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:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,392 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.
The contact owns 2005 Nissan Maxima. The transmission failed when the gear was shifted from park to drive and slipped into third or fourth gear. The vehicle was taken to the dealer numerous times for the failure. The dealer stated that it could have been a miscommunication with the computerized system. None of the parts were replaced. The manufacturer stated that they would not assist with the repairs. The VIN information wasn't available. The failure mileage was 62,000 and the current mileage was 72,000.
While driving the speed limit, the traffic light turned from amber then red and my transmission dropped very hard from 3 to 2 as if I slammed the breaks and the car behind me almost hit me. It would appear to the car behind me that I slammed the brakes many feet too early and was unpredictable. The accident was avoided by the driver from behind and resulted by angry gestures and honking. Luckily no one got hurt. This issue occurs from time to time with this transmission that I can't afford to replace. The car in very good shape, and reliable. All the services has been done by the dealer, but the warranty has expired since its past the 5 year mark. Nissan Maxima 2005.
2005 Nissan maima, 60K miles. I am now having automatic transmission problems that I have found are rather common for this car. I will be taking to a Nissan dealer for inspection, but my concern is the fact that Nissan is not identifying this as a habitual problem - which should warrant a recall. I have owned the car since showroom and have maintained the car according to Nissan requirements. Had to have the motor mounts replaced in 09 after I noticed unual noise coming from the car when I would accerlate from a stop. Inspection discovered that the motor mounts needed to be replaced. I believe this may be a direct cause to my transmission issue now and according to several forum complaints many other individuals have had the same exact issue that I am experiencing now. Once my inspection with Nissan that will be done on 8/30/10 and their diagnosis I will update my complaint.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle seemed to shift hard and the gears would slip. The failure occurred after the vehicle warmed up (10-15 miles after being driven). The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the automatic transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000 and the current mileage was approximately 111,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle would violently jerk when changing gears while driving at any speed. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the transmission would need replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 79,000 and the current mileage was 103,000.
- Troy, AL, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. While driving approximately 45 mph, the front end of the vehicle began to shake and jerk violently. The failure occurred whenever the vehicle was in operation. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on two different times for the identical failure. The technician informed that the transmission would need to be replaced. The failure continued and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the transmission valve body was being replaced. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. While driving 25 mph, after 10 minutes the vehicle began to jerk and slipped into second gear with extreme force. The gears would slip from first to the second gear and then to third gear. The dealer stated that the contact had to replace the transmission. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 75000 and the current mileage was 76005.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the transmission failed when she was driving, regardless of the speed. When she tried to shift into reverse the vehicle would hesitate before shifting into gear. The vehicle also make a clanking noise when the transmission failed. The vehicle was not repaired and Nissan was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 74,000. The current mileage was approximately 92,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. While driving approximately 50-55 mph he heard a banging noise coming from the transmission. He pulled over to the side of the road and turned the vehicle off. He then restarted the vehicle and the noise continued. He drove the vehicle to the dealer and was advised that the transmission needed replacing. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was 65,000 and the current mileage was 89,000.
2005 Nissan Maxima with less than 100K miles was taken to Nissan service shop and was said to need a part replaced in trans. And timing chain needs replacing along with motor mounts. After reviewing many websites this year make and model vehicle has 1000 with the same problem. Tried taking to 2 different Nissan reps and was told there was nothing they could or would do about their faulty product.. would like to know what else or who else I could speak with about this matter. I have owned 4 prior Nissan and have never had problems and seeing that this issue seems to be in this vehicle I do feel that they are somewhat responsible.
As with many other complaints on this site, my 2005 Nissan Maxima is having significant transmission problems. Hard shifting between 1st and 2nd and sometimes between 2nd and third. I was warned about the fact that Nissan's have great engines but that they make their at on the cheap. I should have listened based on the other complaints I have seen on the 2005 Maxima. I have maintained the care very well, and would have expected better performance from Nissan. I have driving a Honda to over 170K miles, and a Mitsubishi to over $180K with no significant problems. This will be the last Nissan I buy. I am going to buy another Honda as soon as I can get my piece of crap Nissan sold. Based on how many of these similar complaints that I have seen on many other automotive sites on the internet, it seems there should be a recall on the 05' Maxima transmission. So sad, because Nissan seems to be falling behind even some of the american automakers as far as quality goes. No more Nissan for me.
I have a 2005 Maxima, and I am having the exact same problems as everyone else is having. I bought a Nissan a month ago because everyone says they are great cars. I loved it at first, but now that this is happening I will never buy one again. The people at Nissan really need to get their stuff straight and figure out what's wrong with all of these transmissions, and they need to fix it.
2005 Nissan Maxima SE transmission slip when putting veh into gear from P to R or P to drive, etc... also when coming to deceleration, the veh slams into lower gear jerking veh excessively. Possible safety issue if veh cannot engage into lower gear when coming to stop in traffic or in front of pedestrians! thousands of blogs with customers having similar issues on consumeraffairs.com and edmunds.com... Nissan is not helping people with this safety defect!!! they need to issue recall for this matter.
I have a 05 Nissan Maxima, with 65000 miles. It just started giving me real bad transmission problems for about a week now. It's been jerking and shifting hard in 2nd and 3rd gear. I took my vehicle to a mechanic to receive a transmission flush thinking that would solve the solution, unfortunately it didn't. 2 days later, it started giving me the same problem. So I decided to take the Maxima to the Nissan dealership thinking they would solve the problem. They informed me that the cost would be $ $4,000 to replace the transmission. My car is no longer under warranty. I pamper my car and up to this point have loved everything about my Maxima. What course of action did you take in getting your car fixed? please email me to let me know what I can do to get this resolved at [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. While driving at 2 mph, the vehicle independently slipped into third gear and began making an abnormal rattling sound from the transmission. The dealer advised that the transmission would need to be replaced. The contact stated the transmission had been replaced twice previously. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 98,000.
I own a 05' Maxima with 102,000, and I am having transmission problems since around the 70,000 mile mark. I tried to flush it and nothing seems to work. It shifts out funny from 1st to 2nd and down shifts real hard when U come to a stop. I've read alot of the same complaints and something needs to be done about this problem, because I love the performance and I don't wont to trade it in because of the money I have dropped into it, and can't afford another car payment!!!!
After reporting transmission problem to Nissan twice and was told there was nothing wrong with my transmission I was on the highway and the car would not accelerate because of the transmission causing me to almost be struck by another car. I did my research to find that not only have many consumers complained about the same issue for Nissan Maxima 2004-2006 transmission but Nissan is refusing O recall these transmissions as they are faulty and can also be deadly due to the nature of jerking and car not kicking into gears.
Transmission problems with 1st to 2nd gear shift. The problem occurs daily and it is getting worse. Extended warranty has expired and Nissan will not fix or replace.
I had a Nissan Maxima 2005 and it has serious problems with the transmission. This one is giving kicks between 1st, 2nd and 3rd shift and when you are driving it between 25 to 30. Mph is overaccelerating then it change the shift and it feels like mule kick, the car and this thing almost cause and accident 3 ft more and my car it was going to hit the front car... please there are a lot of Nissan Maximas with exactly the same problem and Nissan doesn't want to take care about this and is not only transmission the engine mounts are getting damaged too and this is serious because the engine can be damaged too.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the transmission began slipping November 2009; she stated that shifting gears was difficult. She also noted that the vehicle would not accelerate intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced; the transmission was replaced at that time. A month later, the failure occurred again. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where another transmission was installed. In July 2010, the failure occurred again. The vehicle was in the dealers possession when the complaint was filed. The manufacturer was not notified. The current mileage was approximately 104,000. The failure mileage was 83,943.updated 10/27/10.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Acushnet , MA, USA