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.

7.4

pretty bad
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
7,205 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 Maxima steering problems

steering problem

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2004 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments

problem #4

Oct 262006

Maxima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,134 miles

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

The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving 50-55 mph, the steering wheel vibrated. The failure worsened when the contact depressed the brake pedal. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of failure, however, they aligned and balanced the tires. The failure still persists. The current mileage was 20,740 and failure mileage was 16,134.

- Brockton, MA, USA

problem #3

Apr 122006

Maxima

  • miles
Problem #2 (out of 4/5): Purchased 2004 Nissan Maxima brand new. My second major problem, I think the car was about a year old. When you turn the car off and on the steering wheel adjusts to your liking automatically. Well, it broke. So when I turned the car on, my steering wheel would not move to me, it was stuck in the upright position. When I tried to manually move to down and closer to me so I can drive the car, it would not budge. The steering wheel was stuck upright like a bus driver's steering wheel. I had not choice but to drive it all the way to the dealership like that. It was extremely dangerous driving like that, since it was very hard to turn the wheel, considering how high it was and close to the windshield it was. Huntington, NY dealership replaced the part to fix the steering wheel, again a electronic problem. I did not have my car for a few days. I had to make another complaint to the corporate office, which by the way, does nothing. The service department at this dealership treats customers like garbage, especially if you are woman. Also, still have the problem, every now and then when I reverse, my trunk pops open.

- Nesconset, NY, USA

problem #2

Dec 282004

Maxima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 12,650 miles
Shimmy in the steering wheel when driving 40 mph and up dealer told my tires wereout of balance got tires balance still have problem, driving down to Florida from New York was a nightmare.

- Cedarhurst, NY, USA

problem #1

Sep 052004

Maxima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 36 miles
I purchased the vehicle with only 30 miles, we were the first one's to test drive the car. During the drive we noticed a vibration in the steering wheel between 60-80 miles per hour. The sales person advised us that the car simply needed to be balance since it has been sitting on the lot for for 4months and the tires had a dull spot. We scheduled the service 4 days after the purchase. After the dealer replaced the tires with brand new Continental tires, aligned, road force balance the vehicle. The problem still persist. Nissan consumer affair said that the car was tuned to spec and that we would have to live with it. Can someone explain to me why I am paying for a defective car and cannot do anything about it. Maxva7@comcast.net.

- Lauderhill, FL, USA

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