2004 Nissan Maxima SE from North America - Comments

My brake rotors were warped at 24,000 miles. I called Nissan dealer in Burnsville Minnesota. They told me I had to pay to get new brake rotors. They neglected to tell me that there was a factory bulletin that addresses this issue. After doing some info digging on my own, they fessed up and agreed to fix my rotors at no cost. Apparently I'm not the only one with this problem.

My car seems to be making wierd clunking sound, and it sounds different everytime and is difficult to reproduce.

My power seems to have decreased tremendously over the year that I've been driving it.

I keep up with all maintenance recommendation.

I agree with you, Nissan dealers try to rip you off, wherever they can. I am collecting some evidence so I can share my views on the negligence of Nissan dealers.

I have also had problems with my 2003 Nissan Maxima. The rotors were warped at about 34000 miles. I have talked to Nissan and they don't have enough complaints about the problem to recall it. So if you are having a problem with warped rotors on your Nissan please call Nissan and let them know about it so they can recall the brakes. Nissan Consumer Affairs phone number is 1-800-647-7261.

I also am having problems with my 2004 maxima with the rotors, I only just bought the car a month ago and at 600 Mi's. noticed the shimming of the wheels today it's back in the shop with 1400 Mi's. on it to have the problems fixed (I hope) the last time it was in they balanced the wheels (with 26psi in them? should be 32psi) I asked how they could have balanced them like that? and got a empty stare back .

Does anyone who owns a 2004 Maxima with a power sunroof have any trouble communicating with your passenger when the headboard that covers the sunroof is open and the sunroof is closed? I've taken it to the dealer twice, and the few adjustments they made to the sunroof haven't accomplished didley squat. Anyone who has or had this problem, please HHEELLPP.

I love my 2004 Maxima SE, however over the last few months I notice a scraping sound coming from the front end. I don't know whether it is the brakes or engine. Also, I hear a rubbing sound, all when the car is cold, then it goes away. The dealer can never get the sound reproduced. Help!!!

I have a 2004 Maxima SE automatic with 59,000 miles. For about 5 months the car bangs and jerks when accelerating and decelerating. The problem has been getting worse as time goes on. This happens before the car shifts into 2nd gear or as it shifts into 2nd. My mechanic told me it was a motor mount problem and it will cost approximately $800 to fix. I am not very happy about this. Has anyone had a similar problem with their Maxima?

I have the same issue. The Car jerks when it switches from 1st to 2nd gear. It's a 2004 Maxima SL. I complained about it. After a few weeks, they spoke with some technicians and they said there's a piece that needs to be changed in the Transmission - Turbine Sensor. After the fix, the car got better for a couple of months or so, but now I have the same issue again. I'm still researching it, I just don't want to give it to Nissan technicians and they perform the guess-work again..

There is much to love about my 04 Maxima SE, but there are some annoying problems too. The big one is the fact that the transmission slips quite often, especially between 1st and 2nd gear. The motor revs probably 1000 rpm or so before it goes into gear. Then many times there is a jerk between every gear. I have taken it to the dealership twice and they say that they "can't replicate the problem". I bet I'm not the only one with this problem, so why can't they just fix it or at least admit the model has problems? I would love to hear from more owners with transmission problems.

4-3-06 Los Angeles

I have a 2004 maxima well I bought it in 2003 and I'm having the same transmission problem at 32,000 miles. But it doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes when I'm making a turn (not making a full stop) and giving it gas around the corner. Or when I get off the freeway and my car switches gears and I gas it it jerks. Today I'm taking my car in because when I start it, it stalls and I have to start it again. I took it in before and they found nothing wrong so I waited till it got worse and hopefully they get it right this time. Another thing to listen for is a clicking sound coming from the front of your car. That clicking sound is your struts, and I had mine changed 3 times until they got it right. They said they put modified struts in, whatever that means. I found that if I drive alone I'll hear the struts clicking more frequently the with a mechanic with me. Too much weight in the car not enough clicking. And drive on a rolling or kind of bumpy street. Well off to the dealer for more under warranty work.

I have an 04 maxima with 63,000 miles on it and it also jerks between 1st and 2nd gear. very noticeable. I think Nissan is aware of this and is doing nothing to honor these headaches. My first and last Nissan.

I have 2006 Maxima with 11,000 miles. It seems to be having some transmission problems.

At approximately 20 -25 MPH, when I accelerate, the car switches from 3rd into 2nd gear with quite noticeable jerk.

Also under more load i.e. going up a hill or on moderate-speed (40 MPH) turns, there is some kind of metallic noise coming from the front of the car.

I have not brought it to the dealership yet since these problems are not consistent and so far not easy to replicate on purpose.

Do you know if Nissan is aware of these problems and if yes, did they give any comments?

I have a 2000 Nissan Maxima SE with 64096 miles. The check engine light came on and the dealer found that one of the ignition coils was bad. They replaced it 8 days ago. The check engine light came on again after being driven less than 200 miles. When I returned to the dealer, they now said ALL the ignition coils need to be replaced. Is this a problem with the 2000 SE model??

I own a 2004 Maxima SE (36,700 miles.) and have had it in to my dealer three times now for the same problem. I am experiencing a noticeable rattle through my steering column at slow speeds going over bumps that feels like something is really loose in my front end. So far they have changed the struts, re-torqued the front chassis and have most recently changed the motor mounts. They still haven't touched the problem and are now making me feel like it's all in my head even though the technician heard and felt it and has attempted to fix it three times. This is my third Maxima and at this point probably my last. I also have the transmission jerking issue.

Does anyone know the specific Nissan Repair/Replacement Bulletin # that covers uneven wear of front wheel rotors on a 2004 Maxima with 21.500 miles?

2000 and newer Maxima Check Engine Light - Regarding replacing Coils, don't do it as a first step.

All 2000 and newer Maxima owners. I have seen several web forums that dealers have replaced Coils for the Cylinder Mis-Fire Codes and the problem comes back again. I had the same problem with our Maxima at about 55,000 miles, dealer reset the computer and it was OK for another year. This past winter at about 65,000 miles the problem reoccurred and dealer wanted to replace the Coil for $160 ($60 labor / $100 Coil).

Have seeing the web forums, I replaced the Gas Cap $13 and for the next 2 fill-ups with gas, added a bottle of Fuel Injector Cleaner, $8 for 2 bottles (I used Chevron's) and have not had a problem since. Performance is also better.

One of the symptoms was right after starting the car, bucking and then the TCS & Check Engine lights came on together.