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:
11 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
76,985 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 have a Nissan Maxima 2004 and I don't know why, the transmission started to give me problem. I have heard and read many persons have the same problems. Please investigate. Thanks
My 2004 Nissan Maxima is experience jerking between the 1st and 2nd gear. It's at 71,000 miles and have just finished paying it off. I have read many problems at this point and am afraid of what can happen. Nissan should have a recall and take care of the problem. What is it going take for Nissan to step up to the plate and fix it? hopefully not a death.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown low speed, the transmission continued to slip gears. The dealer advised the contact that the engine mounts were defective and would need to be replaced. The engine mounts were replaced and the transmission filter and fluids were replaced. One month later, the transmission failed. The vehicle was taken to a local repair facility where the contact was advised that the transmission would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted and the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000 and the current mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while shifting gears, there was a loud, unusual banging sound. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the motor mounts were replaced yet the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where he replaced the motor mounts a second time but to no avail. The failure persisted and the motor mounts were replaced a third time but to no avail. The manufacturer was contacted but would not provide any assistance. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000 and the current mileage was 136,000.
- Gaithersburg , MD, USA
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The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While reversing out of the driveway, the vehicle would not shift into gear. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where it would not move at first but suddenly jerked forward. The dealer stated that the automatic transmission was failing but the problem was not bad enough to be repaired although the contact had an extended warranty. The current and failure mileages were approximately 62,000.
I've brought my 2004 Nissan Maxima in for a jerking from the transmission on two separate occasions. The jerking happens from 1st to 2nd gear and as I slow down the car jerks as it downshifts. First time I brought it in they said motor mounts were to blame, the problem returned on the way home from the dealership. Second time was this past week and they said the problem was the timing chain. Again on the way home from the dealership the jerking returned. The failure always happens when the car is warm and has been running for at least twenty minutes. Nissan should recall the transmission as many 2004 Maxima owners have had this same jerking problem. The dealerships are just running around the problem and fixing things that aren't the problem.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving at 20 mph, the contact noticed that the vehicle suddenly jerked forward. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The current and failure mileages were approximately 76,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving at approximate speeds of 25 mph, the vehicle began abnormally jerking. There was an unusual increase in engine rpms as the contact applied the brakes and the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop. The mechanic advised that the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 100,050.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving at various speeds in third and fourth gear, the vehicle would jerk constantly. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealership but no codes were displayed during the diagnostics test. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000. The current mileage was approximately 137,000
The car started to jerk from reverse into drive. This lasted for about two weeks. Then I started to notice that the transmission would jerk while down shifting from 2nd gear into 1st. When accelerating the transmission would pop into gear from 4th to 5th after passing 5K rpms. This lasted for about two months. In mid March the car had these problems but also started to jerk into gear from 2nd to third. At times after coming to a complete stop, the car would be stuck in 5th gear. I would have to turn the car off and turn it back on for it to engage 1st gear. Now on May 14, 2010 the car will not shift past 3rd gear and revs past 7K rpms without shifting.
I have a 2004 Nissan Maxima 3.5 sl that I purchased brand new in Sept 2004. Started having problems with the transmission at 40,000 miles and had to replace the transmission under warranty at 42,000 miles. We are at almost 80,000 miles and I have been having problems with the transmission for over 20,000 miles now. Jerks hard shifting between 1st and 2nd gear. Jerks hard when braking and sometimes I even feel as if someone rear-ended me from the loud bang I feel. Love this car, but the transmission problem is on going. Taking it to the dealer next week to see what can be done. This car definitely needs a recall for its transmission.
My Nissan Maxima started having problems in transmission that I have noticed many others have had very hard jerks when car gets warm I have went to the Nissan dealership on numerous accounts and they have admitted to having number of problems with this model transmission but they said no recall has ever been made. Please find out what's going on with these cars.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that when the brakes were applied the vehicle began to shake and accelerate. The failure occurred while driving 30 mph. The contact was unable to shift from first to second gear. The dealer stated that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop. The vehicle was not repaired when the complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 88,800.
Transmission has a major problem very unsafe to drive with my children hard jerking slamming in transmission car only has 35000 miles and it seem that's once they get to 40,000 to 60,000 these transmissions start failing I have kids and this car was my only transportation and this is of real concern and need to be recalled.
2004 Nissan Maxima severe jerking in transmission. My personal mechanic says alot of cars the same year have this problem and there should has been a recall. Only 45,000 miles slipping and jerking when car is driven for a while I have all my service records for this vehicle. Vehicle very unsafe to drive.
I was driving on I295 in N.J. when I experienced lack of power in my 2004 Nissan Maxima it almost caused a horrible crash if I didn't change lanes it seems the transmission slipped I'm really concerned about this car is dangerous please help and investigate T.Y. P.S. I won't drive this car again even though I owe alot of money on it.
Transmission acting up on my 04 Nissan Maxima. I see I'm not the only one having these issues but hundreds of other people as well and nothing is done about it. I'm having hard shifts and mis-shifts. I honestly think that a class action lawsuit should be made against Nissan for not doing something about this.
Nissan Maxima 2004 -2006 definitely a safety problem with the tranmissions that Nissan has tried to cover up for the last 5 years please investigate or google problems with this model you will come across thousands of buyers who have had multiple transmission problems with 50,000 miles or more that Nissan will not cover or claim its something isolated wrong, and just how Toyota tried to cover there tracks Nissan needs to make a recall for this model and I hope whoever reads this please investigate it and the proof is there all we need is help my next step is contacting a lawyer. We as consumers pay alot of money for these vehicles and they should perform properly. Very hard jerking in transmission.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Merceditas, PR, USA