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:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
6 / 0
Average Mileage:
71,392 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 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that when shifting from first to second gear when driving 25 mph and above, the vehicle would jerk violently. The vehicle would also jerk when the vehicle downshifted to first gear. The vehicle was taken to a local transmission shop where the contact was awaiting a diagnosis of the failure. The failure mileage was 74,000. The VIN was unavailable.
I have a 2005 Nissan Maxima. For the past few mths I have noticed the transmission slipping or stalling on change of gears. My car was purchased a yr. Old and had around 40000 miles. The car now has right at 90000 miles. I have always bragged on how great of a car, the Nissan Maxima is. Now, I' M very disappointed. And very concerned about the safety of my family. On very drive I experience severe jerking and stalling. I more so experience the jerks and stalling while traveling at a 20/40 miles.
My 2005 Nissan Maxima had reached roughly 89,000 miles and out of the blue it began shifting hard/jerking during drives over 40mins. The car continued to shift hard while driving and then when I put it into park, reverse and drive it would jerk the entire car. Soon the shifting was so bad that I was being thrown forward and back with every little shift of the engine. I took the car into a Nissan dealership and described what was happening. They performed a diagnosis (and reported that they did not find anything.) they informed me that I was feeling the shifting because my front engine mount was broken and that my transmission fluid was bad. I had them complete the transmission flush at that time and had my engine mount repaired 4 months later. I continued to experience hard shifting with the new mount and new flush. I ended up taking the car back in to the dealer for another problem they needed to correct and informed them again that the car was still shifting hard and the engine light was coming on and off. Again I was told they could not find anything wrong. Currently, my car is shifting in and out of gear every time I drive and is over revving when I try and speed up. I believe all this hard shifting/jerking is what caused my engine mount to crack.
I have a 2005 Nissan Maxima that has developed a transmission problem at only 71,000 miles. The Nissan dealership says that I must replace the transmission or have the "valve" that is sticking when I shift from 1st to 2nd or from 2nd to 1st replaced. To replace the transmission or to change the valve is going to cost me somewhere between $2,500 to $3,500. I don't believe that a car with only 71,000 miles should be required to replace the transmission. Judging from all the complaints on the internet about the 05 Nissan Maxima, I believe the problem is far more wide-spread and should be investigated.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the vehicle would violently jerk and shift between gears when driving at any speed. The dealer flushed the transmission and assured the contact that the repair would correct the failure but it did not and the failure persisted. The contact did not inform manufacturer of the failure nor was the vehicle repaired. The current mileage was 89,500 and the failure mileage was 88,300. The VIN was unavailable.
- Providence, RI, USA
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I have a 2005 Nissan Maxima and the transmission is going out. I am at 90,000 miles and it jerks real hard alot. It has been doing this since I got it last year. It also makes a humming sound when I get up to 45 miles per hour. When I'm going down hill and trying to slow or switching gears period. The compressor has gone bad on it as well..
Transmission started shifting very hard between 1st and 2nd and 2nd and 3rd. I have also had the transmission get stuck in 5th gear which poses a safety problem when trying to pull out into traffic. Notice first symptoms just after 60K mile warranty. Took it to dealer, couldn't find any problem. Subsequent visits and was told to replace the motor mounts and flushed trany and call Nissan car which I did all 3. transmission continued to get worse and took it back to Nissan. They recommended new at for $3500. Called Nissan care and they told me that they cannot help, car is out of warranty. When asked to speak to a supervisor, I was told no, that wouldn't help and they hung up.
2005 Nissan Maxima SE problem shifting. Delay in engagement from P to D (about 1-2 seconds), followed by a strong jerk or bang. Once in gear, very high revs and engagement from 2nd to 3rd gear, along with 3rd to 4th. Same can be said on deceleration. 4th to 3rd, and all the way down... a definite traffic safety hazard. Just some of the other items I have had to foot the bill for on this 6-year old vehicle: - 3 A/C compressors - both high and low A/C compressor lines - 4 new tires due to cracking and bubbling on the factory tires (at less than 30K miles!) - front rotors due to warping and excessive steering wheel shaking when braking - lumbar support pump (driver's side) is broken - turn signal indicators out of alignment (defective glue to hold them in place?) - 3 batteries in under 5 years - power window motors are dying (not as quick as they used to be) overall, I have come to hate this car and the Nissan brand. I will never buy a Nissan (or infiniti) again.
After about 65,000 miles I began to have transmission problems. The car would jerk hard when shifting from 1st to 2nd and sometimes from 2nd to 3rd. I took the car to the dealer and they said the motor mounts was the problem. I had the motor mounts replaced but about a month later the car had the same symptoms. I have kept up on the maintenance. I have researched Nissan complaints and there are many people with the same problem. Nissan should check into this transmission problem and possible issue a recall for these transmissions.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact was driving 5 mph and stated that the vehicle was hard to stop until it was shifted into first gear. The shift malfunction warning lamp was illuminated when the failure occurred. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer and they advised him that the right motor mounts and the transmission would need to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired by installing a rebuilt transmission and replacing the motor mounts. The failure mileage was approximately 121,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima SE. The contact was driving approximately 25-30 mph and attempting to shift from second to first gear. The contact stated that the vehicle was resistant to shifting. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer and they advised him that the failure was caused by the motor mounts. The motor mounts were replaced and 10,000 miles later, the dealer advised him that the entire transmission would need replacing, as the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000. Updated 06/01/11 updated 1/19/2012
My 2005 Nissan Maxima 3.5L SE has started slipping from 1st to 2nd gear with a loud thunk as well as slipping and revving really high when going from 2-3rd gear. The jolt is very violent and I am worried about my safety when this happens. I need to replace the entire transmission my mechanic tells me. This is a very common issue I have heard a lot about in the '04-'06 Maxima models.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the while driving 30 mph, the transmission would slip out of gear. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure progressively became worse and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where he was advised that the transmission would need replacing. The contact discovered numerous complaints online regarding the transmission issue with his year make and model and believed that a recall should have been issued. The failure mileage was 85,000.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. While driving at any speed, the contact noticed that the vehicle would become over heated and would it jerk violently. The transmission was replaced previously however, the contact was unable to provide the date or mileage. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who informed the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced again. The contact did not inform the manufacturer nor was the vehicle repaired. The approximate failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was unavailable.
My transmission on my 2005 Nissan Maxima SE slips and jerks when accelerating from under 30 mph. There's also times where it shifts roughly. I have checked my transmission fluid and its within operating parameters. I checked online and have seen other Maxima owners with the same issue.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. While the contact was driving approximately 30 mph, the transmission exhibited a violent jerk during deceleration. In addition, the transmission slipped when driving at high speeds and the rpms would began to increase. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer three different times for the similar failure. The transmission was flushed and the motor mounts were replaced. The failure continued to recur after the repair. The manufacturer was notified on four separate occasions and the contact was waiting upon a response. The failure mileage was unknown.
2005 Nissan Maxima sl shifts hard and causes the car to jump forward and does the same when put into reverse. Nearly caused 2 accidents and no relief from Nissan, and this is a widespread problem. This should be a recall item. Safety issue.
I am a owner of a 2005 Nissan Maxima I have recently experienced some transmission issues I went to the dealership to report an issue that involving my vehicle... I was almost hit by an eighteen wheeler in traffic after my car stalled in traffic I went to the dealership, at which time I was advised by the Nissan dealership the transmission on my vehicle has had numerous complaints re: Transmission problems. After being terrified I wrote Nissan a consumer report letter explaining my issues with my transmission. I went to the internet and discovered this is not an issue Nissan is concerned with. I am not the only person who has been given the cold shoulder after making a $30, 000 purchase that has almost cost me and my children's life. Please someone needs to do something about this massive problem before some one is seriously hurt. After today I am parking this beautiful yet dangerous piece of machinery I can not in good faith believe that Nissan has planned to do absolutely nothing to rectify a issue so large! some one needs to be responsible in the Nissan camp for recalling this car. I can say this at least Toyota stepped up to the plate and took responsibility for their issue.
The contact owns a 2005 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph the vehicle lunged forward and slipped out of gear. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who stated that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the transmission was replaced last year and was currently malfunctioning. The contact stated that the failure was a known issue with his year, make, and model vehicle; however the manufacturer had not addressed it. The failure mileage was 118,281.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Whiteville, TN, USA