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.

8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,530
Average Mileage:
107,350 miles
Total Complaints:
171 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace transmission (72 reports)
  2. not sure (63 reports)
  3. replace valve body (21 reports)
  4. replace broken motor mounts (6 reports)
  5. replace about 3/4 of your transmission fluid - NOT FILTER (3 reports)
  6. replace crankshaft position sensor (3 reports)
2004 Nissan Maxima transmission problems

transmission problem

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2004 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments (Page 9 of 9)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #11

Aug 022010

Maxima ES V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

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

I am very upset. I am a single mother with 4 and can't afford to do the repairs. I don't have any money for this. This is the only transportation I have for me and my kids. Please can someone help me. I work 42 miles from where I live. I can't lose my job. I don't have any family. My brother just passed away on 8/20 and my father has stage 4 lung cancer, and my father lives in Baton Rouge, LA. I am not sure on how my kids and I are going to get back to GA. I have to return back to work on 8/30. I truly need some help with this matter. I can be reached at 706.570.9389 or 318.801.7055

- Alicia P., Hamilton, GA, US

problem #10

Feb 012010

Maxima SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 48,000 miles

With all the complaints about the transmission why is there not a recall on these vehiclses to fix the problem? I was told it would cost me $4000 to have a new one put in on a car that I have had only 6 months at the time of dealer inspection of problem. How do you get Nissan to pay attention and replace/repair this transmission problem. Too many people are complaining about the same thing! So it can not be us, so it must be them!

- Billie A. H., PHILADELPHIA, PA, US

problem #9

Feb 202010

Maxima SE 3.5L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 74,000 miles

About 74,000 miles started shifting hard from reverse gear to drive. I had a bad motor mount replaced and seemed to help. Came out of drive way yesterday and when I shifted to drive gear from reverse their was a few seconds delay then transmission shifted extremeley hard. Not to happy about this. Hope someone can do something to help us all.

- hmontes, Hacienda Heights, CA, US

problem #8

Jul 062009

Maxima 3.2 SE V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

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

I'll skip the frustration, anger, and bashing of Nissan but the details will say it all: At about 73,000 miles our 2004 Maxima 3.5 SE was jerking as it automatically shifted from gear to gear. The REVERSE gear shift was the most intense. The POWER Nissan dealer said we were past our warranty by over10K miles but would give us a great deal of a new transmission and timing belt for $7,000.00. We contacted Nissan's Customer Service Dept and were denied any further help. I wrote a letter to Nissan's President, Carlos Ghosn, and received no response. We swore off Nissan for further purchases or service. We took the car into a reputable local mechanic and asked him to service the transmission without major repairs. We just wanted to run it as long as possible and trade it in. He changed the transmission fluid and it helped. The car now is at 89K miles and the jerking and high RPM's are getting more frequent and intense. We took it to the same mechanic and he said it might be time to trade it in. We then took it to a transmission shop and this is what we were told. The 2004 Nissan Maxima's have a manufacture problem with the VALVE BODY that Nissan has not acknowledged. In lay terms here is the problem: This part of the transmission is suppose to handle the opening and closing of a gear before it goes into the next gear in split second timing. The faulty valve body does not close the gear it's in before opening the next gear. The jerk is because the transmission is essentially having to go back and close the previous gear after it's already moved onto the next one. This is all very hard on the entire transmission. Our option: A new Valve Body and 2 year warranty plus 3 transmission services for $3641. Our decision: We are trading it in and buying a new HONDA Accord. Looks like a good class action suit.

Update from Jul 2, 2010: There is one correction to my initial complaint and one update. The Correction: The Nissan dealer that was listed as Power Nissan was not where we received the $7,000.00 quote for repairs. It was at our city's local Nissan Service Department. The Update: The transmission shop has "sweetened the pot" and will rebuild our transmission and give us a 3 year 50K mile nationwide warranty plus 3 transmission services in the next 3 years for a grand total of $3683.00.

- John G., Oceanside, CA, US

problem #7

Jul 012009

Maxima 3.5 SL V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

My car vibrates really bad when I get up to 55 mph and when I mash my brakes.I have put new tires on my car and they are wore out after 6 months.

- Brandy B., Gadsden, AL, US

problem #6

Jan 012009

Maxima SE 3.2L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

Like many others my 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA JERKS WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE!!! There is a 3 second delay then it jerks. It happens when I am sitting at a light or have my car running then I put the car in drive or reverse the jerks stars. Even when i am driving it's starting to jerk a little. If anyone has a solution please let me know what can be done to correct this problem before this car ends up hurting somebody because Nissan refuse to recall this issue and fix the problem. Maybe the government needs to step in and help resolve this problem. We don't want another Toyota issue on our hands.

- ahood, Monroe, NC, US

problem #5

Feb 182010

Maxima

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

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

Kara of Pomona , CA February 24, 2010

I purchased my 2004 Nissan new, after 74,000 miles, a little over 4000 miles on the extended warranty, I also had jerking and a delay in changing gears. I was told this can be normal for this year and make, the problem got worse; I took the car in this past Friday Feb 19th and was told my transmission is fried along with two motor mounts. I am so mad right now, I just paid the car off and now it would cost me 5100 to fix. This car would end up costing me almost 50,000.

I bought a Nissan because they are supposed to be dependable long lasting cars. I would hope that it would last over a 100,000 miles before all the problems started. I filed a claim through Nissan to see if they would honor these problems. I just spoke with a rep and he said my claim was denied, of course the person who was taken care of the claim did not call me herself with this news.

This is a manufacture default! Nissan needs to own up to this problem! they acted like no one else is complaining, ya right. I will be contacting the local news stations as well. Please jump on board with this so we can get the word out. These cars cost a lot of money and I, as a consumer, expect more.

Read more: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/nissan_maxima_p2.html#ixzz0iSP4umQA

- Kara S., Pomona, CA, US

problem #4

Feb 032010

Maxima SL 3.5L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 66,000 miles

We bought the car from car max. It was great for 3 years, then the car started jerking when I went from park to reverse. Now, it is just jerking every time it goes into a different gear. The engine will sometimes feel like it wants to keep going then it will catch whatever gear it's supposed to be in. Took it in to get the transmission looked at and they could not find anything wrong with it. They told me I was putting in cheap gas. I don't want to really drive the car anymore, especially with my children in it. Maybe it will take what is happening with Toyota to make Nissan do something. I just hope people don't die while everyone is ignoring their responsibilities to the public.

- divasophia40, Fresno, CA, US

problem #3

Feb 222010

Maxima 3.5SE 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 83,000 miles

I bought my 2004 Maxima brand new. At approximately 12000miles the transmission would sometimes jerk when it downed shifted. I took it to the dealer and they could never find anything wrong with it. Now at 83000 miles it has lost power and will only do 40 mph. I now see that I am not the only one with this problem with my 2004 Maxima's transmission. what can we all do to get this vehicle recalled, it is defendant a defected transmission.

- helias, Tulare, CA, US

problem #2

May 012009

Maxima SE 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 94,500 miles

I purchased a 2004 Nissan Maxima and it all seemed fine for a bit but once i hit around 90k miles, the transmission started having problems. First, when I shift from Park to any other gear. It seems to either hesitate to shift into gear and once it does it shifts in a horrible KNOCK! I took it in for service and they replaced motor mounts. I suggested it may be the transmission, The dealership ignored that. Now, it continues to do the same problem as well as slip gears while in motion. It usually slips from 1st to 2nd, or 2nd to 3rd. It causes the car to rev and shifts when it wants. That makes it snap even harder. This to me seems very dangerous and I don't know what to do because my car just ran out of it's extended warranty. I don't have the money for a transmission repair. I spoke to Nissan directly and they don't return a phone call. I only got an e-mail. Which of course contained standard information forwarded to probably a million people with the same problem. Now I don't even get an e-mail anymore. What's wrong with these people something has to be done.

- Carlos P., Long Beach, CA, US

problem #1

Jul 172008

Maxima EX 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

The car does not shift correctly, and when it does shift the jerk is so severe that it feels like it could give you whip lash. I am very unsatisfied with this Maxima, for a car of this caliber this was not my expectation. Suspension on the car is not good. When you first crank up the car in the morning it sounds like your cranking up a chainsaw.

- Rickey C., Salemburg, NC, US

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