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:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
124,070 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 2006 Nissan Maxima. While driving 30 mph, the gear shifted from first to second gear without warning. In addition, when the gear shifted, it made a loud abnormal sound. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 119,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Maxima. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle suddenly jerked independently. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the motor mount failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic (the contact's brother) and repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact's brother then diagnosed that the motor mount failed because the transmission was not shifting properly. The vehicle was not repaired again. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
My transmission started violently jerking from park to reverse and drive, had several repairs done to no avail. Car is stuck in third gear, which is dangerous because when I start to pull out onto the highway I have no power, the car just revs high rpms and goes really slow until I reach 40 mph. Its just a matter of time before I get hit, I always have to wait to make sure no car is coming in my direction. I have had the solenoids, valve body among other work done that hasn't helped at all at a cost of over $1500 there are apparently thousands of complaints of the same issues all over the internet. Why is this not being recalled! its pure and simple theft. To buy a ca R that has a known defect and the company not caring to remedy the issue
At 107,000 miles the transmission was jerking into gear after the rpms revved. Transmission was replaced at 107,000 miles. Transmission is now having the same problems at 148,000 miles.
- Mcdonald, PA, USA
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Initially the car would have a delay shifting into park and would stick in 5th gear while driving. I changed the front cam position sensor, cps, myself for $80 in parts at autozone. This fixed the problems for about 4 weeks. Started happening again and the repair shop said it was the cam position sensor again. So went back to autozone and they provided a new front cps for free. Problem kept happening so I took it to Nissan and they changed the back cam position sensor. Seams to have solved the problem for several months. It is now is intermittent when shifting hard into drive, but has started shifting hard around 20-25 mph, not sure if it is the sensor again or what. Very irritating and seems to be an electrical issue with the sensors that tell the tranny when to shift" not sure if sensors keep going out or if the wiring harness for it keeps shorting the sensors out or what the issue truly is. It would be nice if Nissan would figure it out and tell us what truly needs to be done to fix the issue. Transmission seems to be in working order otherwise, but just shifts hard between 1-2 gears" otherwise the car is outstanding.
My 2006 Nissan Maxima is shifting gears on its on as if there is a transmission problem. The steering wheel keeps shifting to one side the guys at the wheel alignment place told me it's the rack and pinion. They also informed me that the rack and pinion goes out very fast and the part is about 400$. the gas light and the light that tells you that you need coolant has been on and stays on. The car is not running hot and my car has a full tank of gas.
Hard shifting when engine is at operating temperature when shifting from reverse or neutral to drive. Saw many other complaints of the exact same nature through Nissan forums.
The transmission is acting up as with all other Maximas. It's jerking and slipping on the street.it's really dangerous to drive. Called up the dealer and new transmission would cost $3000.
I brought my 2006 Maxima new and had all kind of problems with the car at the very beginning. Everything was under warranty, but when my car had about 62000 miles the car started slipping and missing gears so I took it back to the dealership and they told me that my transmission wasn't cover under the power train because there were 2 types of transmission put into the Maxima and the one that my car had was not cover under the power train. I called Nissan corporate offices and didn't get any satisfaction. I had to replace the trans and many other things on this car. I would not ever or suggest that anyone buy a Nissan. I believed that Nissan knew about this problem before the first complaint was ever made. Same on you Nissan
With 152193 miles the transmission began slipping and jerking badly when accelerating and decelerating. Took it into the transmission shop and was told the transmission needed to be replaced.
Bought the car 1 month back and the transmission has been acting up.it stalls and jumps into drive.this problem is happening with all Maxima owners. Sometimes the gear slips too. It's very expensive to repair, please force a recall on this problem.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the gear shifter failed. While attemtping to shift gears, the shifter locked. The dealer diagnosed that the water pump leaked water into the transmission and caused the gear shifter to fail. The transmission assembly was replaced, but the failure was not corrected. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
The 2006 Nissan Maxima has a major issue of violently jerking after 100K miles, I have seen reports that it does this even before it reaches such mileage. I have a 2006 Nissan Maxima worst car I have ever bought I will never ever buy another Nissan product. The car violently jerks into gear when coming to a stop or driving off, this problem has been identified by many owners and Nissan has done nothing. I have spent 1800 hundred dollars replacing the engine mounts and the car still jerks. The car is paid for and I will not spend anymore replacing the transmission because that would cost more than what the car is worth.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Warner Robins, GA, USA