2nd Apr 2009, 18:46
I too have the same tranny issue with an 04 Max sl. My car has been in the shop for two weeks. The car has 79K on it and looks great. I am so disappointed. This was my third and last Nissan. I will file a complaint.
2nd Apr 2009, 23:53
I haven't had the problems everyone seems to be having with their 2004, but I have had the engine replaced twice, lucky for extended warranty, something about timing belt tensioner.
I think the same symptoms are starting again, and will have to take it in again, that will be 3 engines in less than a year. That is just one of the problems.
Took it in for 60k service, and soon thereafter the transmission failed. Again, covered by warranty, picked car up not a block away and check engine light goes on: problem catalytic converter.
Other stuff that has been replaced; rack and pinion rack, Goodyear tires.
You would think that there couldn't be anything else to fail, but now I have a thump sound from right side, diagnosis, struts which unfortunately are not covered $700. Seems that every time I take to dealer to fix one thing, something else breaks, so now thinking of going somewhere else for the struts.
This is the first used Nissan car I have bought. 04 Maxima with 32k, and in less than 1 year all these things have had to be replaced.
Have had 5 other new Nissan cars through the years with no problems, I thought this car with only 32k was a good deal. Now I'm not so sure, although it hasn't cost me because of warranty, I'm afraid as to what will go wrong when the warranty ends.
4th Apr 2009, 12:54
I'm depressed after reading all of these entries on 2004 Nissan Maximas. I have a 2004 Nissan Maxima that I bought used in the summer of 2005. It had 24k miles. When the weather turned really cold in December or January, all sorts of noises suddenly appeared in the right front suspension area. They were very abnormal, certainly something major that needed correcting. The dealership worked several times on the problem until the car ran out of warranty - they installed two new sets of struts and shocks and did some other supposedly related repairs or replacements. But, none of what they did corrected the problems that were always much worse in cold weather than in hot. After the warranty ran out, I just started living with it all - rough, jolting, thumping, bumping, noisy reactions in the right front of the car to very minor bumps in the road.
This was the case until 6-8 months ago when I put a new set of tires on the car. With the new tires, the noise became much, much worse and the ride much rougher. And, it just got worse and worse to the point where I did not trust the car. In fact, I felt it was dangerous to drive the car at highway speeds. At times, it seems that the front tires and wheels could just come off the car.
Last week, I bought a new set of tires hoping that the increased problems of the last few months were directly related to the tires. I traded in a set of tires with around 8K miles in hopes that a high end tire of another brand would make a difference. That turned out not to be the case. I still have shimmying, shaking, and all sorts of noises coming from the front - especially the right front.
If I could be assured to at least some degree of surety that spending the $800 or $900 for new struts and shocks would correct it, I would gladly pay. But, two new sets did not do the trick under warranty, so I feel the same results would be the case now. I cannot, however, "just live with it now." The problem has gotten to the point that something has to be done. I came to this web site hoping that I might find the answer. No answer was found, but I did find a lot of folks who are dealing with some of the same problems as I - and in many cases dealing with more problems than just the front end shaking and thumping and bumping of my experience.
After reading all of these entries, I feel certain that my 2004 Nissan Maxima will never be returned to a level of ride and comfort that I had even a year or so ago - much less to a level that one should be able to expect and receive with an automobile of the cost and purported luxury of a $32,000 Nissan Maxima. It is really a shame that a car of this supposed standard is completely trashed because of all of the problems relating to the transmission and front suspension - problems that cannot be diagnosed and corrected with any expectation or hope that the time and monetary pay-out will be successful. My 2004 Nissan Maxima - a car that I loved and was a fun car except for its one problem - will soon be traded in on another automobile that will definitely not be a Nissan. What a shame that our automobile industry cannot do better!
1st Apr 2009, 21:47
I don't know where to begin.
I bought my Maxima 2004 at around 41,000 miles. I paid it in full.
The day I drove it off the lot, I noticed the car's ride was very bumpy, along with a rattling sound, so the next day I took it to the dealership and they replaced the front struts supposedly. That same rattling sound and bumpy ride never went away, but I took their word for it because they were the Nissan dealership and they said they fixed the problem.
At about 53,00 miles I noticed the car jerking quite a bit and figured I would need a transmission flush. I end up paying 279.00 for a transmission flush. Because that did not help with the jerking and slipping, I took it to the Nissan Dealership a week later, and that's when they dropped the big bomb on me. I was told I needed to replace the transmission along with the motor mounts and tie rods. They quoted me a price of $5500.00. Because I could not afford to pay that, I ended up letting the car sit for 2 months until I could save the money to pay for the transmission and motor mounts. I think I cried for two days because I thought I had purchased a reliable car. I walked around in disbelief. Not to mention by this time I had only owned my Maxima 2004 for about 9 months.
I even called other mechanics. I was told there is no way the motor mounts and transmission should be replaced at 53,000 miles.
So in March of 2008, I finally saved all the money for a transmisssion and the motor mounts. About 10 months later we noticed a gasoline smell every time we turned on the heater and air conditioner. Each time my family and I got out of the car, you would smell the strong, noticeable gas coming from the hood. It was very strong. I took it to the dealership and at that time they told me I needed to replace the timing chain / belt and to replace a part in the fuel line. And they charged us $1600.
After picking it up, the manager at the dealership told me I will not have any more problems with the car. The next morning, for some reason it felt like my starter was going out. I would have to start the car two or three times before the car would actually turn on. Then I noticed that same day my sun roof would not open up all the way. It seemed like the electrical system was dying out. Well a few days later we smelled the same gas smell again. So once again we took it in and they gave me a long list of problems the car had, and this is only a week after the manager told us we will not have any more problems. Here is the list we were given:
They told us we need to replace the fuel injectors, $1600 just for parts (not labor).
We needed to replace our front strut because it was leaking. They said our hoses also need to be replaced along with our serpentine belt. Everything totaling $3800.00.
Well just a week before that, I was told about these new problems, I had already paid them $1600 for what I thought was going to take care of that strong fuel smell. So after all that, we still have a car that smells like a leaking gasoline pump, has a rough ride, and still shifts erratically as if the transmission will need to be replaced again. I haven't even had this car for 2 years yet. My car is at little under 80,000 miles.
Until I came across this website I honestly thought my car was possessed and cursed. I have owned many cars and have never had half the problems I have had with this Nissan Maxima. I have stressed sooo much over this car. I spared you a lot of extra details with the horror I had to go through with the Service Manager at the dealership. I have never felt safe driving this car.
Well, today took the cake. I honestly thought my car was going to blow up. I pulled over and called my husband because I smelled a burning smell coming from the engine.
I am about to pull my hairs out of my head. We need to do something. We can't let Nissan get away with this. I want to print out all these complaints on this web site and mail them to DATE LINE NBC so they can do an investigation. If anyone has any recommendations please email me or call me at: cuncali@msn.com or call me at 951-259-4995 In the email, In the subject line be sure to put: 2004 Nissan Maxima... We have to do something!!!