasn't getting my oil changed by them on a regular basis. (I paid my car off in full in 2005 how devoted is that) Nissan needs to take responsiblity for this faulty transmission. I will never ever buy another Nissan again. On top of all that my ABS system is completely gone it's too much to repair.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Lake Butler, FL, USA