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.
8.2
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$2,530
Average Mileage:
107,350 miles
Total Complaints:
171 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replace transmission (72 reports)
not sure (63 reports)
replace valve body (21 reports)
replace broken motor mounts (6 reports)
replace about 3/4 of your transmission fluid - NOT FILTER (3 reports)
Maxima.Org - Deals with issues concerning the maxima, especially the 6th gen
Federal Safety Recall Site - Please everyone with this issue go to this site and submit your complaint. there are already 600. We need A LOT to get nissan to finally open their eyes on this!!!
This problem is a common one with owners of the 2004 model, and I believe Nissan should be held accountable. It's no coincidence that the model the following year was "shiftless"! I'm personally exploring legal options in the form of a "class action" lawsuit against them. The code is P0744 and many Maxima owners were complaining about it on Maxima.com. Anyone who is experiencing this problem should have a valid reason to join in!
This is fourth loaded to the max Maxima.Leather and the works. Now transmission problem, jerking and the like.... My wife wants to wait for the 2015 model year and she doesn't know it but I will be getting her a Lexus.. Sooooo done with Nissan.. They never address the issue unless you beg... Doesn't matter that you spend 120,000.00 in 4 cars..... They need a class action law suit or a recall on this transmission.
When the mechanic from Nissan can tell you bad transmission and know the year of the Maxima before you tell them.......... yeh right!!! Get the point, well known problem. Oh well, Nissan thinks, big company no big deal..... Well they better step up with their warranty program and customer service or they will be where Hyundai was when they started in the business.
Nissan, in this tough economy, you really don't care!!!! Shame on you....
This is my fourth (and last) nissan maxima. Nissan Corp will not even acknowledge that there is a problem. Right now, the problem mostly occurs when I am driving along and take my foot off of the gas and then try to accelerate again. The rpm's go up and then the transmission engages with a terrible jerk. One motor mount is already broken. The dealer suggests that I replace the mount, but what for? Until the transmission is fixed, it is only going to keep breaking the mounts. It's a damn shame Nissan will not do a recall on this problem!
My 2004 Nissan Maxima has suffered severe transmission problems over the course of the last year. When the vehicle is switched from "park," to "drive," it sometimes takes several seconds to engage. When it does, the car jerks really bad. Also, the car jerks horribly bad when shifting between gears while driving. The jerking can be so severe at times, the car will veer to the left. I fee that this is a HUGE safety concern! The car has almost veered into oncoming traffic on more than one occasion! When the vehicle is at a dead stop (stop sign, red light, etc.), it will also take a few seconds to engage itself to drive. My Nissan Maxima has LESS THAN 60,000 MILES! No car should be having such severe problems at such a young age. I have been reviewing this problem on the internet, and it appears that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of Nissan Maxima car owners who are having the same problem. It is absolutely ridiculous that Nissan would turn a blind eye to an issue that they have to be aware of!! I have been a huge advocate of Nissan, if this issue does not get resolved by Nissan, you can bet that I will not only never buy a Nissan again, but convince everyone I know to never buy a Nissan.
I buy mi 2004 Maxima this month with 139 000 miles but the transmission just start jerking and I think slipping what can I do? 6th generation transmission sucks and you now Nissan, you just lost a costumer; I hope that Nissan make a recall on the transmission.
Replace position sensor .This solution is what was recommended to me by the dealership..how ever when i had them do the work..before I paid, I asked that a tech ride with me.. none were available so they let me drive by myself. Not good It did it again and then a tech took a ride with me and I could not duplicate the problem again.. So I paid the bill and went home..It did it again..with trial and error I found out that between 1000-2000 RPM and @ a speed of 20 to 25MPH a heavy slam of the transmission would happen. Turned the car back into dealer..
I have had the scare of my life. In heavy traffic , my 2004 Nissan Maxima transmission was knocking and slipping, had excessive high RPM's, and jerked heavily when shifting causing the car to "burn rubber". A rating severity of 10 is given due to having had 4 near miss (possible) accidents in a period of 20 minutes. The car was sent to the repair shop and items were replaced that the mechanic said would fix the problem (engine mounts). The car was driven again and displayed the same defects. The car manufacture was notified of these defects on 3/7/2013. These conditions pose a safety hazard not only to myself but also to my passengers (which are family and friends), other drivers on the road as well as innocent pedestrians that may come in contact with my car when I finally do have that serious life threatening accident due to my transmission defect. I recommended to the BBB that Nissan should recall the 2004 Nissan Maxima for transmission defect, offer its customers a suitable repair or replacement for diagnosing and repairing the transmission defect and the related damage that the defect caused, free of charge. I have owned a Nissan Maxima since 1988. Is there a remedy to this defect? I reported the transmission defect to the following companies: Nissan, ODI/NHTSA/DOT, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Just bought a burnt orange 2004 nissan maxima. The car has stopped twice on me on the highway for no reason. It jerks significantly when changing gears abd is a pain. I just bought this car!!! In looking into research there is a class action lawsuit against nissan about their trannys in 2004 to 2006 models. Just had to let you all know. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT GO GET YOUR CARS FIXED OR GET ON BOARD SO YOU CAN BE COMPENSATED FOR THE OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES!!!!!
I'm pissed the car inspection is due along with everything else. insurance tags, and to top it off my son's prom is next month and I need the car for him to go and return. not to mention paying for his suit, ticket, pictures... I'm still paying for the car. haven't had it for a year and I only make 600.00 every two weeks. after I pay this car off I'm getting rid of it and I will not purchase a Nissan ever again and I will be sure to tell friends the same.
I'm so glad to hear other people are having the same problem I've been having with my 2004 Maxima transmission. It seems to only happen when I'm driving it - husband drives it nothing; mechanic drives it nothing - and I was beginning to think it was in my head until I found this website. I have so many similarities from other complaints - jerking HARD from reverse to drive; driving long distances, shifting hard on the highway,etc. I drive about 25 miles to work and every morning when I park it does the jerk thing. Just last week my mechanic changed the o2 sensor because the "service engine soon" light came on. I was so excited because I thought surely that was the problem but it wasn't. Drove it to work the next morning and bang - jerking! I also smell a hot smell when I park and get out - does anyone else have this problem? I think it all has to be related since I didn't smell it until the transmission started jerking. I've printed all the possible "fixes" and the complaints and I'm taking them to my mechanic - hopefully he can get it fixed. I've loved this car since we bought it in 2003 but I'm getting very tired of not knowing if it's going leave me stranded somewhere. The next car I buy will be a Honda or even a Kia but definitely not a Nissan!
Got this Nissan Maxima 3.5 SE 2004, and since I got it it has been my worst nightmare.... The transmission started going bad around one month after i purchased this vehicle at 113,000 miles, that was a year ago. It jumps into gear and jumps out of gear, I have had it towed twice and almost have been rear-ended countless times. Merging on the freeway is a pain, I can't get to proper speed because the car does not shift properly. Between 2nd and 3rd and between 3rd and 4th are the most problems. RMPS shoot up to 7000 and if it doesn't jump just right into the next gear, it slips off and slows the car way down. Imagine how many times I have been flipped off?. I have been to 4 different mechanics. All four told me it's the valves in the transmission and the transmission needed to be changed, one laughed at me when I told him the car I was having troubles with. He said those are the most common in his shop and the most expensive. Parts alone are $2000-$3000 not including labor! I always dreamed on having this car and now I HATE THIS CAR!!!! I HATE NISSAN MOTORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I HATE THEIR MECHANICS ARE A RIPOFF.If you are planing on buying a car and have any type of a brain, do yourself a favor and avoid this car. Take local transportation if you have to. THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE PROBLEMS STILL I NEED TO COMPLAINT ON THE WINDOW MOTORS FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER HAS BEEN BLOWN OFF, 4 MOTOR MOUNTS CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED, AIR CONDITION WORKS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE IT, HEATING SEATS NOT WORKING AND MUCH MORE. WITH ALL THE MONEY I HAVE SPENT IN THIS CAR I COULD HAVE BOUGHT MYSE3LD A BRAND NEW MERCEDES!!! I WILL FILE A REPORT ON EACH INDIVIDUAL PROBLEM.
I have read customers complaints about the 2004 Maxima, and it's sad that we the customer trusted Nissan when stated they stand by there name, and do nothing about a problem that they know is there. We as customers need Nissan to step up to the plate and take care of the problem. I have had Maxima's in the past and had no problems, but I must say Nissan has lost me as a customer after this 2004 Maxima.
I love all of my Nissans. I own a 06 Titan, a 07 Altima, and a 04 Maxima. My 2004 Maxima jerks when it shifts both up and down. It's annoying. The experience is unlike anything I have experienced with any Nissan i have owned. The issue with my current Maxima has me extremely leery about purchasing another.
Awesome vehicle except the transmission failed very prematurely at about 83000 miles. Had to have the transmission valve assembly and the computer chip/sensor for the transmission replaced.
NISSIAN REALLY NEEDS TO RECALL TRANSMISSION ALWAYS FELT NISSAN HAD A GOOD PRODUCT
UNTIL I BOUGHT THIS ONE. IT SETS IN GARAGE I THINK IT TO BE UNSAFE PICKS OF SPEED THAN
JERKS THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT SLIPPING IT IS A SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM TELLING THE MOTOR
TO SPEED UP OR DOWN CAUSING THE PROBLEM
Update from Apr 29, 2015: MY NISSIAN IS A NICE CAR OTHER THAN THE JERKING WHILE SHIFTING I THINK NISSIAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. MY WIFE WILL NOT DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE JERKING
HI TO ALL OWNERS OF 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA.I OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH 71920 MILES WE ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, SUCH AS Transmission JERKING, MOTOR MOUNT, SENSORS, etc. etc. etc.
THANKS TO JOHNIL FROM PARK RIDGE IL. HE PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: TO CALL THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION, U.S DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, PLEASE CALL 888-327-4236 AND FILE A COMPLAINT, IT TAKE ONLY FEW MINUTES TO FILE THE COMPLAINT.
ALSO JOHNIL HAD MENTIONED TO CALL THE LAW FIRM OF CHIMICLES & TIKELLIS LLP. @ ONE HAVERFORD CENTER. 361 WEST LANCASTER AVE. HAVERFORD PA. 19041 PHONE 610-645-4712
For about a year the car 'bangs' into gear after being driven for 10+ min. The warranty was up so Nissan said I was On my own. I had to pay $1,200 for my transmission to get fixed when it was under 100,000 miles! This is the last time I will ever buy a Nissan!
We bought this car expecting it to be a long lasting dependable car. Respected the name Nissan as being long lasting and dependable!!!!!! We are very disappointed in the transmission of this car. We started having big problems with jerking and hesitating and recently completely stalled while driving.I have seen lots of complaints about the transmissions in the 2004 Maxima. My opinion is that there should be a recall !!!!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
This problem is a common one with owners of the 2004 model, and I believe Nissan should be held accountable. It's no coincidence that the model the following year was "shiftless"! I'm personally exploring legal options in the form of a "class action" lawsuit against them. The code is P0744 and many Maxima owners were complaining about it on Maxima.com. Anyone who is experiencing this problem should have a valid reason to join in!
- Barbara J., New Castle, DE, US