NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Nissan Maxima. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
MY 3 GIRLS AND 1 OF THEIR FRIENDS WERE IN MY VEHICLE AND THEY WERE RAN OFF THE ROAD AND THE CAR WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DID AND IT BROKE MY DAUGHTER'S NOSE. I CONTACT NISSAN ABOUT THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING AND WAS TOLD IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHERE MOST OF THE DAMAGE OF THE CAR IS (ALL OF THE DAMAGE WAS ON THE DRIVER FRONT SIDE). EVERYONE WAS TAKING TO THE ER AND THE DAUGHTER WITH THE WORST INJURY WAS REFERRED TO A SPECIALIST BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT AND BECAUSE THE AIRBAG SHATTERED THE INSIDE OF HER NOSE INTO PIECES IT WAS NOTHING TO DO TO REPAIR. MY DAUGHTER PLAYS BASKETBALL AND I COULDN'T EVEN GET A NOSE BRACE FOR PROTECTION. THIS WAS A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE FOR THE GIRLS AND I WISH NO PARENT WILL EVER HAVE TO EXPERIENCE ANYTHING LIKE THIS. I SAW THE STORY ON THE CBS EVENING NEWS (AIRED 10/2/14) WHERE THE LONG LADY IS SUING HONDA BECAUSE OF THAT WHAT AIRBAG DID TO HER). AIRBAGS APPEARS TO DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD. ALTHOUGH MY CAR WAS A TOTAL LOST, I AM THANKFUL THAT THE GIRLS ARE STILL ALIVE. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE IN TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BY VEHICLES FOLLOWING. NISSAN HAS COMPLETELY IGNORED THIS INHERENT TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON THOUSANDS OF THESE MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. A RECALL IS NECESSARY TO FIX THIS TOTALLY FLAWED TRANSMISSION, AND GIVE THE CONSUMER SOME SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT NISSAN SO FAR HAS FAILED TO SHOW. *TR
VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT 45MPH. TRANSMISSION ACTING VERY STRANGELY NOW. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN JULY OF 2003 WITH LESS THAN 14 MILES ON IT. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR MYSELF (WHEN I CAN) SINCE A NAPA REPAIR SHOP PUT THE WRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID IN IT AND COMPLETELY RUINED MY TRANNY. I CHANGE MY OIL REGULARLY AND KEEP UP TO DATE WITH OTHER SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 144K MILES ON MY CAR AND I HAVE A OBD CODE OF P0420. IN ADDITION TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, MY BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER RELEASING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ONE THING I HAVE NOTICE IS THAT I HAVE TO ADD OIL EVERY SO OFTEN BECAUSE IT GOES LOW. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR IS APPROACHING 9 YEARS, BUT NOW WITH THE OBD CODE, I KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH ONE OR BOTH OF THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. PLEASE CORRECT THESE ISSUES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED. *TR
THE VEHICLE HAS A VERY SEVER JERKING OR KICKING SENSATION WHEN SHIFTING UP OR DOWN AROUND THE SPEED OF 20-30MPH. IT HAPPENS VERY OFTEN. EVEN WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO SLOW, THE CAR STILL JERKS FORWARD VIOLENTLY. *TR
ON FEB 8, 2012, AS I WAS ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR STARTED JERKING AS THOUGH IT WAS NOT GETTING GAS, THEN IT STALLED OUT ON ME. I RESTARTED THE CAR WITH NO TROUBLE, STARTED TO PUSH ON THE GAS PEDAL, MY CAR STARTED JERKING AND STALLED OUT AGAIN. VERY SCARY, THANK GOODNESS, I WAS JUST ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND ABLE TO GET TO SIDE OF ROAD. MY HUSBAND USED PLUG-IN READER TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ENGINE, IT READS BANK ONE-CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. WE HAD JUST REPLACED THIS SENSOR IN DEC 2011, MY CAR WAS ACTING UP, BUT NOT STALLING OUT ON ME. SO NOW WE KNOW WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS SENSOR WORKING PROPERLY. LOOKED UP ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT INDEED THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS SENSOR ON 2003 MAXIMAS FOR DOING THE EXACT SAME THING, JERKING AND STALLING OUT. I CALLED A NISSAN SERVICE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. I AM NOW DRIVING MY HUSBANDS TRUCK INSTEAD OF MY CAR BECAUSE I AM TERRIFIED OF THIS SENSOR GOING OUT AGAIN WHILE I AM GOING 65 MPH AND IT STALLING OUT ON ME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE CHANGED GEARS AND JERKED VERY HARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WHEN THEY FIRST CAME OUT, AND EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT. NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT, AND IT DROVE SMOOTHLY. A FEW MONTHS AGO, AFTER HITTING ABOUT 70,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MESSING UP. IF THE CAR IS SHIFTING UP OR DOWN, INTO 1ST, 2ND, OR 3RD GEAR, IT JERKS. THE MORE THE CAR HEATS UP, THE HARDER THE CAR JERKS. IT WAS JERKS IF I'M SHIFTING INTO DRIVE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THE CAR REVS UP TO 5,000 RPMS AND JERKS VERY HARD. IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL, AND THERE ARE MANY CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TRANSMISSION KICKS BETWEEN 1ST AND 3RD SHIFTS. *TR
TRANSMISSION STARTED TO "SLIP" AROUND 100,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO FIVE STAR NISSAN IN WARNER ROBINS GA, THEY SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND RECOMMEND TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH, WHICH THEY DID PERFORM. AT ABOUT 111,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP AGAIN, AND IT STARTED TO "SHIFT HARD". I TOOK IT BACK TO FIVE STAR NISSAN WHO ADVISED ME "THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT". LUCKILY IT DID NOT FAIL IN TRAFFIC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,500.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 25 MPH THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED EXTREME JERKING WHEN GOING INTO SECOND GEAR. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 114,587. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 MAXIMA SL WITH 90,000(MI) AS I WAS DRIVING ON A RAINY DAY I NOTICED THE PASSENGER FRONT MAT WAS GETTING WET WHEN I GOT HOME I REMOVED THE MAT AND CARPET AND TO MY SURPRISED I FOUND A SIZABLE RUST HOLE IN THE FLOOR PASSENGER SIDE . I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND INFORMED THE MANAGER OF MY DISCOVERY SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS GOING TO CONTACT NISSAN AND FIND OUT WHAT TO DO. IN THE MEAN TIME I STOPPED BY A FEW AUTOBODY SHOPS TO GET QUOTES ON FIXING IT I TRIED 5 SHOPS AND MOST OF THEM REFUSE TO TOUCH IT BECAUSE IS A STRUCTURAL PART OF THE VEHICLE, THEY ALSO TOLD ME THEY THOUGHT I SHOULD GO SEE THE DEALER AS THE CAR SHOULDN'T RUST LIKE THAT BEING SO NEW. A FEW DAYS LATER I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND ASKED THE MANAGER IF SHE HA HEARD FROM NISSAN SHE SAID NO, SHE MENTIONED THAT SHE HAS SEEN COUPLE MORE CARS COME IN FOR INSPECTIONS AND THEY NOTICED THAT THE BOTTOMS ON THE PASSENGER SIDES WERE RUSTED CONSEQUENTLY FAILING INSPECTION. NISSAN SHOULD MAKE A RECALL OR FORCE TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE MY CAR IS WORTHLESS BECAUSE OF THE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IT HAS. NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE REPAIRS FOR USING WEAK OR CHEAPER MATERIALS. *TR
WHEN CAR IS WARM AND I SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE CAR HESITATES, JERKS AND TAKE A FEW SECONDS TO GO INTO GEAR. ALSO, UPON ACCELERATING ON A HIGHWAY ON-RAMP, THE RPMS REV UP HIGH BUT THE CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED WHICH BOGS DOWN THE RESPONSE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT NUMEROUS TIMES MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY OR TRYING TO GET UP A RAMP. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE - EVEN MORE SO WHEN MY CHILDREN ARE IN THE BACKSEAT. UPON DOING RESEARCH ONLINE, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT IT IS APPARENTLY A FUNCTION OF THE TRANSMISSION USED IN THE 2004 MAXIMA. I WILL BE GETTING THIS CAR FIXED BUT FELT THAT THIS ORGANIZATION NEEDED TO BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS AND THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
I AM THE ORIGINAL AND ONLY OWNER OF MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA 3.5 SE. I AM VIGILANT ABOUT THE UPKEEP AND PROPER MAINTENANCE OF MY CAR. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING ISSUES AT APPROXIMATELY 88,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION IS JERKING/BUCKING VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE AND AGAIN WHEN SHIFTING INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. IT IS ALSO JERKING WHEN DOWNSHIFTING FROM SECOND TO FIRST GEAR. AT FIRST, THE SHIFTING PROBLEM WAS AN OCCASIONAL OCCURRENCE, HOWEVER, IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. NOW IT IS ALMOST CONSTANT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND THAT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF '04-05 MAXIMA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THIS IS QUITE OBVIOUSLY A NISSAN MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY NISSAN CORP. *JS
TRANSMISSION EXTREMELY HARD SHIFTS WHEN UP SHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING. DOWNSHIFTING IS MUCH WORSE THAN UP SHIFTING BUT BOTH ARE EXTREME. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE CAR EXPERIENCES A HARD JOLT. *TR
WAS HEADING OFF A RAMP ONTO THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN I FELT A SLIGHT JERK FROM THE TRANSMISSION, PROBABLY GOING AT (40-45MPH). THEN 2 MINUTES AFTER ALL POWER WAS LOST IN THE TRANSMISSION, HAD TO PULL ASIDE WITH THE ENGINE STILL IDLING. TRIED VARIOUS TIMES TO GET IT TO MOVE AND IT COULDN'T. WENT TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY AND REPLACEMENT HAD BE TO ISSUED FOR TRANSMISSION, SMALL BITS OF METAL WERE FOUND IN THE FLUID WHICH HAD NOT BEEN BURNED OUT OR LOW BY THE WAY. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE CHANGED IN UNDER 70000 MILES, THANKFULLY I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE CAR. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY CHANGED BY NISSAN APPROX 18MONTHS PRIOR. *TR
WHILE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, MECHANIC NOTICED EXTENSIVE CORROSION ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE OF THE METAL UNDERNEATH BOTH FRONT SEATS. FIRST LAYER WAS ROTTED THROUGH ON BOTH SIDE AND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THERE IS ALSO A SMALL HOLE ROTTED THROUGH THE SECOND LAYER. VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A NISSAN DEALER AS OF YET. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2009 WITH 99,000 MILES ON IT. IT RAN EXCELLENT. AT THE FIRST OF THIS YEAR, 2011 IT STARTED HESITATING WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO 1ST. THE PROBLEM THEN PROGRESSED INTO WHEN LETTING MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND REAPPLYING IT GOING TO 4 RPM THEN SLAMMING INTO GEAR. THE MAIN PROBLEM WOULD BE WHEN GOING BELOW 40 MILES AN HOUR. TODAY, DEC 2011, IT SLIPPED AND SLAMMED INTO GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD BARELY GO. NISSAN SAYS I HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT $4500.00. I HAVE READ SO MANY FORUMS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2004 MAXIMAS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. 600 PLUS... WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. HOW LONG BEFORE NISSAN HONORS THEIR CUSTOMERS AND DOES SOME TYPE OF RECALL ON THIS SITUATION. *TR
TRANSMISSION JERKS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. WONT SHIFT INTO 3RD. MAKES A VERY HARD JERK WHILE SHIFTING GEARS AND WON'T GO TO 2ND SOMETIMES. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY WIFES 2004 MAXIMA THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING IN BETWEEN 2 AND 3 GEAR. *TT
TRANSMISSION JERK. *TR
WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE THE HARD HESITATED AND SHIFTED HARD MAKING A LOUD NOISE. IT THEN DID NOT GO INTO DRIVE PROPERLY EITHER. IT HAS ALSO STARTED TO SHIFT HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS. *TR
ON NOVEMBER 15, 2011, I WAS WALKING ACROSS THE PARKING LOT OF FOOD STORE AND NOTICED SOMETHING HANGING DOWN FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND A HOLE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR WHERE IT HAD ROTTED OUT. THE METAL IS FLAKING OFF AND THE HOLE CONTINUES TO GET BIGGER. I LOOKED ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN REFUSES TO RECALL OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS OUT OF GEAR AND POPS BACK IN AT WILL, I'VE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC WHO SEES NO PHYSICAL SIGNS OF UNDUE WEAR. HE CLEANED FILTER AND PUT IN NISSAN TRANSMISSION FLUID TO NO AVAIL. I FEAR THIS DEFECT WILL HAPPEN AT AN INOPPORTUNE TIME AND GET ME OR MY FAMILY INJURED OR WORSE. HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS EXIST ABOUT THIS CAR MODEL AND YEARS 2004-2006. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SHIFTS VERY ROUGHLY IN LOWER GEARS, EVEN WHEN I EXPECT A BAD SHIFT I CAN'T TELL WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN.THIS OCCURS DURING SPEEDS OF 0 TO 60. I'VE READ NUMEROUS REPORTS OF MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION FAILURES AFTER NISSAN REPLACED THE ORIGINAL. THIS IS A FAULTY PIECE OF MANUFACTURING. NISSAN NEEDS TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION WITH A DIFFERENT TYPE OR RE-ENGINEER THE EXISTING ONE. *TR
I TOOK POSSESSION OF THIS VEHICLE AROUND THE 14TH OF NOVEMBER AND THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD. I THINK THIS COULD POSSIBLE BE A FLOOD CAR THERE IS A SMELL OF MILDEW AND THE VISOR ARE WATER DAMAGED. TO THIS DAY THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND IT IS THE 26TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2011. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING AND I AM AFRAID TO ENTER TRAFFIC AS THE CAR STALLS AND THEN STICKS UPON ACCELERATING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AS WELL AS THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY ON WHEN THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAD TURNED THEM OFF. I CAN SMELL FUMES UPON STARTING AND DRIVING THIS CAR. I AM PARENT AND I DON'T LIKE TO GIVE MY CHILD OR ANY OTHER PERSON A RIDE BECAUSE OF THE SMELLS. THE TIRES WERE BALD ON THE CAR AND TWICE WHEN IT RAINED I ALMOST HAS 2 MAJOR COLLISIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE VEERED INTO THE OTHER LANE DRIVING 45 IN A 65 MPH ZONE. I AM FILING A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THIS CAR IS A GOOD CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FINANCE COMPANY AND THEY ARE STATING THIS IS OUT OF THERE HANDS. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES OF THE DIFFERENT ITEM THAT SEEMS TO BE WATER DAMAGED. I ALSO WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE CONSUMER LAW GROUP REGARDING THIS MATTER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD WAS CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
I HAVE MY TRANSMISSION JERKING TURNS OUT I NEED A VALVE BODY JUST LIKE SO MANY OTHER MAXIMA OWNERS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
CAR BEGAN MAKING A CHATTERING SOUND AND I HAD OIL CHECKED IMMEDIATELY. FULL, BUT IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME AT GAS STATION THAT I MIGHT HAVE A STICKING VALVE. I HAD AN APPOINTMENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH BUT ON SUNDAY, 11/6/11 AS I WAS GOING UP A SLIGHT HILL CHATTERING GOT LOUDER AND ENGINE STOPPED. I'M TOLD THE CAR "JUMPED TIMING" DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE TENSIONER WHICH HOLDS THE TIMING CHAIN. IT'S LIKELY THE HEADS WERE DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS BUT I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE ENGINE PULLED APART. FROM ON LINE RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAXIMA MODELS 2004-08. CALLED NISSAN BUT THEY INSIST THAT I HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND PAY A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THEN THEY "MIGHT" PAY FOR THE PARTS (JOB IS LABOR INTENSIVE!) FOR THEIR "FLAGSHIP" ENGINE, IT WAS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA TO USE A PLASTIC PART IN IT! I WILL BE CONTACTING NISSAN AGAIN SOON. THANK YOU. *TR
TOLD BY A TRANS. SHOP I NEED A NEW VALVE BODY & OR A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR MY 2004 MAXIMA. WAS TOLD BY THE SHOP THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMAS. OWNER SAID I WAS THE THIRD MAXIMA @ HIS SHOP WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THIS MONTH! *TR
PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING GEARS WITH MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE IT JERKS, TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE EVEN TOLD ME NISSAN IS FAILING TO REPORT THESE SAME ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. $4000 IN REPAIRS PLUS.CAR STILL IN SHOP. *KB
FAULTY TRANSMISSION, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, NISSAN SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE MODELS AND TAKEN CARE OF THE ISSUES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY AND THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
I OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND WHEN I BOUGHT IT I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A GREAT CAR THAT WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO ALTHOUGH I STILL LIKE THE CAR IT IS STARTING TO MAKE THIS TICKING NOISE THE TICKING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AND IS DOING THAT BECAUSE OF A PIECE OF PLASTIC HAS GOTTEN LOOSE ON THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES SO NOW THAT THIS PIECE OF PLASTIC IS LOOSE MY TIMING CHAIN COULD POSSIBLY SNAP AND DAMAGE MY ENTIRE MOTOR SO I DECIDE OK ILL JUST FIX IT BUT OH NO ITS 1500 DOLLARS TO FIX BECAUSE OF ALL THE LABOR THAT IS NEEDED TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE LABOR INVOLVED IN GETTING TO THE TIMING CHAIN SO MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHY DO YOU HAVE A STUPID PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT IS NOW FAILING FOR ALMOST ALL VQ 35 ENGINES IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHY AS A COMPANY YOU ARE SO CHEAP THAT YOU CANT DESIGN SOMETHING MORE DURABLE THAN A PIECE OF PLASTIC TO HOLD TOGETHER THE ENGINE OF MY CAR THAT WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT IN 2004 WAS GOING FOR LIKE 26000 DOLLARS HOW CHEAP CAN YOU GET UNBELIEVABLE YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY CAR DYING BECAUSE OF THIS ONE STUPID PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT IS BASICALLY DEFECTIVE AND WAS NOT MEANT TO HOLD TOGETHER A TIMING CHAIN WHAT A CRAP COMPANY NOW IM ON THE HOOK FOR 3 YEARS AND I HAVE TO PRAY THAT MY CHAIN DOESN'T SNAP BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD TO PAY 1500 DOLLARS TO FIX MY CAR BECAUSE OF A STUPID PIECE OF PLASTIC. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 20004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF HOLES DUE TO CORROSION ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE FLOOR BOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO A BUZZING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TIMING CHAIN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FLOOR BOARD WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK SLIGHTLY. THE FAILURE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE OVER TIME AND THE TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A VIOLENT JERK. THE MALFUNCTION RECURRED WHENEVER THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR AND ALSO WHEN DRIVING IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION CENTER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM THE TECHNICIAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT IMPROPERLY WHEN ACCELERATING UNTIL IT REACHED THIRD GEAR. ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHED THIRD GEAR, IT WOULD START TO JERK AND EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND HESITATES AS YOU PLACE IN GEAR. ONCE YOU PLACE IT IN GEAR FROM DRIVE TO PARK TO REVERSE IT JERKS VERY HARD WHICH PLACES PRESSURE ON THE MOTOR MOUNTS CAUSING THEM TO HAVE PROBLEMS. ALL OF THE NISSAN MAXIMA'S HAVE A SERIOUS MANUFACTURED FLAW WITH THERE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A SERIOUS FLAW AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY NISSAN, ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS MADE ARE ALL STATING THE SAME THING. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THIS DEFECT OCCURS EVEN IF YOU ARE SITTING STILL WITH YOUR FEET ON THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPT TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE JERKS SO HARD IT MOVES THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH YOUR FEET IS ON THE BRAKES. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. ONCE THE ENGINE WARMS UP THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO SLIP EVEN AS THE VEHICLE APPROACH A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE CAR DOWN SHIFTS ITSELF AND JERK AS IT SHIFTS.
MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS BEEN A PERFECT CAR, NEEDING ONLY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE UNTIL RECENTLY. I'M AT 130,000 MILES AND OVER THE LAST FEW HUNDRED MILES THE CAR HAS BEEN JERKING AND SLAMMING INTO GEAR WHEN I GO FROM PARK TO REVERSE, DRIVE TO BRAKE/STOP TO REVERSE, AND DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED (IE: TAKING A CORNER) AND THEN ACCELERATING. I TOOK THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC, AND HE TOLD ME THE TRANNY IS ON THE WAY OUT. I'VE BEEN KEEPING TABS ON THE MAXIMA.ORG FORUMS AND HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS BECOMING A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. I HOPE NISSAN STEPS UP AND FIXES THESE ISSUES, BECAUSE I'M READY TO SELL MY CAR, AND I DON'T REALLY WANT TO HAVE TO DO THAT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK SIGNIFICANTLY WITH HESITATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND WOULD CONTINUALLY SLIP INTO 5TH GEAR. *TR
MY COMPLAINT IS NOT ABOUT A PART FAILING, BUT IN NISSAN'S RESPONSE TO REPLACE A PART. MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WHERE THE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. IN THE REPAIR WORK, THE AIRBAG MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED (ORDERED). THE PART WAS ORDERED ON OCT. 12, 2011 AND AFTER MORE THAN TWO MONTHS OF THE PART BEING ORDERED, THE PART HAS STILL NOT BEEN PRODUCED BY NISSAN. FIRST I WAS TOLD IT WAS A BACK-ORDER ISSUE, BUT THEN I LOST MY PATIENCE AFTER 2 MONTHS AND CALLED NISSAN CORPORATE, I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A COMPONENT DISTRIBUTION ISSUE, WHICH TELLS ME ABSOLUTELY (WAIT FOR IT) NOTHING. THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING FOR ME IS THAT I AM BEING TOLD THAT THE DELIVERY OF THE PART IS INDEFINITE, SO MY CAR SITS AT THE COLLISION SHOP BASICALLY IN LIMBO. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND CANNOT FIND ANY RECALL INFORMATION FOR MY VEHICLE RELATING TO THIS PART. FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GATHER, THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TESTING OF THE PART, THEREFORE THE PART IS NOT BEING PRODUCED. IN MY OPINION THIS IS DISCREETLY BEING KEPT QUIET AND DISGUISED AS A BACK-ORDER ISSUE BY NISSAN. I SEE RECALL ISSUES FOR THIS PART FOR THE ALTIMAS, BUT NOT THE MAXIMAS. IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A BIGGER ISSUE THAN NISSAN IS WILLING TO ACKNOWLEDGE. I AM TRYING TO FIND ALL AVENUES TO MAKE THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS MATTER AND HOPE THAT IT REGISTERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE AND JERKED INTO ANOTHER LANE, RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURY AND WAS SENT TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED EVOQ 11/01/11
WE WERE DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT AND THE CAR HARD SHIFTED DOWN FROM THIRD TO FIRST ON IT'S OWN. IT WAS SUCH A VIOLENT DOWNSHIFT THE CAR ACTUALLY TURNED OFF. WE WERE NEARLY REAR-ENDED AND HAD TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I GOT HOME AND LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND IT APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR BUT THERE ARE NO RECALLS. I TOOK IT IN TODAY AND SPENT OVER $1000 BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON DURING THE RIDE HOME AND IT IS HARD SHIFTING AGAIN. *TR
THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING ON MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT CREATES A HARD JERK RIGHT AFTER A SLOW START. *TR
I AM A SMALL INDEPENDENT CAR DEALER. THIS IS JUST ONE MAXIMA I HAVE PURCHASED FROM AN AUCTION. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW RIDICULOUS THE 04-05 NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSIONS ARE. I BOUGHT THE ONE INDICATED BY THE VIN NUMBER THINKING I WAS GETTING A GOOD DEAL. HOWEVER, I WAS VERY WRONG! I AS A SMALL INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OWNER CANT BELIEVE THE AMOUNT OF BAD TRANSMISSIONS I HAVE SEEN ON THESE YEAR MODEL MAXIMA'S. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR ALL 04-05 MAXIMA'S. I HAVE SEEN THE SAME SYMPTOMS WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF MAXIMA'S. FOR THE AMOUNT OF MILES ON THE NISSAN MAXIMAS THAT I COME ACROSS, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. THIS INCLUDES SLIPPING AND JERKING OF THE TRANSMISSION , WHICH IN TURNS WEARS OUT THE MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNTS, WHICH IN TURN COST EVEN MORE MONEY BEYOND THE TRANSMISSION HELP OUR CONSUMERS AND PROTECT SMALL INDEPENDENT DEALERS FROM THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS. *TR
TRANSMISSION IS FAILING PREMATURELY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR OF THIS PRICE RANGE/AGE. NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A DEFECT. TRANSMISSION IS VERY JERKY AND SOMETIMES REFUSES TO CHANGE GEAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,800.