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.
Transmission is jerking. I just purchased the 2004 Nissan Maxima and I am experiencing a jerking in the vehicle when it shifts from 1st gear to 2nd and vice-versa.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving various speeds, the transmission began to slip and jerk while switching from first to second gear. There were no recalls available. The VIN was unknown. The current mileage was 53,000 and failure mileage was 50,000.
Problem with transmission - slipping when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear; it hesitates to catch and when it does is jerks violently into gear. The transmission is now dead and no longer works at all. It is at the dealer while I await a response from Nissan for a goodwill fix. My research yielded a multitude a 2004 Nissan Maxima owners have the exact same problem and have had to replaced their transmission. This is not an isolated incident. It is hazardous to public as when merging into traffic that's already at 55 mph or more, it hesitates and stall and can indeed cause an accident. Updated
I have a 2004 Nissan Maxima, 130,000 miles. Transmission jerks when shifting from 1st to 2nd or downshifting. Also seems to disengage when decelerating into a turn and then slams into gear when accelerating. Sometimes the tranny will go into a 3rd gear lock and the possibility of entering an intersection with unknowingly slow acceleration due to this could be dangerous!. I took the car to the dealer and they said the cam sensors were bad. $500 plus dollars later it is still doing the same thing. I took it back to dealer and they said it needs new tranny. I waited a few weeks and took it in again and now they say it needs a new transmission valve body. I did tt the mechanic at the dealer and he said he replaces the valve body all the time.www.carsurvey.org has thousands of complaints exactly like mine. Dealerships are dancing around know issues and expecting every car owner to put a new transmission in their car. I contacted Nissan and they opened a claim, but their solution was that my car was out of warranty and that there was nothing else they could do. I believe that Nissan needs to accept some responsibility for a faulty designed transmission.
My 2004 Nissan Maxima transmission is completely gone its going cost $3000 for a new one..I have done some research online and thousands of 2004 Nissan Maxima SE & sl the transmission has failed Nissan needs to be held responsible & recall these vehicles this is my first and last Nissan.
- Columbia, SC, USA
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The transmission was diagnosed by the dealership as having internal failure and upon them telling me that they also stated that the 2004 Maxima has a tremendous amount of transmission issues and because of that they redesigned the transmission in the 2005 model. My car has 61,000 on it and this happened and Nissan basically said tough!!! they are aware of an issue yet have done nothing to help. As I found this out I researched the issue and they are alot of issues with people and the transmission and I think enough for an investigation but nobody has done anything.
04 Maxima SE w/ 55K miles. Took in to Nissan dealer due to problems shifting from 2nd to 1st and 1st to 2nd. They recommended transmission flush and said 2 motor mounts were broke. Did not fix the problem. Replaced transmission with used 04 Maxima transmission w/ 21K miles from totaled car, this transmission is also bad with the same problem, shifting hard from 2nd to 1st. 3rd transmission in the mail w/ 6K miles. Very dissapointed in Nissan. Will never buy a Nissan again.
I bought my car 4 moths ago, is a Nissan Maxima 2004 and since I did I am having problems with the transmission and I found out those 2004 cars 95% have the same problems I been reading reviews from car surveys.com and everybody have the same transmission problem. Please I need your help what we can do about it, thank you.
Transmission on my vehicle slips frequently. I have taken my vehicle to the dealership for this problem, but am always told, they can't find the problem and if it continues to bring it back.
My 2004 Nissan Maxima exp transmission problems @ 65K replaced out of warranty since then the car has had (4) front motor mounts (1) transmission mount.(1)rack and pinion replaced, (1) right front axle replaced. Struts are now bad! wheel bearings replaced, oil seals replaced and the front end makes noise like something big is loose. Over $12,000 dollars into vehicle last year alone" when the car came back with the new trans it still was not right ? I notified the dealer and they said they could not find anything? I chose not to pay @ last minute to bring to there attention and I was sent to collections? I am still paying the $3,997 plus $1,500 fine for isf the vehicle is on its 2nd transmission and its gone bad now as well" Nissan did replace the right axle @no/charge that was all.
Nissan Maxima SE 2004 transmission jerking from 2nd gear to 3rd and 4th I been reading a lot of forums with same or similar problems. I hope U can help us to resolve this isue with Nissan. My warranty is expired.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving 10 mph, the contact experienced difficulty shifting between first and second gear. As a result, the vehicle would not accelerate for 2-3 seconds. At approximately 25 mph, the transmission would unexpectedly downshift from second to first gear. There were no warning indicators. The dealer flushed the transmission, but the failure continued. The failure mileage was 118,000 and current mileage was 121,000.
I have a 04 Nissan Maxima I've been having transmission jerk problems both upshift & downshift between 1st to 2nd gear. Im not the only one with that issue I have a bunch of other Maxima owners with same issue im posting the link where you can see how big is this problem. Link" www.carsurvey.org/viewcomments_review_61092.html" please go through every post & help us out. We all have contacted Nissan for this problem but no solution they do not want to take care of it. I have done what they told me to flush transmission but it didn't help & it keeps on gettin worse. I will hope a prompt reply.
Excessive hard jerking (up & downshifting) of transmission between gears. Frequently sticks in 5th gear will not downshift until car is turn off and restarted. Hard short left to right jerking of steering wheel when brakes are applied, gets stronger when slowing from higher speeds. Excessive jerking when car shifts between gears caused us whipped lash overtime. Took to mechanic and found that rotors are also warp causing steering wheel to vibrate.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving 40 mph, the vehicle jerked. The failure occurred daily. The dealer stated that the transmission failed and they repaired the vehicle. The current mileage was 47,000 and failure mileage was 40,000.
Biggest problem is the transmission on the 2004 Maxima. It started with jerking, and speed changes while driving. Rotators, air conditioning, tires, struts, and trembling in wheel. Transmission is an ongoing problem. Also, the struts were replaced, trembling is still there, air conditioning low and hose replaced. But now it rumbles when turned on. Tires almost cost me life on expressway due to crack in sidewalls.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving the contact heard a buzzing sound which alerted him that the motor mounts were failing. The dealer stated that the engine motor mounts were torn, and the front and rear mounts on the cross member were replaced. Approximately one month later the contact heard the buzzing sound and felt the engine shifted. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. Approximately three months later the vehicle was taken to the dealer again. The dealer replaced the front and rear motor mounts. The contact continued to hear the buzzing sound. The dealer advised the contact to replace the transmission fluid, and the right front strut. However, the repair did not solve the failure. The dealer informed the contact that the ECM computer should be replaced. The buzzing sound continued and the manufacturer stated that they would have their technician inspect the vehicle. Presently, the technician has not inspected the vehicle. The current and failure mileages were 33,000. Update 5/3/07
Auto transmission in 2004 Nissan Maxima started a hard jerk when driving. Brought car to Nissan dealership and was told no problem. Brought car to dealership again a week later and was told that car need a new transmission. Took car to transmission specialist and based on examination found that an electronic part failed in the transmission causing the transmission to over heat. Thus causing major damage to transmission. Electronic part is not a normal wear item therefore can not be replaced through after market.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Slingerlands , NY, USA