1.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
101,461 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.

2004 Nissan Quest drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2004 Nissan Quest Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #29

Mar 312018

Quest

  • 181,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While driving on the interstate with 2 infants in cars seats as well as 3 other adults the vehicle lost power. It would not accelerate. Within minutes the steering was stiff and was extremely difficult to turn. Pulled off the interstate and onto a side road. The vehicle finallt decellerated to a full stop. Turned it off and restarted a few moments later. Vehicle ran again but no steering. Popped the hood and looked and no power steering fluid in the well. Added fluid and steered ok till 4 blocks from my house at which time the steering acting up again and not accelerating no matter how far you push the pedal. Turned it off and restarted again. Steering not working but accelerated enough to park it at home. Took to my mechanic but says he cannot look at it until Wednesday. Was so scared cause had the grandbabies in the van.

- Saint Petersburg, FL, USA

problem #28

May 172016

Quest

  • 106,000 miles
The car would stall and the steering would go out, which was very dangerous. It happened daily since may of 2016. In order for the car to go from stopped to a starting position, it would take all of my strength to push down on accelerator to get the car to move.

- Havertown, PA, USA

problem #27

May 052016

Quest

  • 64,000 miles
During 05/05/2016 started having transmission issue, the car suddenly started giving starting problem and then when it will start it will not have any pickup in drive mode. After few hours everything went normal and when started driving all of sudden break got pressed and car couldn't go anywhere and check engine light came on. After diagnostic it found to be bank 1 camshaft sensor but even after replacing vehicle still behaves same with engine light on.

- Naperville, IL, USA

problem #26

May 132016

Quest

  • 160,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I believe a sensor somewhere is going out. The transmission intermittently will "miss" a shift, or come out of gear. If I let my foot off the gas and then give it gas again, it will sometimes "slam" in to gear. When it is acting up, it will also take a couple seconds to go in to drive from park or reverse, then it "slams" in to gear. It also is lacking in power, almost as if a vacuum advance was not working properly. This seems to happen when it is warm. Once, after replacing the battery the vehicle seemed to work fine for some time before starting to act up again.

- Bonney Lake, WA, USA

problem #25

Jan 012014

Quest

  • 0 miles
After the minivan is warmed up for 15-20 minutes the transmission feels like I've been hit form the back of the vehicle when down shift to 1 St gear it slips and the RPM gauge moves back and forth. Mechanics shop have told me the solenoids needs to be replaced transmission is only 108,000 miles.

- Inglewood, CA, USA

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problem #24

Nov 152015

Quest

  • 85,000 miles
Engine control module [ECM] due to a bad design, rain and water from melting snow leaks onto the ECM and destroys it.I have been told that this is a common occurrence with the 2004 Quest and that Nissan had a secret recall on vehicles up to 8 years old.while driving on a busy highway at 60 mph the vehicle suddenly slowed to 20 mph, I was lucky to get off the highway safely.why did Nissan not notify all owners.

- Kirkland.Quebec,Canada, NY, USA

problem #23

Oct 082015

Quest

  • 110,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

On 10/08/2015 - within 10 days after my last servicing thru Nissan dealer I lost transmission on my Nissan Quest 3.5 SE model year 2004 with mileage 110000. It was very painful experience as vehicle had to be towed to tom wood dealer where its been replaced at a very high cost from my pocket that I was not prepared. I was surprized on the transmission failure for such a low mileage but more surpise that the dealer could not detect it during multi-point inspection check after every oil change servicing. For the sake of record, I have performed all of the Quest servicing (100%) thru the dealer from where I bought this van initially. Also I had replaced transmission oil at 60K mile servicing that was recommended at that time. This van is well maintained and still got this transmission failure is a surpize and raises concerns to the Nissan dropping quality. Also I was looking online and noticed Quest 2004 has this problem, known for bad transmission. There are many complaints and case reported against Nissan usa. I am reporting to all 3 sites thru this link below (carcomplaint, cas and NHTSA). www.nissanproblems.com/trends/transmission-jerking/ I pulled off very dangerously on the free-way when this transmission failure had occured, it would have been a major accident.

- Carmel, IN, USA

problem #22

Mar 112015

Quest

  • 122,681 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Quest. While driving 45 mph, the transmission slipped and made an abnormal noise from the front end of the vehicle. In addition, the odometer failed to provide the reading level. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the transmission, the water pump, and the electrical system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 122,681.

- Decatur , GA, USA

problem #21

Jun 222015

Quest

  • 147,000 miles
I was driving my van and I came to a stop on a hill and it wouldn't go, I had to push the pedal to the floor to go. And it won't go in reverse either. I had power problems years ago but turning my van off and back on 'fixed' the problem. Also the timing chain issue has been going on for years.

- Dallastown, PA, USA

problem #20

Jun 072015

Quest

  • 182,435 miles
Attempting to get on the interstate. Accelerated, but RPM's went up to 5 or 6 but the speed did not increase. Husband tried to manually shift, but vehicle would not go into overdrive. We pulled off the road, turned vehicle off and restarted. Vehicle reacted correctly to accelerating with just a little sluggishness. Transmission fluid was checked and it was fine. Unfortunately, day trip was cancelled and children were very disappointed, because we were afraid to be too far from home and not be able to get back.

- Portland, TN, USA

problem #19

May 042010

Quest

  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission slams you into gear and then wont shift.. makes the van undriveable

- Hope , RI, USA

problem #18

May 042015

Quest

  • 110,000 miles
Over the last 6 months, the transmission in our 2004 Quest has slipped out of gear while driving down the road. This has caused a safety concern for my wife as traffic mounts around us.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #17

Oct 162013

Quest

  • 100,000 miles
Van makes a rattle when RPM's are lower than 3000. It's the timing chain as I was told by a mechanic.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #16

Jan 132010

Quest 6-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
Loud knocking noise from are of transmission being told it is common in Quest 2004 S the guide become loose and rattles.

- Oakboro, NC, USA

problem #15

Jul 202014

Quest 6-cyl

  • 112,065 miles
I was driving with my son and the transmission line snapped. I was scared because I didn't know what happened. Thank god my son who is disabled was not in the car. My mechanic said that this should not happen. When I got my car back my transmission is now very sick. I have always maintained all fluid changes at the correct time. My car is not the same. Now today my oil pan was "eaten" from the transmission fluid leaking. I have had many issues with my Quest. This car was not built with proper parts. I can't drive it but I have to keep it for my son is in a wheelchair and is severly disabled.

- Poughkeepsie, NY, USA

problem #14

Jul 202013

Quest

  • 127,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Quest. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 mph, the transmission slipped out of gears without warning. The failure recurred sporadically. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing who confirmed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 127,000.

- Nappa, CA, USA

problem #13

Apr 162014

Quest 6-cyl

  • 101,125 miles
After having driven my Nissan Quest to a friend's house, I was attempting to back out of the driveway. When I shifted into reverse, there was a loud thud from the transmission. I was able to back out of the driveway, but when I shifted into drive, there was again a loud thud. I accelerated and although the engine RPM increased, the van hardly moved. I should have been going 25mph, but was going only 5mph. I disengaged the overdrive button on the shifter and attempted to accelerate again. I was only able to go 10mph and the engine RPM indicated 3500rpm. I pulled the van over to the curb and came to a stop. I shifted into 3rd gear. There wasn't as loud of a thud, but there was a noticeable lurch forward. I was able to drive in 3rd gear to get home using sidestreets, however, I was turning 3500 RPM at 34mph. There had been no indication of any issues on the way over to my friend's house and the maintenance on this van has been pretty meticulous. The automatic transmission fluid level was check after I arrived home and the level indicates that it is full.

- Gahanna, OH, USA

problem #12

Jul 032013

Quest 6-cyl

  • 104,000 miles
Rattling noise that increases as I accelerate. I assumed it was part of the exhaust system only to find out it is a timing chain issue which can cost at a minimum of $1800 for labor that does not include parts. I have contacted several mechanics in my area and they won't even deal with this issue due to the way Nissan has put the timing chain in the 2004 Quest.

- Jefferson, MA, USA

problem #11

Jun 292013

Quest 6-cyl

  • 87,000 miles
Vehicle lost speed dramatically on the road. Car would not drive more than 10 mph, no increase in rpms with accelerator depressed. Mechanic reports ECM failed while driving due to rust development. ECM is placed in unprotected location directly under windshield drain. Nissan offers no fix.

- Olympia, WA, USA

problem #10

Feb 262013

Quest 6-cyl

  • 87,875 miles
While driving to work, I noticed my van was having acceleration problems. From a stop sign when I drove the engine revved up to almost 5000 RPM then shifted hard into 2nd gear on my automatic transmission. Then while driving 40 mph the vehicle felt like it was continually shifting between gears. Then when I tried to park at my works parking lot, the van would not shift into reverse at all. Then would I took it to the Nissan dealership they charged me $93.50 on 02/27/2013 and told me I needed a new transmission and the cost would be approximately $2500. I've only had the vehicle for less than three years.

- Lawton, OK, USA

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