2005 Nissan Maxima SE from North America - Comments

Transmission:

My 2005 Nissan Maxima (Build date of 08/04) has 69000 miles and has started showing signs of what may be serious transmission problems.

1. Takes about 5 seconds to click into gear after the shift lever is put in "D".

2. Very hard jerky shifts between 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 1st, and is accompanied by a loud clunking noise.

3. Transmission slips out of gear during regular driving, allowing the engine to rev freely then jerking back into gear with a loud clunk. This followed by a burnt oil / electrical type smell that gets inside the car, and is evident outside after stopping.

Sometimes I go for days with no symptoms at all, and other times it may happen a dozen times in a day. I took it in to the dealer and none of the problems showed up for them, but they noted that the engine mounts were broken, but that would not cause these symptoms. They suggested a new transmission and motor mounts for $4,000. I drive mainly on the freeways in Southern California and have maintained and babied this car since it was new.

This is my first Nissan, and I have loved this car until these symptoms. I have been eying the new 2009 Maximas, but now I am not sure of this car's long term reliability.

Great performance, but transmission reliability is a big question mark!

Nissan doesn't use that transmission anymore - the 2009 Maximas have the very reliable Nissan CVT. Nissan quality has also improved a from the 2004 Maximas, give it a look!

FYI I have a 2004 Nissan Maxima with 71K miles that I have pampered and babied since I bought it at 43K and my tranny is going bad with the same exact symptopms... and I have another friend that has the same car with 90K and his is toast too. My boss had a 04 Maxima and his went out at 40K miles but was under warranty at the time. = (I love my car but this is a very costly repair. I find it ironic that we all had the same exact issue.

Maybe you guys gotten a bad batch of early 04? Knock on woods but mine is in excellent shape, in regards to the tranny. I don't have any of the aforementioned problems with 72k miles on it now. I also don't have any major repairs done as of now yet, and hopefully I won't have to either, lol. I do however, have lots of minor problems with trim pieces coming off in the interior, but that's about it.

I own an 05 Nissan. Have had tranny probs, now head gasket is leaking. I filled it to the brim with stop leak, and it has stopped the head gasket leak... at least long enough to trade it in at the crooked dealer I bought it from. Glad he sells other makes besides Nissan. Now if I can only keep a smile on my face long enough to do business with them.

I don't understand why you would even consider another Nissan, after all those problems.

BTW they fought me on everything under warranty. Blamed everything on me, refused to own up to anything.

Very bad experience all in all.

I'm having the same issues with my 2005 Nissan Maxima SL as a lot of Maxima owners. I have a transmission problem that I have been experiencing since late 2007, and have complained to the dealer that services my car over 5 times.

Last week I took my car back to the Nissan repair shop, complaining once again about the jerking when shifting into gear. They finally found the problem. It's the transmission I'm told. I have been saying this all along, and was told that they can't find the problem. I asked if they would fix the problem now that they have found it at no cost to me, but they won't.

The shop gave me an 800-647-7261 number an asked me to call the corporate office and complain to them, and maybe they will help me get it fixed. When I called that number to make a claim, the representative called the shop that I use and they acted as if they never heard me complain about the problem. I couldn't believe my ears. Corporate called me back today to tell me that they couldn't help me with my problem because the shop never heard a complaint from me about the car. Lies, lies and more lies from the shop.

I am done with Nissan. Never again will I buy a Nissan, and I will advise all smart shopper not to as well. It's back to the best built cars ever, which is Toyota. I should have known better than to leave Toyota in the first place. Nissan ain't what it use to be.

I am a owner of a 05 Maxima, and I'm having the same problem with my transmission too. It is doing the same as the other complaints, my car has only 69600 miles. This doesn't make any sense. I know that they are aware of this problem.

I too had to call the 800 number and they told me to take it to the dealer and have them check it. I told me why should I have to pay the dealer $115 dollars for them to tell me my transmission is going bad, and that I was looking online right at that time and there were so many complaints about this cars transmission. They gave me a ref #, told me to take it up to the dealer anyway, then call them back with the ref #. I'm going to take my car to three different transmission shops have them check it for free, then I will call the 800 number back and give them the results. They should have to replace our transmission, it's not our fault that this transmission is a lemon.