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.
2004 Nissan Maxima, transmission jumps and makes load noise when shifting from reverse to 1st and 1st to second sometimes. Also, revs high then seems to skip a gear.
Transmission in 2004 Nissan Maxima slips and lurches into gear. Dealership has looked at it three times but says nothing is wrong with it, that the motor mounts need replaced. I am fearful to pass a car on two lane road that the transmission will slip and stall leaving me in the path of oncoming traffic w/O power to move out of the way. The shifting is not reliable leaving me vulnerable by not knowing the response I can expect from the car.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle would jerk violently when shifting gears. The vehicle was taken to a dealer who stated that the valve body would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 142,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle began to jerk excessively as the engine exhibited an abnormal increase in rpms. The contact allowed the vehicle to rest momentarily before proceeding but the failure persisted. The failure persisted for two months before the vehicle was taken to a local repair shop where the contact was advised that the transmission would need replacing. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000 and the current mileage was 106,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While attempting to decelerate, the vehicle began to jerk violently. The dealer advised the contact to bring the vehicle in for diagnostic testing. The contact did not inform the manufacturer of the failure nor was the vehicle diagnosed or repaired. The current mileage was 144,000 and the failure mileage was unknown.
- Wesloca, TX, USA
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The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the transmission was delaying when shifting between gears, mostly when shifting from second to third gear. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired or diagnosed. The current mileage was 66,000 and the failure mileage was 58,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving approximately 25 mph, the contact heard an abnormal banging coming from the front end of the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently and became more frequent as time progressed. The failure occurs anytime pressure was applied to the brake pedal or when accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and to five different independent mechanics who diagnosed the failure to be in the transmission. The technician stated that the transmission would need to be replaced. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.
I have a 2004 nissa Maxima 3.5 SE, I have not driven the vehicle in almost a year. It has made me feel unsafe and refuse to drive it until the transmission is replaced. It only has approximately 84,000 miles on it and even then it seems undrivable. After taking it for a diagnostic to several mechanics, they can't seem to pin point a problem to the vehicle. I ended up doing the tune up, changed up the transmission oil (replaced the filter), changed up the engine brackets, which ended up costing about $1800 the only consistent answer I seem to get is that this vehicle make along with the same model seemed to have a defect that Nissan refuses to take responsibility for. While driving it, it seems to be driving smoothly and all of a sudden I experience jerking from the vehicle. The first time it occurred, I almost thought the car behind me had rear ended my vehicle. My neck was sore the next day from all the jerking. It seems as if when going from second to third gear, the car jerks and has even gone up to fourth to second gear all while I've maintained the same speed. The car seems to have a mind of its own, which is baffling and even makes me nervous to turn it on. I've done the regular maintenance on the vehicle, so to get a new transmission for a defect caused my the manufacturer is baffling. Please help, this vehicle should not be driven in the public. An accident is highly probable caused with sudden jerking.
TL- the contact owns 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated the transmission on the vehicle is shifting very hard when it switches gear. The contact had the vehicle inspected by a mechanic and the stated they think it is a piston in the transmission is sticking. The contact was told the transmission would have to be replaced and could not be repaired. The failure mileage was 75,000 and the current mileage was 80,000.rl
TL- the contact owns 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated the transmission on the vehicle is not shifting properly. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was told the torque converter failed and the transmission would need to be replaced. The dealer recommended the vehicle not be driven until the transmission is replaced. The failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 164,000.rl
Transmission failure on 2004 Nissan Maxima caused car to decelerate rapidly and nearly caused a crash. Transmission had to be replaced by Nissan dealer. Car had 87,000 miles on it.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While traveling at various speeds, the contact noticed that the vehicle would switch between gears independently and violently jerk. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they informed the contact that the transmission and motor mounts would need to be replaced. The contact stated that the motor mounts were previously replaced October 2010. The contact took the vehicle to a private mechanic who informed her that the motor mounts would need replacing again and would continuously fail prematurely until the transmission was replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was 105,000 and the failure mileage was 90,000. The VIN was unavailable.
At about 77,800 miles our 2004 Maxima 3.5 SE was jerking as it automatically shifted from gear to gear. It started valentines day. 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. With all the complaints about the transmission why is there not a recall on these vehicles to fix the problem? how do you get Nissan to pay attention and replace/repair this transmission problem. Too many people are complaining about the same thing. Premature failure of transmission with normal driving habits. High number of internet complaints with the same symptoms indicate a factory defect. Took my car to the transmission shop the told me it something that Nissan is aware of and it should be recalled. He advised me that it is the valve body which cost $1200.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact was attempting to decelerate when the vehicle began to jerk and switch gears violently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they performed a diagnostic test which confirmed that the transmission had failed and would need to be replaced. The contact was awaiting a response from the manufacturer in regards to the failure before proceeding with repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was 62,000 and the failure mileage was 55,000. The consumer stated his grandmother suffered a severely sprained neck, when the vehicle jerked violently while decelerating. His grandmother was taken to the hospital via ambulance. Updated 06/03/11
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, the contact tried to accelerate but the vehicle would not shift out of first gear. The contact coasted to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. When the vehicle was restarted and shifted from first to second gear, the vehicle jerked. The failure occurred when the vehicle was running hot. A local mechanic inspected and stated that the shift had malfunctioned, the transmission needed to be rebuilt and the valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 30,000 and the approximate current mileage was 81,000.
I just bought a 2004 Nissan Maxima last month, and it has been giving me problems, the transmission shifts hard on 2nd and 3rd gear, when I start the car it rattles, I have taken the car back to where I bought it from, they told me that they repaired it and that it was the transmission mount, but I know different, the car is still giving me problem. This is an on going thing, I have a little girl and don;T want anything to happen to her if this car stalls on the highway. I would like to know what can I to resolve this matter. Thanks
I bought a used 2004 Nissan Maxima in 2008. The car had 42000 miles. I took it to a Nissan dealership and they said there was a problem with the powertrain and replaced it for free as it was still under warranty. The car now has 93000 miles and the car has been jerking for months. The transmission just went out on the car yesterday when I was driving home.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle would violently jerk and switch gears while driving at any speed. The dealer was aware of the issue; however, they informed the contact that there were no related recalls. The manufacturer advised the contact to take the vehicle to a local dealer for diagnostic testing since there were no open recalls. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 84,000.
2004 Nissan Maxima transmission jerks when shifting from reverse to park and from 1st to 2nd gears. I was told I would need a completely new transmission and engine mounts even though I only have 75,000 miles on my car and have followed the owners manual for maintenance explicitly. Also the brake pads and rotors need to be replaced every 2 years and a shimy occurs in the steering wheel at speeds over 60 mph. Since no one has died from these problems, I am sure no recalls will occur but as an "average person" these repairs are extremely costly and disheartening. I am afraid to use the car with my infant son with the transmission problems now as risking his safety is out of the question. I wish someone would do something to help out the unknowing consumer but I have little hope someone will.
2004 Nissan Maxima 5 speed automatic: Has sever transmission problems. Slams in and out of gear and gets stuck between 3rd and 4th, 2nd and 3rd. There are thousands of complaints on the Nissan forums due to a manufacturer error in the valve bodies. Nissan will not issue a recall and this is a sever safety issue, the car can slam out of gear at any speed or shift down a gear while traveling at normal highway speeds. Every problem I have read about says this problem starts as soon as 40000 miles but usually around 75000 miles. I wish I never bought a Nissan and now I am scared to drive it at all and still owe over 10K on the Maxima. Please help get this recalled and fixed for thousands of motorist.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Frederick , MD, USA