Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 623 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 623, in the owner's own words
TRANSMISSION SHIFT POORLY, HIGH REV INBETWEEN SHIFTS, HARD DOWN SHIFTS AND EXTREMELY HARD UP SHIFTS. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DURING ICY CONDITIONS DUE TO THE HIGH REV AND HARD DOWN SHIFTS THAT CAUSE UNCONTROLLABLE LOSS OF DRIVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AS THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE VALVE BODY OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THAT THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE SHIFTED INTO A LOWER GEAR IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO OPERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,646.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND LUNGED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000. ...UPDATED 09-26-13 *BF
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
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
TRANSMISSION VIOLATLY JERKS AND GEARS HANG UP IN 5TH. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP WHEN THE TRANSMISSION PREMATURELY SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR WITH A VIOLENT JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED YET THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTO CENTER FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A RESPONSE REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 9/27/11 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE TRANSMISSION HAD AN INTERNAL FAILURE THAT WOULD COST $ 3,800. UPDATED 01/03/12
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK AND WOULD NOT SHIFT BACK INTO GEAR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO DECELERATE TO SPEEDS OF 10 MPH AND STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND MOTOR MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS LATER, THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A SENSOR WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS VERY HARD WHEN GOING BETWEEN GEARS, BUT MOSTLY BETWEEN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED ALTOGETHER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING, BUT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT DID SPECIFY WHY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT FOR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
FAILURE OF A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA'S TRANSMISSION AT 70,000 MILES. COMING HOME DURING RUSH HOUR, I SLOWED DOWN WHILE GOING AROUND A CURVE GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. WHEN MY CAR SLOWED TO APPOX. 20 MPH (MY FOOT WAS NOT ON ANY PEDAL), IT SUDDENLY REVVED AND JERKED BACK TO 20 MPH. IT HAPPEN AGAIN A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER AT WHICH TIME I TOOK IT TO AN HONEST TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. HE HOOKED IT ONTO A TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING, BUT HE BEGAN READING ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE VALVE (WIDELY KNOWN DEFECT WHICH NISSAN IS FULLY AWARE OF, BUT REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT.) IN THE MAXIMA TRANSMISSION. HE REPLACED THE VALVE AT A COST OF $1900!!! HE SUBSEQUENTLY INFORMED ME THAT THIS FIX MAYBE JUST A "BANDAID ON A GUNSHOT WOUND" AND IF I CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS, THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF AN ADDITIONAL $2500 - $3000!! THE VALVE WAS REPLACED 6/29/2011, AS OF YESTERDAY (8/24/2011) THE CAR HAS ONCE AGAIN BEGUN TO ACT DIFFERENTLY ONCE IT IS AT OR AROUND 20 MPH. I HAVE CONTACTED NISSAN ABOUT THE SITUATION AND THEY SAID THE CAR WAS TOO FAR OUT OF WARRANTY! WHAT OTHER CARS TRANSMISSION GOES COMPLETELY OUT AT 70, 000 MILES AND HAS AS MANY COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET?? NO ONE BUT THE NISSAN MAXIMA. *TR
2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SL -- FAULTY TRANSMISSION. *TR
I OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. AYEAR AGO I NOTICED A JERK GOING FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY STATED I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AT A COST OF $ 4000 . I HAVE CHECKED WITH NISSAN AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER THE EXPENSE, THE JERK IS SO BAD THAT IT FEELS LIKE SOME ONE IS REAR ENDING YOU WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE. THIS IS A EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE SINCE HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD AND HAVE TO TRANSPORT HIM BACK AND FORTH TO DAY CARE AND DRIVE TO WORK. THERE IS MANY OF PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AND EVEN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED, THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE & IT HAS SEVERE ISSUES WITH VEHICLE JERKING INTO GEARS, JERKING WHILE RIDING AT SLOW SPEEDS, JERKING WITH ENGINE REVVING WHEN TRYING TO PICK UP SPEED. I AM NOT SURE WHAT LEAD UP TO THIS ISSUE, BUT IT IS NOT SAFE POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT LEADING TO SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH. THE FAILURE WHICH SEEMS TO BE SOME TYPE OF DEFAULT WITH THE TRANSMISSION OCCURS EVERYDAY WHEN,DRIVING ESPECIALLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY $3500 FOR A NEW OR REBUILT TRANSMISSION, BUT I DID HAVE MY TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED AT A NISSAN DEALER, BUT THAT DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM AT ALL. *TR
NISSAN MAXIMA 2004 3.5 SE: AROUND 82000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JUMP INTO AND OUT OFF GEAR. IM AT 95000 MILES AND THE PROBLEM IS WORSE. IT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR EASIER CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN, HAD CLOSE REAR ENDED ACCIDENTS, FORTUNATELY THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE PAYING ATTENTION. THIS PROBLEMS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE. I SWITCH FROM AUTOMATIC TO STANDARD AND THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO JUMP INTO AND OUT OF GEAR. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN 5TH GEAR. HAD IT TOWED ONCE ALREADY FOR THE SAME CAUSE. 3 MECHANICS TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VALVES IN THE TRANSMISSION, ESTIMATES OF $2000 TO $3500 TO FIX. ALL HAVE SAID THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF CAR. RPM SHOOTS UP PAST 7000 ON SOME GEAR CHANGES ONLY TO SLIP BACK OUT OF GEAR. I CAN NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY WHEN MERGING ONTO FREEWAYS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. CHECK THIS WEB PAGE.....HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NISSAN/MAXIMA/2004/TRANSMISSION/JERKS_WHEN_SHIFTING.SHTML. *TR
TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, BANGS INTO AND OUT OF GEAR. SOMETIMES YOU STEP ON THE GAS AND IT REVS UP AND GRABS THE GEAR SO HARD THE TIRES BREAK LOOSE, OTHER TIMES IT JUST DRIVES FINE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. AFTER DISENGAGING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY BUT BECAME FREQUENT OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE AND FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,415.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK WHEN PLACED IN PARK. WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE AND EXHIBIT JERKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT GIVE A REASON FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
MY HUSBAND AND I OWN 2004 MAXIMA.WE ARE EXPERIENCING A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM RIGHT ABOUT IT GOT TO 85000 MILES. WE HAVE STARTED NOTICING THE DELAYED GEAR CONTACT TO MAKE THE CAR GO AND VERY HARD JERKING INTO THE GEAR. IT HAPPENED UNDER SLOW TRAFFIC . THE CARS ARE OK TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAYS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE NISSAN AND WAS TOLD SINCE IT PASSED THE 60000 MILES IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE BOUGHT BOTH CARS AS CERTIFIED PRE OWNED WHICH SUPPOSEDLY COVERS THE TRANSMISSION UP TO THE 100000 MILES. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS A DAY OUT OF WARRANTY. NISSAN KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT . THEY SOLD US A DEFECTED VEHICLES KNOWING THEY HAVE PROBLEM WITH IT . I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSAND OF COMPLAINT WITH THEIR 2004-2007 NISSAN MAXIMA TRANSMISSION. I AM SURPRISE THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANY RECALL ON THEM. NISSAN SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR MISTAKE AND PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. LIKE I SAID WE OWE 2 NISSAN MAXIMAS , IT IS GOING TO COST ME $10,000 TO FIX THOSE CARS. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR NISSAN TO OWN TO THEIR MISTAKE ? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL ON THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS OVERHEATING, CAUSING THE ENGINE COILS TO MISFIRE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE COMPUTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD MAKE A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. IN ADDITION, WHEN SHIFTING GEARS WHILE DRIVING OVER 20 MPH, THE ENGINE WOULD REV. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A GEAR SHIFT MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENDLY JERKED FORWARD AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNCIANS STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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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