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:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 2
Average Mileage:
53,118 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.
I bought a brand new Nissan Maxima 2004. After driving for 5 years, it has given nothing but headache and stress. It would not accelerate or would be jerking/shaking after stepping on the accelerator. While driving in the freeway, my car would slow down and couldn't drive pass 20 mile per hour, then engine died. I had replaced catalytic converter, sensors, mufflers, brakes. And the problems still haven't resolved. As of today, I don't have a car, it is at the dealer for diagnostic.
While driving my vehicle started having problems stopping. It was determined that the ABS system is not working properly. The vehicle is pulsing while stopping. I checked the internet and found this to be an ongoing problem. I then called a local Nissan dealer who also stated it is a problem & there is a bulletin regarding the ABS system. Yet there is no recall on it. Once again Nissan not taking responsibility for the problems with their vehicles. Nissan is telling me that the cost to repair this problem can be in excess of $1500. This is disgraceful. It is obvious there is a problem. I cannot wait to get rid of my Nissan. I will never buy another one. I will also be filing a complaint with BBB, consumer reports, all automobile outlets and of course the internet.
My ABS light came on about a year ago, I took it to the mechanic shop to have them look at it. And they told me I needed to replace the rear wheel hub and the ABS sensor so I did which cost me $800 dollars. The mechanic told me they get a lot of Maxima in there shop with the same problem. He said it was a Nissan manufacturers flaw. So make the long story short after I replaced the hub and the ABS sensor my ABS light still stays on and now I need and ABS control module which went bad because of the wheel hub getting rusty.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the ABS sensor warning light would illuminate and the system activated erroneously, causing the vehicle to catch on fire. There were no injuries. The fire department was called to extinguish the fire and a fire report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but denied any assistance to the contact. The failure and the current mileage was 97,000.
I took possession of this vehicle around the 14th of November and this vehicle has been returned back to the dealership 6 times within a two week period. I think this could possible be a flood car there is a smell of mildew and the visor are water damaged. To this day the vehicle has not been fixed and it is the 26th day of December 2011. The transmission seems to be slipping and I am afraid to enter traffic as the car stalls and then sticks upon accelerating. The check engine light as well as the brake and ABS lights are constantly on when the dealership stated that they had turned them off. I can smell fumes upon starting and driving this car. I am parent and I don't like to give my child or any other person a ride because of the smells. The tires were bald on the car and twice when it rained I almost has 2 major collisions when the vehicle veered into the other lane driving 45 in a 65 mph zone. I am filing a complaint because I don't think this car is a good car. I have contacted the finance company and they are stating this is out of there hands. I have taken pictures of the different item that seems to be water damaged. I also will be filing a complaint with the consumer law group regarding this matter.
- Manchester, CT, USA
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The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact was driving approximately 55 mph when she noticed a loud squeaking noise from the brakes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they advised her that the ABS failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 76,800.
The contact owns 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the antilock brake sensors came on as soon as the brake pedal was engaged. There was also a loud noise when the brakes were applied. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the sensors and wheel hub needed to be replaced by drilling new drain holes into the wheel assembly. The repair would cost $1700 since there were no related recalls or warranties for the failure. The manufacturer was contacted and gave him the NHTSA hotline number to file a complaint. The failure mileage was 60,000. Updated 05/24/11 updated 05/25/11
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact was traveling 65 mph when the brakes were abruptly applied and they exhibited an abnormal grinding. The contact stated that the brakes were recently serviced and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The failure recurred one week later and the vehicle was taken to the dealer again for diagnosis. Again, the dealer was unable to diagnose the failure and the vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was 105,000 and the current mileage was 106,000.
Partial brake failure when approaching highway stop light at 45 mph, dry conditions. Braking distance more than doubled as front brakes made very loud scraping and grinding sounds (not typical ABS sound) while not having any stopping power - I appeared to only have rear brakes. Was able to stop just inside intersection. Luckily no traffic was in way, avoiding an accident. Dealer identified problem as caused by rust buildup on rear hubs due to lack of a drainage channel/port on rear "knuckles" (said drainage port wasn't there), a known problem. Water backup in knuckle causes rust on hub and on ABS sensors, resulting in premature failure of both ABS sensors, which in my case caused an unexpected stopping problem. Both rear hubs and ABS sensors had to be replaced at cost of over $1300. Car is very low mileage and garaged. Dealer identified this as a known problem and Nissan described the repair in service bulletin reference ntb07-016B, also in NHTSA database as service bulletin number 07016, NHTSA item # 10021681. This failure was not routine and only the luck of the situation allowed an accident to be avoided. This known problem was identified in 2007 and I was unaware of it, though Nissan was. This is a serious safety problem with the ABS brakes and should trigger a recall so that others may be alerted to have this repair before more accidents occur.
I have a Nissan Maxima that I had to replace all tires because of a defect that came to me in the mail after I brought my new tires and was not reimbursed. I also had problem with front rotors that they kept replacing numerous times until my warrant ran out and than I had to replace them with high performance rotors so it would not happen again.now after all of that and more I am not able to drive my only transportation because out of nowhere my transmission blew up after my extended warranty ran out because of years not mileage and no matter where I went I was told that if I would replace it with a new or use transmission that I would have the same problem and no one wants to work on it.I was told by mechanics that only the 2004 has transmission problems.
The ABS braking system broke down several times before it failed all together. The problem appears to be due to a faulty design that allows rust to build up between the wheel sensors and the hub, which appears to be most prevalent in the salt states. The initial symptoms include the ABS firing during regular braking, which could be a safety concern at high speeds. Eventually, the misfiring ABS will cause the ABS controller to burn out completely.
2004 and newer Nissan Maximas has a serious steering wheel vibration after 40mph. Nissan dealership says they are no complaints, but the internet if full of customers having this same problem. My car is 6years old but only has 34,000 miles. New tires, brakes, rotors, alignment multiply tire balances has not fixed this problem. On the internet customer have replaced struts, bearing, cv axles and problem still exist. This seems like a problem needs to be addressed.
The ABS lights keep coming on my cars 2004 Maxima and its making a loud noise off and at low speed: Repair bill 2600 the deal stated I need 2 rear hub 2 rear sensor and actuator change (ABS activates with normal braking / ABS warning lamp is on) C1110 controller failure is the problem Accord to the dealer.
My 2004 Nissan Maxima started making a grinding noise when I put on brakes with pedal & steering wheel vibrations Dec 2009, I took it to 2 different mechanic shops for the problem & was told I needed front & back brakes & rotors which I purchased costing over $700 and the problem wasn't resolved, I took the car to jeffrey Nissan dealer in roseville, mi and they could not find the problem, this went on for over a month and finally the ABS light & brake lights came on, I took the car back to the same Nissan dealer at which time I was informed that my ABS system had went, costing me $2400 dollars in repairs(in addition to the $700 dollars already spent for a total of $3100 dollars). I believe the ABS system was defective and should have been repaired by Nissan and looking at all the other comments regarding the 2004 Nissan Maxima there should have been a recall.
I have been to the Nissan dealership 3 times in the past two weeks. I have spent over $2000 on the ABS system and it is still not corrected. I replaced a rr sensor and also the ABS module. Now I am going to have to replace another sensor in the lr and replace the module again. The ABS light came on and also the brake light. The brake pedal jerked and I could hear a noise under the pedal that sounded like wires burning. I can not believe that I have spent $2300 and I am still having the same problem and I seems like I am going to have to spend another $2300 to have properly functioning brakes. Thanks Nissan.
Over the course of several months, the "slip" indicator light on my dashboard would blink as the right front wheel locked up and I would hear a grinding noise. My Nissan dealer could not duplicate this event. When this lock up would happen, the car "pulled" violently to the right and I would lose control of the car. When these events would happen my vehicle speed would be between 25 and 40 mph and on a dry road and either driving straight or around a minor curve. On sat. 5/30 while driving between 35 and 45 mph the slip light came on 3 times within 10 minutes. The first time a violent pull to the right with loss of control causing me to go onto the shoulder of the road. The second time, both front brakes engaged and the car almost came to a complete stop and the car behind me missed rear ending me by 5-6 feet. The third time both front wheels locked up pulling me to the right. No damage. There is no warning when these events happen. Sudden and shocking loss of vehicle control. The brakes lights do not come on. My Nissan dealer tells me that there have been no "codes" in the past, but on sat. The vehicle "threw" a code indicating the yaw/G force sensor had failed. As the driver of the car, you are out of control and risking your life, property, and the safety of other motorists. This dangerous condition can lead to accidents, property damage, injury and possibly death.
I've had a total failure of the vehicle dynamic control/stability control. The yaw/G force sensor failed. Prior to this being discovered by a code on the car's computer, I complained to the dealer that on dry roads, on straight always and curves at speeds between 25 and 45, the passenger front brake would engage without warning and the car would pull violently to the right. Dealer investigated and could not duplicate the experiences. On sat. 5/30 in under 10 minutes 3 times I experienced a sudden and uncontrollable application of the right front brake which pulled me off the road and onto the shoulder of the road 2 times and the application of both front brakes which caused the car to come to a sudden full stop. I was nearly rear ended by the car behind me. When this failure happens it is un announced, sudden violent and the brake lights do not come on. Nissan confirms the sensor has failed. This is a dangerous condition and can lead to accidents, property damage, injuries and possibly death.
Recently purchased a 2004 Nissan Maxima for my 16 year old, did not have the car for 3 days and had car shut off and could hear a motor or pump running. Determined it was the ABS pump, vehicle warranty does not cover that now Nissan is charging $1500 to fix problem. Needless to say the car is not fixed and sitting under car port until we can resolve issue.
Problem with steering wheel shaking badly while braking. I was told I needed new tires at first soon after ownership. I bought this Maxima new in 2003 with about 10 miles on it. Couple years later had to take back to dealership for bad tires/cracking on the sidewalls. Had two new tires put on and had the rotors machined. Problem recurred almost immediately after having rotors machined with some improvement, but now the problem is worse than ever. Bought two more tires and was told to replace the rotors when I am going to replace the brakepads, which has already been done once. Fog light also had to be replaced while getting an inspection. Had to replace a battery which made my gas gauge fail/currently does not work. Put gas in every 300 miles so I don't get stranded on the road. Care runs badly and I feel very unsafe in this vehicle/considering getting rid of it as soon as possible. I believe Nissan should take this vehicle off the road before it seriously hurts somebody.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Rossmoor, CA, USA