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.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 2
Average Mileage:
72,152 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.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima sl. The contact was traveling 16 mph when the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle failed to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to dealer. The dealer confirmed valve body needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown and the current mileage was 133,688.
My clutch pedal keeps getting stuck (on the floor without any retraction) while at a complete stop or when I am driving. Often times when I am driving I would have to shift gears to accommodate speed but cannot and would have to signal hazards to aware other drivers of emergency and cannot proceed with driving due to complications of my clutch pedal not functioning properly. I have tried trouble shooting problem but problem seems to keep coming back. I have looked up the problem in the forums and various Nissan Maxima owners with six speed manual transmissions are having the same problem... this problem has been a real safety issue for me with two kids and I the driver not being able to control my vehicle is not only dangerous but frightening, I some times am stuck in traffic and when the traffic starts moving I cannot and other drivers harass and threaten me.. it takes time for the pedal to retract sometimes hours. At times when moving steadily in motion the pedal gets stuck and cannot get out of gear and have to force the shifter out on neutral to roll with friction leaving me with little or no time to react leaving me vulnerable and in danger of getting in an accident having me move to the emergency lane.. please consider my complaint not for my benefit but for the benefit of other citizens and commuters.. 2004 Nissan Maxima owner.
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.
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.
- Fort Worth , TX, USA
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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.
I have done some research and found that numerous people have experienced a problem with this model's transmission, to the point where Nissan has issued a tsb. I have repeatedly been operating in traffic when the vehicle's acceleration pauses, the RPM shoots way up, the drops down after a few seconds, and then the transmission re-engages in a jerking fashion. This is a considerable problem given my operation in and around a major metropolitan area with significant traffic. Sudden unexpected changes in velocity, and failure to maintain velocity, is an accident waiting to happen.
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.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated and when trying to engage the brakes the vehicle would jerk. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle identification number was not available. The failure and current mileage was 101,000. Updated 07/20/11
2004 Nissan Maxima with manual transmission. Without warning, pedal goes to the floor and stays there causing a serious traffic hazard. Nissan says nothing wrong with it.
I bought a 2004 Nissan Maxima in 2003 right after the redesign, and every since I have had it little things start going wrong. At 39,000 miles major things start going wrong now at 54,000 miles I have no ABS braking system, and other things seems to start acting up. I have tried asking Nissan for help but they told me to get lost. I wish the tsb would look out for the consumers and get them some relief. I guess the only thing we as consumer can do is get a lawyer and sue under the lemon law and I know you don't need any money to retain an attorney. I know that 928 complaints that some thing is wrong with the product, and I am sure that the courts will agree with me. I had high hopes for Nissan cars but now if you try to give me one I would try and have you committed. I will never buy another Nissan ever.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact was parking when the vehicle suddenly accelerated, jumped the curb and crashed into a tree. There were no injuries and no police report filed. The vehicle was in drivable condition and the contact planned to have it inspected at the time of the complaint. The contact called the manufacturer and filed a claim. The current and failure mileages were approximately 67,500.
The contact owns 2006 Nissan Maxima. When the driver attempted to reverse out of a parking space the vehicle suddenly accelerated without intention. He then crashed into one parked vehicle which pushed that vehicle into another parked vehicle. She received injuries to her neck. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer stated speculated that an animal got stuck under the vehicle and caused the accelerator pedal to stick. The current and failure mileages were 67,000. The police report information was not available.
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that at low speeds, she experienced unintended vehicle acceleration. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the transmission was flushed; however, the repair did not remedy the failure. The failure mileage was 75000 and the current mileage was 107000. Updated 3/12/10 the consumer stated the transmission would get stuck in gear when trying to resume speed after stopping and dropping 10-20 mph slower. When the accelerator was applied, the transmission idled, but the vehicle staggered in 1st gear. Updated 05/10/10
The contact owns a 2004 Nissan Maxima. While driving approximately 100 mph, the vehicle drove off a hill, struck a stop sign, made 360 degree turns into an intersection, and crashed through a brick wall and a chain fence before landing in someone's home. Two occupants were killed, including the driver. The contact stated that the driver of the vehicle was always very cautious when driving and would have obeyed the speed limit. Through online research, the contact found several complaints for her make and model vehicle, including unexpected aceleration and brake failure. The manufacturer was not notified. A police report was filed. The VIN and mileages were unknown.
The car surges forward on it's on without applying the accelerator. I've documented the spike up to 6000(rpms). The situation has gotten to the point were my wife will not drive the vehicle. The car has been to the dealership on numerous occasions. I have taken it to five different Nissan dealerships, but they can not seem to find what the problem is.
My car suddenly surged forward while parking (my foot was on the brake). The car struck a high curb backed up by a berm which brought it to a stop. I banked my head on the windshield (airbag did not deploy). Air dam was torn off. No other obvious damage. The car has not yet been inspected by dealer.
The speedometer malfunctioned. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who ordered the electronic section of the dashboard. The order was put in June of 2003, but the parts did not arrive.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Birmingham, AL, USA