Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Nissan Maxima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 121 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 121, in the owner's own words
04V326000 ONE OF THE RECALL NUMBER THE OTHER IS 05V512000 NOT SURE WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT I'VE CHANGED MY TIMING CHAIN ALSO ALREADY I ALSO RECEIVED A LETTER STATING IF I HAD TO REPLACE IT TO CONTACT NISSAN I BELIEVE I'M JUST GETTING THE RUN AROUND
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. TIMING CHAIN WAS BAD FROM DAY ONE. SPENT NEARLY 4000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. THEN TO LOOK UP ONLINE AND FIND OUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD PROBLEM. NOW A FEW YEARS LATER. SAME PROBLEM
ME AND MY BOYFRIEND WERE SOLD THIS CAR FOR 2500 AND THE CAR NEEDED A NEW BATTERY, A NEW CONVERTER . ONCE I BROUGHT THOSE ITEMS AND PUT THEM IN THE CAR STARTED HAVING COMPRESSION PROBLEMS TO THE POINT IT HAS A SLOW TAKE OFF , CANNOT GO UP HILLS , AND WE HAVE TO SHIFT GEARS JUST FOR IT TO MOVE .. THIS CAR WAS SOLD TO US LIKE THIS AND WE ALMOST FELL OFF A CLIFF BECAUSE OF THE COMPRESSION PROBLEM AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GO UP ANY HILLS .. THE PEOPLE WHO SOLD US THE CAR SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM OR REFUND OUR MONEY .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AT THE CONTACT'S HOME, THE HOOD BLEW UP AND THE FRONT END BURST INTO FLAMES. THE CONTACT OPENED THE GARAGE DOOR AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE MAINTENANCE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO FIVE STAR NISSAN OF FLORENCE (311 N CASHUA DR, FLORENCE, SC 29501, 843-628-0032) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,149.
ON SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2018, IN THE MORNING AROUND A 11 AM, I WAS DRIVING MY 2004 MAXIMA AND IT STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND TURNED OFF. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO START IT, BUT IT WOULDN'T HOLD THE IDLE AND TURNED OFF AGAIN. NO NISSAN DEALERSHIP OR REPAIR SHOP WAS OPEN SO I CALLED THE NEAREST PEP BOYS SHOP TO MY HOME AND THEY TOWED MY CAR TO THEIR REPAIR SHOP. THEY SAID MY CAR WAS TOTALLY DEAD AND NEEDED A NEW BATTERY EVEN THOUGH MY BATTERY WASN'T THAT OLD. I PURCHASED A BATTERY, STILL WOULDN'T START. PEP BOYS THEN SAID I NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR, SO THAT WAS INSTALLED, STILL WOULDN'T START. THEY THEN SAID IT MUST BE THE ENGINE, SO THE NEXT DAY, MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2018, IT WAS TOWED TO THE FAIRFIELD, CT NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY UNTIL I CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO. AFTER 3 DAYS, OF CALLING THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR, BET, IN THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD TAKEN OFF THE SIDE OF MY ENGINE AND TRIED TO MANUALLY TURN THE DRIVE SHAFT, BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN AND THAT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN AND THAT IT WOULD COST ANYWHERE FROM $2,600.00 TO $3,600.00 TO REPAIR MY CAR. PLEASE HELP WITH START A CASE, I CAN'T AFFORD THIS. I'M IN SCHOOL FOR PARALEGAL STUDIES AND A CT LICENSED TAX PREPARER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND IT CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ENGINE RECALL I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. I WAS ON HIGHWAY 62 EAST IN MINNEAPOLIS MN GOING THE SPEED LIMIT 60 MILES AND I LOOK AND SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD AND THE BACK OF MY CAR FROM THE TAIL PIPES.
MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SHUTS DOWN WHILE RUNNING, CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO DEFAULT INTO 5TH GEAR, (2-4 GEARS EFFECTIVELY DISAPPEAR) AND THE ALL ELECTRICITY , RADIO, A/C, AND POWER STEERING TO SHUT DOWN. ON STRAIGHT HIGHWAYS ONE CAN KEEP DRIVING BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL IMMEDIATELY, AND TRYING TO RESTART THE ENGINE WITH THE KEY. USUALLY IT RESTARTS AND RUNS BUT IN A DEFICIENT POWER MODE. THE VDC LIGHT APPEARS, LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE STUCK IN 5TH GEAR, WITH THE OPTION OF MANUALLY STARTING IN 1ST GEAR. EITHER SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO AUTOMATIC OR MANUALLY TO ANOTHER GEAR, DEFAULTS THE CAR INTO GEAR 5. THE CAR IS DRIVE-ABLE IN THIS CONDITION, BUT ONE HAS AT STOPLIGHTS, TO IMMEDIATELY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, AND MANUALLY WITH FOOT PEDAL, KEEP THE RPMS ABOVE 1100. FORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT. IF TURNING A CORNER, AND NOT VERY STRONG, I'D HAVE NO CONTROL OVER MY CAR. WITHOUT POWER STEERING WORKING THE WHEEL IS VERY HARD TO TURN. FINALLY ONE DAY, THE CAR WOULD NOT START ON COLD START. IT WOULD OCCASIONALLY ALMOST FIRE, MAKE SOME REVOLUTIONS,BUT THEN WOULD ONLY TURN ON POWER OF THE STARTER. THE FIRST MECHANIC GAVE AN ESTIMATE OF $3600 TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN THE PROBLEM ORIGINALLY DID NOT EXIST WHEN ENGINE WAS COLD, BUT AFTER ENGINE WARMS UP, AT THE FIRST TIME THE RPM'S FALL BELOW 1000, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF... USUALLY WAITING FOR A COLD ENGINE AGAIN, CAUSES THE CAR TO START UP IN ORIGINAL FORM.
MY CAR IS JERKING AND BUCKING REALLY BADLY WHILE INTO GEAR ALSO WHILE COMING TO STOPS AND DRIVING ALONG. THE TAKE OFF IS SLOW AND HESITANT AND IT LOSES POWER AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. WHILE PUTTING IT IN GEAR IT JERKS REALLY HARD AS WELL. PLEASE HELP! I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND I NEED MY TRANSPORTATION FOR WORK
AFTER 100,000 MILES TRANSMISSION STARTED SHOES OF FAILURE. SHIFTING PAST SECOND GRAR WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO STALLL, THEN BUCK. CAR WOULD ALSO BUCK WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEEDS. ALSO THE CAR WOULD STALL AND THE ACCELERATOR WOULD BECOME UNRESPONSIVE WHEN SHIFTING AT HIGH SPEEDS. FORCED TO RELEASE THE ACCELORATOT AND THE PRESS IT AGAIN, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT CORRECTLY AND "CATCH" THE GEAR. MASSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION CAUSED BY FAULTY TRANSMISSION. MOST ERRORS CAUSED WHEN SHIFTING IN HIGH SPEED OR UPHILL. SPECIFICALLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN AND WORK HARDER TO ACCELERATE AFTER DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS WOULD CAUSE BUCKING AND THE BODY OF THE CAR TO JERK AND SHAKE.
THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER THAT IS MADE FROM PLASTIC CAME APART AND HAS CAUSED MY CARS ENGINE TO FAIL.THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGNED PART . IT WILL COST AROUND $2000.00 PARTS AND LABOR FOR THE REPAIR FROM THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP.NISSAN SHOULD STEP UP AND CORRECT THIS DESIGN FLAW FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM .
MY TIMING CHAIN PRIMARY GUIDE HAS BROKE ! THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN ASSEMBLY PART! IT'S MADE OF PLASTIC AND THE PLASTIC BREAKS AND THE CHAIN LOOSES TENSION! IT COST 2000$ TO REPAIR. I'M DRIVING THE CAR. I CAN'T GO ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IF THE CHAIN FAILS THE CAR WILL JUST STOP!'DANGEROUS NISSAN HAS KNOWN OF THE DEFECTIVE PART ! THEY NOTIFIED ALL DEALERSHIPS IN 2004 TSB. BUYERS AVOID NISSAN MAXI AS 04-08 MODELS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOLENOID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.
I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN INSPECTION, FOUND OUT THAT THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND THERE WAS A GOOD SIZE HOLE. IT COST ME A COUPLE HUNDRED TO FIX BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T PASS THE INSPECTION. THE NEXT THING WAS THE SLACK TIMING CHAIN, THE CAR SOUNDS LIKE A TRUCK. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WOULD COST UP TO $3000 TO FIX. THEN THE BIGGEST SAFETY ISSUE IS THE TRANSMISSION, THIS ONE IS REALLY CONCERNING. THE JERKING, BUCKING, KICKING, CLANGING, THE SECONDS OF HESITATION BETWEEN DRIVE AND REVERSE AND THEN SUDDENLY IT ENGAGES AND THE KICK COULD GIVE YOU WHIPLASH. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A RODEO. WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR AWHILE (OVERNIGHT) THERE IS NO ISSUE WITH THE INITIAL START BUT ONCE IT WARMS UP THAT'S IT. YOU CAN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY ONCE THE CAR SLOWS DOWN, OR IS MAKING A TURN, GOING AROUND A BEND OR COMES TO A STOP BECAUSE IT DROPS OUT OF GEAR, THEN THERE IS THE HESITATION AND AT THAT POINT IT JUST REVS, THIS HAPPENS 2 OR 3 TIMES BEFORE IT ENGAGES AGAIN THEN THERE IS A MASSIVE BANG AND THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD, BY THEN THE TRAFFIC IS RIGHT UNDER YOUR REAR BUMPER. AFTER THIS HAPPENS A FEW TIMES THERE IS NO MORE ACCELERATION, THE PEDAL HAS TO BE PUSHED TO THE FLOOR FOR THE CAR TO MOVE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON A MONTH OR TWO AGO AND HASN'T GONE OFF. THIS IS A REAL DANGEROUS, SAFETY ISSUE. A FEW DAYS AGO ANOTHER ISSUE APPEARED, I CANNOT OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WITH THE REMOTE DOOR OPENER OR THE ELECTRONIC DOOR OPENER ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR. AT THIS POINT I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE ISSUES, THEY ARE ALL MANUFACTURE PROBLEMS BUT THE TIMING CHAIN AND TRANSMISSION IS THE BIGGEST WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE CAR WILL STOP. WHY HASN'T NISSAN DONE A RECALL????? THERE ARE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
1 COVE COURT
SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, 1ST TO 2ND OR 2ND TO 3RD - ENGINE REVS, TRANSMISSION JERKS AFTER SHORT DELAY. WHEN GOING ON DOWNHILL BENDS THIS MEANS THAT THE CAR WANTS TO JERK OFF THE ROAD, SOMEWHAT. APPARENTLY DUE TO IMPROPER COOLING ON THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, IT GETS GUMMY, AND THEN THE SOLENOIDS CLOG UP AND GET STUCK. THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF WEAR ON THE GEARS. FOR THE FIRST REPAIR, A FLUSH AND REPLACING THE SOLENOIDS WILL USUALLY GIVE ANOTHER 20K MILES, BUT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T GET FIXED UNLESS A CUSTOM COOLING SYSTEM IS PUT ON THE TRANSMISSION LINES. IT'S A CRAPPY DESIGN. INSTEAD OF RUNNING THE COOLING LINES TO THE ENGINE AND PUTTING A THERMOSTAT ON A SWITCH, THERE SHOULD BE A DEDICATED COOLER ON THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, IT'S RIDICULOUSLY HARD TO GET TO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FILTER, WHICH IS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE. HOW HARD WOULD IT HAVE BEEN TO PUT AN EXTERNAL FILTER DOWN IN THE PAN? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING, THERE WAS A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL UNDER REFERENCE NUMBER: R2022 (CAM SHAFT) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CAUSES CAR TO JERK VERY BADLY, ACTS AS THO IT DOES NOT WANT TO GO. PULLING OFF YOU WILL HAVE TO MAKE SURE NO CARS ARE COMING AT ALL BECAUSE IF YOU JUST GO, YOU'RE LIKELY TO BE HIT. *TR
I WAS INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD AND THE RADIATOR SPLIT AT THE TOP, SPRAYING COOLANT EVERYWHERE. THE CAP WAS FUNCTIONING. NO INJURY BUT VERY DANGEROUS. THE RADIATOR LOOKS LIKE IT IS MADE OF SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC. I HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE RADIATOR. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER. I DIDN'T ASK FOR COMPENSATION. I ASKED THAT THE NISSAN ENGINEERING DEPT REVIEW THE DEFECT FOR SAFETY REASONS AND RECEIVED NO REPLY. I REPLACED THE RADIATOR MYSELF. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE THE RADIATOR IN MY GARAGE. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE CAR IS JERKING IS WHILE DRIVING. IT IS ALSO REVVING WHILE DRIVING. *TR
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
CAR JERKS WHEN GOING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. SOMETIMES IT WON'T GO AT ALL. ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, IT SLAMS INTO 2ND GEAR AND/OR HESITATES SHIFTING INTO IT. WHEN IDLE AND SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE OR FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, THERE IS A 2-3 DELAY AND THE CAR JERKS AND SLAMS INTO THAT GEAR. THE JERK IS AGGRESSIVE AND CAN CAUSE IN INJURY. THE CAR DOES NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY AND CONSTANTLY JERKS AND SLAMS INTO GEAR. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED, THEY MECHANICS SAY IT WILL EITHER NEED A NEW VALVE BODY OR NEW TRANSMISSION ON A CAR WITH 112K MILES ON IT. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE FOR 2004-2006 NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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