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.

4.4

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
25,209 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.

2004 Nissan Maxima accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2004 Nissan Maxima Owner Comments

problem #10

Mar 012013

Maxima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2004 Nissan Maxima SE (equipped with six speed manual transmission) component faiure: Clutch master cylinder 1st occurence - April 2008 ~31,000 miles sudden total loss of clutch pedal pressure resulting in inability to put car into any gear while driving without any prior warnings, experienced total loss of clutch pedal pressure while driving in heavy traffic on a bridge, resulting in extreme safety concerns trying to get out of harms way. Jammed car into gear without pressure clutch resulted in several thousand dollars of consequential damages to the transmission gears. Nissan replaced the failed clutch master cylinder at a cost of approximately $400. Transmission was fixed by Nissan under warranty. 2nd occurence - March 2013 ~58,000 miles sudden partial loss (1/2) of clutch pedal pressure while driving home in stop and go traffic. No longer can drive car due to safety/reliability concerns. In both of the occurences above, full clutch pressure returned after letting car sit and coll down for approximately 1/2 hour. A search of the we revealed that many drives of Nissan's of this vintage have experienced identical symptoms of clutch pedal pressure failure. Dealer will not admit it is a problem.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #9

May 202006

Maxima 6-cyl

  • 27,000 miles
Faulty bose sound system 6 cd changer. Left side speaker on & off. I called so many times to Nissan Corp. No proper reply. So many people have same kind of problem. Nissan use faulty parts and never recalled and fix this units.

- Jersey City, NJ, USA

problem #8

Jan 102010

Maxima

  • miles
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.

- Auburn, NY, USA

problem #7

Oct 012009

Maxima

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a Nissan Maxima that I had to replace all tires because of a defect that came to me in the mail after I brought my new tires and was not reimbursed. I also had problem with front rotors that they kept replacing numerous times until my warrant ran out and than I had to replace them with high performance rotors so it would not happen again.now after all of that and more I am not able to drive my only transportation because out of nowhere my transmission blew up after my extended warranty ran out because of years not mileage and no matter where I went I was told that if I would replace it with a new or use transmission that I would have the same problem and no one wants to work on it.I was told by mechanics that only the 2004 has transmission problems.

- Newport News, VA, USA

problem #6

Feb 172010

Maxima

  • 12,000 miles
Transmission jerks/slips between the 1st and 2nd gear shifts when accelerating and decelerating.

- Stoney Creek - Hamilton, 00, USA

problem #5

Nov 272008

Maxima

  • 76,000 miles
Transmission jerks on 2nd and 3rd gear. Common problem with 2004 Nissan Maxima SE, and Nissan refuses to do anything.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #4

Mar 192009

Maxima

  • 50,359 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have a 2004 Nissan Maxima SE with 51039 miles and recently I noticed that the car jerking changing gears so I took it to the dealership to have it looked at and they advice me that I needed to have the motor mount replace, ac line is leaking need replacement and transmission flushed. I did all that and the problem still happens so I took it back to the dealership and this time they advice me that the transmission will need to be replace. They gave me a estimate of 4500 for the repair. After researching on this issue to see if the transmission replacement will fix the problem and I am a little worry that it might not. Because I got the transmission replaced from the dealership and I drove it for no more then 3 miles and the problem came back. I took it back to the dealership to have to have it look at again. I think that if Nissan does not look into this it will cause a major accident if the transmission fails or that sudden jerk will cause panic is the driver and cause the driven to step on the gas and hit someone in front of them. Please please advice Nissan for recall.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

problem #3

Jul 282003

Maxima

  • 55,000 miles
The car RPM drop down below 500, last year it led to service engine light and spend around a grand, but never fix, until today the dealer claim that this happened to Nissan maxim 04, and last year I start having steering shaking, the dealer told if I change my rims and tires it will fix it, and in Aug-2008 I have 4 new rim and good years tires, but the problem exit, I went in Jan to the dealer, and they told if they tightened some thing it will fix, but no I still have until today, car shakes if you exceed speed of 55 or 50 M/H. I am still having those problem until today.

- Jessup, MD, USA

problem #2

Mar 292008

Maxima 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 27,000 miles
I purchased a 2004 Nissan Maxima, on February 27 2007 with only 24,000 miles. Three months later, the vehicle started to fail. I notice some jerking when I slowed down and then hit the gas, as well as a metal rattling noise (when I give it gas). I took it to the dealer which they stated that they didn't feel it jerk and they didn't hear the rattling noise. The noise has become worse. Now a year later the engine light came on and my car wouldn't start. I took the car to the shop where they diagnose that my ignition coil went bad. (had to replace all six) cost $1000. To this point the car still remains in the shop due to ignition coil. Finally, the rotor went bad which had to be replaced for the amt $380. I have done some research on this vehicle where there have been numerous complaints. I highly believe that an investigation should be place to get this on the recall list.

- Camden, NJ, USA

problem #1

Oct 062004

Maxima 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 4,727 miles
Steering wheel shimmies at speeds from 50-80 mph and also shimmies harshly when braking at lower speeds. I had this in for repair twice so far. The first time they turned the rotors. The next time they rotated the tires. Also, had gps/nav system in for repair three times to date. The dvd was reprogrammed the first time and replaced twice. I'm getting ready to file a lemon law complaint.

- Crestview, FL, USA

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