2005 Nissan Maxima 3.5 from North America
Summary:
This car is a piece of crap, and so is the company!
Faults:
Electrical problems within the first 2 weeks of buying the car, and have since continued... everything is electrical on this thing, including the steering wheel memory, which will change in the middle of driving.
I had problems with the brake pads needing replaced, and then my new tires, and suddenly the car started making this grinding noise, which continued to get worse. My mechanic cleaned up the pads and got the rust off (which I might add, this would start acting up every time after wet weather), and then finally I was thrown into the steering wheel from the pulsing of the brakes. I later found out it was the ABS, or so they thought, allowing water to remain in wheel well, and rusting and causing corrosion. So to the tune of another $500 some, I had holes drilled into the plastic cup surrounding the area, pads cleaned, and then one month later the ABS light started coming on. The noise is the most embarrassing, because you don't know if others can hear, not to mention I live in MN, and then the TCS goes off, so here I am sliding in the ice storms that we have had recently.
After taking the car to a Nissan dealer today, I was told the ABS was not covered under the extended warranty I paid for, even though, Nissan has been aware of this problem since 2004, and it is known to have affected years 2004-2006, and no recall has ever been done. I guess someone has to die first, or several people have to die before anything is done by Nissan. Ironically, they were ecstatic to charge me $131 for a diagnostics exam, and that it was 50/50 as to whether or not they could resolve the problem with a quick fix, or whether it would require the entire ABS system needing to be replaced, which they would be happy to do for me at the tune of $2500+.
I'm going back to American made products!
General Comments:
2005 Maxima's stink! Nissan, put your pride aside and do a recall for the safety of all those Maxima's still on the highway!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 26th November, 2010
26th Dec 2010, 14:09
Since Nissan's merger with French automaker Renault (an unreliable brand as with the majority of French cars), Nissan's reliability has fallen as a whole. The Maxima used to be one of the most reliable automobiles. But Nissan made some business decisions that resulted in cheapening even its Japan built 00-03 Maxima's in preparation for the thoroughly redesigned 04 Maxima (the first Maxima with Renault influence. And to make matter's worse it was built at the problem prone Canton plant in Mississippi). When I first heard of Nissan's merger with Renault, I wondered how it would affect the reliability of their products. And now 10+ years later, it has been confirmed, NISSAN'S RELIABILITY HAS FALLEN! If you want a Maxima, go for a 4th generation 95-99. They're one of Nissan's and the auto industry's most reliable products.
28th Nov 2010, 19:53
Get an older, used domestic car.
First of all, the purchase price is way, way less.
There is some money saved already.
Secondly, repairs and parts are much cheaper, there is some more money saved.
I have had very poor luck with overpriced, overrated imports hyped up by advertising and biased Consumer Reports, I ended up switching back to domestics, and have had very few problems since.
Not only are imports unreliable and shoddy, they are killing our economy at the same time.
I currently drive a Buick LeSabre, and love it.
It has never made me miss days of work like my newer VW did, and rides a lot better with comparable fuel economy, and a lot more comfort and power on the highway.
Not to mention the Buick was $7k less than the VW!
The choice is pretty clear in my opinion.