2004 Nissan Maxima Suspension Problems

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 .

NHTSA ID

11340304

Incident

Jun 3, 2020

Mileage

10 mi

VEHICLE HAS 91000 MILES ON IT AND TRANSMISSION IS FAILING.(JERKS WHEN VEHICLE TAKES OFF FROM STATIONARY POSITION. FRONT END GIVES ROUGH RIDE, AFTER REPLACING STRUTS.

NHTSA ID

11000646

Incident

Apr 25, 2015

Mileage

82,000 mi

[XXX] STARTING IT UP TAKES 2-3X WITH PUTTING THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, THEN IT JERKS INTO GEAR. WHILE DRIVING IT JUST STALLS OUT WHICH IS VERY SCARY & DANGEROUS AND IT GOES FROM DRIVE TO 5TH GEAR NO 1-4, AND IT HESITATES & WHEN DRIVING UP TO A RED LIGHT FOR EXAMPLE, THEN IT STARTS TO CONK OUT. ALSO NO PICK UP FROM AN IDLE POSITION, I JUST BOUGHT IT 9/17/14 AND CALLED DEALER AND HE TOLD HIM IT WONT PASS INSPECTION "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON" CONSTANT. IT FEELS LIKE TRANSMISSION ISN'T IN PROPER GEAR (5TH) JUST STALLS WHILE DRIVING. EVERYONE BEHIND ME LEANS ON THE HORN AND YELLS AT ME WHEN IT STALLS OUT IN DRIVE. IM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. THE DEALER (NORTH SHORE AUTO MALL, LYNN MA 01905, MGR NAME [XXX], REAL JERK !!) SAID THEY DID A 21 POINT INSPECTION, BUT THAT'S BS, THEY WOULD HAVE CAUGHT THAT SEEING THAT THEY ARE IN THE BUSINESS AND KNEW THEY SOLD ME A CAR W/BAD TRANSMISSION/ALTERNATOR. NOW THEY DON'T WANT TO KNOW ME. PLEASE GIVE ME SOME RESOURCES THAT YOU KNOW OF TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. I COULD GO ON & ON ABOUT THE TREATMENT I HAD TO ENDURE BUT THAT WONT HELP HOPEFULLY YOU CAN REGARDS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10637691

Incident

Sep 17, 2014

Mileage

100,038 mi

WHILE VEHICLE IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN POINTED OUT SIGNIFICANT ROT TO FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR BOARD ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. I SEE FROM THE LISTED COMPLAINTS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND MODEL YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10546568

Incident

Oct 2, 2013

Mileage

144,100 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10505059

Incident

Oct 11, 2011

Mileage

98,104 mi

WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR TRANSMISSION FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP (CERRITOS NISSAN) AND THEY SAY THE PROBLEM IS THAT WE NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS WILL BE OUR THIRD TRANNY AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 120,000+ MILES ON IT. OUR FIRST TRANSMISSION LASTED 5YRS. BEFORE HAVING TO BE REPLACED AND NOW THIS ONE HAS LASTED 3YRS. THE TRANSMISSION NOW IS STUCK IN 5TH GEAR WHEN YOU SWITCH TO THE TIP TRONIC SETTING TO SEE THE GEARING AND THIS IS THE REASON THERE IS NO POWER DURING ACCELERATION. WE ALSO NEED MOTOR MOUNTS NOW BECAUSE OF THE VIOLENT JERKING THAT THE TRANNY DOES WHEN PUT INTO GEAR. AND THE DEALERSHIP ALSO SAID WE NEEDED A TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT WAS BAD AS WELL, TOTAL REPAIR COST $6700.00+. I'VE RECENTLY TAKEN MY CAR TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE SAID THE TIMING CHAIN WAS PERFECTLY FINE. OUR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW SWITCHES DO NOT WORK AGAIN, THAT WAS REPLACED 1YR AGO. AND WE ARE NOW ON OUR THIRD SET OF FRONT STRUTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10487668

Incident

Jul 10, 2009

Mileage

80,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2004 MAXIMA 18 MONTHS AGO. FROM THE TIME I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT IT STARTED SHAKING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER A TOTAL OF 4 TIMES EACH TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT,FROM THE ROTORS TO A WEIGHT FALLING OFF THE WHEEL(WHICH THEY SAY I LOST).I WAS DRIVING ON A INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND PULLING SO BAD I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT.WHEN I TOOK IT BACK FOR THE FIFTH TIME I WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FIXED(I HAD NOT OWNED IT BUT 2 MONTHS). FINALLY I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER (SAME AFFILIATE) WHO FIXED IT SO THE SHAKING WAS NOT AS BAD (AFTER 3 VISITS). I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE THEN,AND NOW WHEN THE JERKING HAS GOTTEN WORSE,SOMETIMES JERKS SO HARD IT HURTS MY NECK. THE GEARS JERK WHEN CHANGING. I THOUGHT I JUST HAD TO DEAL WITH THE FACT THAT I BROUGHT A LEMON,BUT AFTER READING ALL THESE COMPLAINTS (WHICH ARE EITHER THE SAME OR SIMILAR) I KNOW NISSAN NEEDS TO CORRECT THESE ISSUES BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR LOOSE THERE LIVES(AS WELL AS OTHERS).AND I DO PLAN TO CONTINUE EMAILING SENDING LETTERS,AND CALLING UNTIL SOMEONE LISTENS.NOW I DON'T FEEL ALONE IN THIS ISSUE JUST PISSED OFF. THAT NISSAN HAS ALLOWED THIS TO GO ON SO LONG WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE SAFETY ISSUE OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10448375

Incident

Aug 16, 2010

I BOUGHT A USED 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AND I'M HAVING PROBLEMS THE JERKING, THRUSTING FORWARD AND THE BAD DOWN SHIFTING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ACT LIKE THEY NEVER HEARD OF A PROBLEM BEFORE AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A FLUSH ($200), SO I DID, IT CONTINUED KICKING. I TOOK IT BACK TO NISSAN THEY DROVE IT AND TOLD ME IT NEED MOTOR MOUNTS ($2,000), I GOT THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AT LOCAL AUTO SHOP. THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM WANTING ME TO SPENDING MONEY ON DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM, WHEN THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE TRANSMISSION IS A RECALL ISSUE THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN NISSAN. I'VE HAD 2 ALTIMA, I HAVE A 1997 MAX AND NEVER HAD MAJOR ISSUES (I DRIVE THAT MORE THAN THE NEW CAR) AND I HAVE A 2004 ARMADA, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THEM TO ANYONE ANY MORE. THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES IN NOT SELLING LEMONS...WELL I GOT ONE! I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW I CAN HAVE 1997 MAX AND NOT HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND NEW MODEL CAR 2004 AND HAVING ALL THESE ISSUES. I CANNOT AFFORD A $3,800 TRANSMISSION AND A NEW SET OF $500 MOTOR MOUNTS.....ANOTHER PROBLEM I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR IS THE A/C KEEPS GOING OUT...THERE IS NO LEAKS IN THE LINES BUT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE A/C PUMP SO I WAS TOLD BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10445249

Incident

Feb 3, 2011

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR IS SLIPPING. WHEN I AM TRYING TO TAKE OFF MANY TIMES THE ACCELERATION IS DECREASED DRAMATICALLY AND PUTS MY FAMILY IN DANGER OF HAVING A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE GEARS ARE HARD TO SWITCH AND IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING IT STARTS JERKING AS IF IT WILL CUT OFF. THE DEALER CLAIMS TO NOT HAVE MANY ISSUES WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT MY ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS THE SOURCE OF MOST OF THE PROBLEMS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10434953

Incident

Jul 3, 2009

Mileage

81,032 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STRUTS AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY HER LOCAL MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10422444

Incident

Jan 1, 2011

Mileage

118,000 mi

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT SWAYS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AND SHIFTS HARD OR SKIPS OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. ONLY HAVE 59,500 MILES ON CAR AND FRONT STRUTS SWAY BAR SUB FRAME BUSHINGS NEED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH STRUTS AND TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10392809

Incident

Jan 10, 2010

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SLOWED DUE TO TRAFFIC, VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITH A LOUD BANG. OCCURRED WHILE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED FROM 2ND GEAR TO 1ST. OCCURS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND GEAR INTO 3RD AND WHEN PARKED AND TRYING TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE INTO DRIVE. TWO MECHANICS HAVE SUGGESTED TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT AND APPOINTMENT MADE FOR SUCH. VEHICLE ALSO HAS A HORRIBLE STEERING WHEEL SHUDDER/SHAKING THAT GETS WORSE THE FASTER YOU GO (HIGHWAY SPEEDS) TOLD IT WAS STRUTS, SO THEY WERE REPLACED, NUMEROUS WHEEL ALIGNMENTS AND BALANCINGS TO CORRECT, WITH NO SATISFACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10371787

Incident

Jun 20, 2010

Mileage

96,000 mi

FRONT AND REAR SUSPENSION, STEERING, BRAKES,BODY WORK, DRIVERS DOOR. HAD ISSUES RIGHT AFTER WIFE BOUGHT THE CAR SHE WENT WITHOUT ME BUT UPON LOOKING AT CAR AFTER SHE CAME HOME WITH IT DID THE CAR FAX ON IT ON THING WERE SOME ELECTRICAL CHECKS THAT'S IT NO ACCIDENTS. STEERING TIGHT WHEN I DROVE IT AND NOTICED NOISE FROM SUSPENSION WHEN GOING OVER RAILROAD TRACKS AND DRIVER DOOR SAGGING. BROUGHT TO DEALER NEXT DAY AND THE SAID A BAR WAS RUBBING ON ANOTHER THEY FIX THEY SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH SUSPENSION IN HEARING THINGS IS THERE EXACT WORDS AND REPLACED THE DOOR HINGES WHICH ARE PURPLE AND THE CAR IS RED DOOR SAGGING AGAIN BUT I WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT END OF 2008 GOT SIDESWIPED BY 2500 DODGE RAM TRUCK AT 45 MPH ON DRIVERSIDE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT BECAUSE BODY SHOP ON REPAIR DAMAGE NOT REPLACED I BROUGHT MY CAR TO ANOTHER BODY SHOP BECAUSE OF ISSUES IM HAVING AND THEY SAID WORK WAS DONE INCORRECTLY. AND TRANSMISSION HAS ALWAYS WHEN I DRIVE MORE THAN 20 MILES CONTINUOUSLY WHEN I COME TO STOP AND START AGAIN THE TRANNY ALWAYS SLIPS BAD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND INTO 4TH SOMETIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10367952

Incident

Apr 16, 2008

WARNING SIGNS STARTED WITH A HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND TO 3RD AT 45K MILES. DONE REGULAR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE BUT PROBLEM REMAINS THE SAME. LATER IT STARTED HARD BANG OR JERK WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE. AT 112K MILES IT GOT WORSE AND THEN KNEW READING ONLINE ABOUT FAULTY VALVE BODY PROBLEM IN MANY 2004-2006 MAXIMAS TRANSMISSION. REPAIR COST IS TOO HIGH TO EVEN MENTION. SECOND PROBLEM IS TIMING CHAIN PLASTIC TENTIONERS. A WHAT? YES PLASTIC TIMING CHAIN TENTIONERS INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PROBLEM STARTED AT 50K AND CONTINUED AS OF TODAY. COMPLAINED TO DEALER WHEN CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND DELER SAID MY CAR IS RUNNING AWESOME. NISSAN LATER CHANGED THE DESIGN OF PLASTIC TIMING CHAIN TENTIONER. BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAS FAULTY DESIGNED TIMING CHAIN TENTIONERS? RESPONSIBLE PARTIES KNOWS ABOUT THESE ISSES BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. WHY THERE IS NO RECALL YET?

NHTSA ID

10366169

Incident

Sep 1, 2006

Mileage

42,000 mi

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SHIMMY IN STEERING,TRANSMISSION JERK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10365054

Incident

Nov 5, 2010

Mileage

3,500 mi

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT HAS 97.000 MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE I BOUGHT IT. IT WON'T GO INTO DRIVE FROM PARK WITHOUT A 3-5 SECOND DELAY, IT DOSEN'T DOWN SHIFT PROPERLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. IT'S TO THE POINT NOW THAT WHEN I COME TO A STOP IT DOWN SHIFTS SO ERRATICLY THAT THE TIRES CHIRP. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE OVER 150,000 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE IT, WHICH I THINK IS A FALSEHOOD. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THERE CLEARLY IS A DEFECT WITH THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THEM. THE FOG LIGHTS SHORT OUT AND BURN OUT AFTER LIMITED USE. I HAVE SPEND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON FOG LIGHTS, NOW I JUST GAVE UP AND LEAVE THEM BURNED OUT. THE FRONT STRUTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353633

Incident

Jun 9, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

2004 AND NEWER NISSAN MAXIMAS HAS A SERIOUS STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION AFTER 40MPH. NISSAN DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE NO COMPLAINTS, BUT THE INTERNET IF FULL OF CUSTOMERS HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR IS 6YEARS OLD BUT ONLY HAS 34,000 MILES. NEW TIRES, BRAKES,ROTORS,ALIGNMENT MULTIPLY TIRE BALANCES HAS NOT FIXED THIS PROBLEM. ON THE INTERNET CUSTOMER HAVE REPLACED STRUTS, BEARING,CV AXLES AND PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THIS SEEMS LIKE A PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10322768

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

100 mi

I HAVE AN 04 NISSAN MAXIMA. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 04. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 60000 AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP, A 200 DOLLAR TRANSMISSION FLUSH, AND THE REPLACEMENT OF A TRANSMISSION MOUNT, THEY FINALLY REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT STRUTS 3 TIMES, MY TIMING CHAIN $3500, AND NOW I NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AT 126,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN ON NUMEROUS BLOG SITES WITH PEOPLE WHO SHARED SIMILAR STORIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10303406

Incident

Apr 13, 2007

Mileage

60,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT I BOUGHT NEW IN 2003 IN CALIFORNIA. WITHIN MONTHS TO THE FIRST YEAR, I HAVE HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END. I'VE HAD MY WHEELS ALIGNED, TIRES BALANCE NUMEROUS TIMES AND CHECKED DUE TO A SHIMMY IN THE STEERING WHEEL, TIRES WEARING UNEVENLY AND A CLANKING OR THUMPING NOISE IN THE FRONT RIGHT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP. THESE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD FOR YEARS AND COMPLAINED CONTINUOUSLY. HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES FOR THESE PROBLEMS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. NISSAN FIXED NOISE AFTER 5 TIMES IN THE SHOP IN 2004 AND 2005. NOW OVER THE YEARS THE NOISE HAS COME BACK, BUT THE SHIMMY WAS ALWAYS A PROBLEM. I JUST LEARNED TO IGNORE IT UNTIL NOW. I'M READING NOW ONLINE OF OTHER MAXIMA OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M PLANNING ON APPROACHING MY NISSAN DEALER HERE IN FLORIDA ABOUT THE SHIMMY, ABNORMAL TIRE WARE AND CLANKIING NOISE AS WELL. CAN YOU HELP ME? *TR

NHTSA ID

10300131

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

1,600 mi

2004 MAXIMA SL - CLUNKING NOISE ON THE FRONT FROM BOTH SIDES, THE CAR IS OVER 36,000 SO I HAVE NOT TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SINCE IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I THINK THE NOISE STARTED WHEN THE CAR WAS AROUND 40,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO GOODYEAR, THEY REPLACED THE STRUTS BUT THE NOISE NEVER WENT AWAY. YOU CAN HEAR IT THE MOST WHEN GOING OVER BRICK ROADS AND HUMPS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT WILL FALL APART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10299050

Incident

Apr 17, 2008

Mileage

40,000 mi

I ALMOST GOT INVOLVE INTO AN ACCIDENT. I JUST BOUGHT A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE (AUTOMATIC) AND ITS GIVING ME TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS (WHEN THE CAR IS HOT) BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR, SOMETIMES FROM FIRST TO SECOND. I JUST WANTED TO BUY A RELIABLE CAR BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A BABY. SHE WAS IN THE CAR WHEN THE ACCIDENT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. MY WIFE, MY 4 MONTHS OLD BABY AND I WHERE GOING TO SEE MY FAMILY AND NEEDED TO TAKE THE HIGHWAY. I NEEDED TO MAKE A STOP BEFORE ENTERING THE HIGHWAY (TO ENTER TO THE RIGHT LANE). SINCE MY CAR JERKS WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, A TRACTORTRAILER ALMOST HIT ME WHEN I ENTERED THE HIGHWAY. BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR IS NOT RELIABLE. IT MIGHT GET ME INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN FLAW FROM THE NISSAN CORPORATION. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION ON 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA MODELS. GIVE ME A CALL OR SEND ME AN EMAIL IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. *TR LOU VALDO

NHTSA ID

10293613

Incident

Nov 20, 2009

Mileage

125,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 61,038 MILES ON IT. AS I AM DRIVING, MY CAR WILL JUMP SOMETIMES LIGHTLY & AT OTHER TIMES VERY HARD. IF I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THEN PUT THE GEAR BACK INTO DRIVE, I WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE CAR TO JUMP INTO GEAR. WHEN I BRAKE, THE CAR WILL JUMP BEFORE STOPPING. IT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS SLIPPING. AT TIMES, THE CAR JUMPS SO HARD THAT I SEE OTHER PEOPLE LOOK MY WAY. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, DAY OR NIGHT, HOT OR COLD... THE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVEN FOR HRS., SO YES IT IS WARMED UP. IN JUNE OF 2008, I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP & I WAS TOLD I NEEDED 2 TRANSMISSION MOUNTS AND A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WHICH WOULD COST OVER $900.00. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND I HAD IT DONE FOR A LITTLE OVER $600.00. A FEW DAYS LATER I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO MY MECHANIC 3 MORE TIMES & THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. IN SEPTEMBER OF 2008, I TOOK THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER & IT PASSED ALL OF THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED. ON 2/6/2009, I TOOK THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER & I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED A TRANSMISSION WHICH WILL COST ME $4507.00,I NEED A RIGHT ENGINE MOUNT WHICH WILL COST $361.00, BOTH FRONT STRUTS ARE MAKING A CHUCKING NOISE...$832.00, LOWER CONTROL ARM BUSHINGS ARE BROKEN...$809.00. ALL OF THESE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE CAR'S JERKING. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT IF I GET THIS DONE, THE CAR SHOULD LAST ABOUT 6 TO 7 MORE YRS. I HAD TO PAY $98.00 FOR THE DEALERSHIP TO TROUBLE SHOOT, WHEN THE AMOUNT IS USUALLY $65.00 FOR INSPECTION AT OTHER PLACES. I CANNOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION, I WOULD BE BETTER OFF TRYING TO BY SOMETHING ELSE (NO NISSAN) TO DRIVE. I STILL HAVE PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR, SO THAT IS NOT EVEN BEING REALISTIC. I AM FED UP WITH THIS CAR & THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO ABOUT IT. I ONLY DRIVE THE CAR TO WORK & PLACES THAT I MUST GO TO, BECAUSE I AM SCARED TO RELY ON IT. I CAN'T ENJOY MY WEEKENDS ANYMORE BECAUSE I HAVE TO DEPEND ON THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10257949

Incident

Jun 30, 2008

I HAVE A 2004 MAXIMA WITH 65,000 MILES AND ALREADY HAVING TROUBLE WITH TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255492

Incident

Jan 17, 2009

Mileage

65,000 mi

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS JERKS ALL THE TIME FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 1ST VERY HARD AND THE STRUTS SOUND HORRIBLY. THEY BOTH HAVE BEEN CHANGED THE TRANS. AND THE STRUTS AND THEY ARE DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255268

Incident

Jul 3, 2006

04 NISSAN MAXIMA PURCHASED IN AUG 03 WITH A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. FIRST VISIT TO THE DEALER WAS IN MARCH 04 -- REPLACED FRONT STRUT. LASTED ABOUT 1 WEEK BEFORE THE NOISE WAS BACK. SINCE THEN HAS HAD AT LEAST 6-8 STRUTS REPLACED. LAST REPAIR WAS LAST FRIDAY -- WENT 10 MILES BEFORE THE NOISE WAS BACK. THE LONGEST A STRUT HAS LASTED WAS 6 MONTHS. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH FOR FOUR YEARS. WILL NISSAN ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A PROBLEM AND EVER FIX IT? *TR

NHTSA ID

10252516

Incident

Dec 19, 2008

Mileage

5,000 mi