2004 Nissan Maxima SE from North America - Comments

ATTENTION. So I posted my complaint on carsurvey about 6 - 9 months ago, just like everyone has that same transmission problem. I own a 04 Maxima that I purchsed in Sept of 05, with 25K miles, but now it has 90K. I started to have the problems around the 60K miles mark. I've been looking at this website periodically to see if there's recall, but to my demise there still hasn't. I've also been having either starter or battery problems, because it takes about 5 seconds of cranking the engine to start up.

I use the car just to get to work, and normally I have to use the e shift to take off quickly, since the car only stays in 5th gear in D. And since the e-shift only uses 2 gears which I believe are the 2nd and 5th gears, it can be pretty troublesome for everyday use.

However today, was a pretty unusual morning. My car started without the 5 sec startup problem, it started quickly without any sputtering. But, then I realized when I put the car into D. The car was driving perfectly for the first time in 9 months. The car was shifting into every gear perfectly, I couldn't believe it. But just as I was celebrating my new found day, I approached to a stop sign, and once I stopped the car died on me. I attempted to start up the car, but then the car went back to its usual problems. So I'm starting to guess its something electrical, but I could be wrong. If anyone has any clues of what it may be. Please let me know.

^^

That's what the guys at AAMCO are suggesting - Electrical Problem. Oh, my car drives perfect when its cold... Once it heats up, the jerking and dying and slipping root up. Does anyone know if heating up the engine causes certain electrical functions to go bad?

Hi, me too. The first time I thought someone random thing,I was climbing a steep hill and felt a hard bump from the back, I thought someone rear ended me, but no one was around. This went on every once in a while. It would never do it for the mechanic. Then at 62000 miles, 200 over my warranty, all heck broke loose. After a long freeway drive, if I hit stop and go traffic or if I am going up & down hills, it jerks into gear and bumps. I am in Southern Ca, when am I not in stop and go traffic or going up hill?

I called Nissan and of course they don't know a thing about it. I was going to get a new transmission, but from what you guys say it is not going to help. We need to file a class action suite. We really got ripped off.

I REPLACED my transmission on my 2004 Maxima in November due to the SAME problems I've read about the 1-2 gear and 2-1 gear slipping. Out $3600... Funny thing is the NEW TRANSMISSION is now doing the same thing with only 6000 miles on it. Replaced the old one at 77000 miles.

Does anyone know if Nissan is going to do anything about this. It's my 2nd Maxima and I really hate to give it up. At least the new trans is under warranty. But still... frustrated with the jerking around - literally!

We have a 2004 Maxima and are very disappointed. We have the same transmission problem everyone on this website has complained about. We first noticed March of 2008 at about 60K miles. Took it to dealer a month later. Two trips to dealer and over $1,000 later and we still had the same problem. Replaced motor mounts and struts from another mechanic and had other general transmission preventive maintenance done, another $1000, no help.

We decided to live with it rather then spend any more money. In March 09, checked for this problem on the Internet after my wife mentioned a particularly bad shift one day and found this is a widespread issue on the ’04 Maxima only. When we first went to dealer in April ’08, and 67K miles on the car, they said it was just us, and there was really no mention of the problem on the Internet. Fast forward to March 09 and I realized this was a problem with that model car only and other owners had the same problem.

When I called our local Nissan dealer in March, much to my surprise, the service rep described the problem in great detail. He explained the problem occurred when the car had been on the road for a while, the jerky shifting, and even explaining how it was especially bad turning up a slow grade and shifting from 1st to 2nd. I asked him how he new the problem so well, and he told me he owned a 2004 Maxima himself and had been experiencing the same problem.

I was relieved until I found out that the problem was the transmission, but unless you had an extended warranty, you would have to pay for a new transmission. He told me they had been replacing transmissions and it was fixing the problem that way, but it would be over $4,000 to replace the transmission. He recommended I speak to Nissan Consumer Affairs and see what they could do.

After a few phone calls and explaining the issue a number of times, Nissan Consumer Affairs stated they were not aware of this issue (Yea Right!). All they could recommend was to take the car to the dealer once more and see what they could do. Of course I would have to pay for the service fee. I balked and her recommendation and told I would only take the car to the dealer if I could be assured I would not have to pay for the visit. She of course said that was impossible and said they could not do anything unless we took the car to the dealer.

We, I just finished filling out rather scathing survey of the service from Nissan Consumer Affairs. I also expressed that I would not be purchasing another Nissan, though I had purchased 8 cars since 1983. My wife is upset, with reason, and we will not be purchasing another Nissan in the future. Too bad, since I love my Xterra, but I cannot reconcile how we are being treated. With the way the economy is going, this is not the way to keep valued customers. BMW or Mercedes for us next time.

I think I found the problem!!! Hopefully this can help everyone from getting ripped by Nissan.

About 7 months ago I had the same problem, car stuck on 5th gear, so I decided to not take it to Nissan and take it to a Hyundai dealership near Nissan. They called and said it was the crank shaft sensor and replaced it for a $130 fix. After that, no problems, now 2 weeks ago had the same problem, this time took the car to Nissan and they called back the next morning saying I had to get a 4k $ transmission cause it was fried. I told them that this happens before and it was the crank shaft sensor, but they said no it was the trans.. So I began looking for my own transmission and told them to give me a oil change and fix the crank shaft sensor. They call back 3 hours later to say the car is done and it's running perfectly and going into all gears :0 I was just like wow! Don't buy a trans.. Just try replacing the sensor, I think that's what Nissan screwed up on. Hope this helped, good luck.

This sucks! After reading all this comments I feel like selling my Maxima as soon as possible. My car is at the dealer now because of the same shifting problems. Hopefully I'll have some good news. I have also filled a complain at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov

Transmission Recall Now!

lunegosk8@hotmail.com

I live in Toronto, Canada and having exact same problem with my 2004 Maxima. The problem started about 2 weeks ago and I got 150,000KM on mine.

Not sure what to do now, will probably get rid of it.

This is my first and last Nissan should've went with Acura instead.

I just replaced my tranny. $4500.00! I didn't go through the stealership though! Now 1st to 2nd and 2nd back to first isn't smooth as the other gears. Was taking it back to where I purchased my transmission to have it fixed. I will tell them about the crank shaft sensor. If I just deal with this do you think my tranny will get progressively worse and I'll be in the same boat again? I love my car and I take care of it. I have 129k miles on it and not one door ding! I was surprised when I needed another transmission! We're in a depression and I can't be going through this.

Hey Guys I have read all of these stories. I have a 04 maxima as well and it started doing the jerking and almost jumping out of gear it feels like. I have flushed the Transmission and it fixed it for 2 weeks I have 116,000 miles on the car and it still looks like new. I have never had any problems until now. However I don't want to get rid of the car, has anyone fixed this problem by having the Valve Body replaced please let me know asap!! Thanks!!

I read on a thread that a guys fixed his problem by replacing the crank shaft sensor. He said get this done before replacing the tranny.

I live in Brampton / Toronto Canada and bought an 04 Maxima SE 3 weeks ago and experience this problem yesterday, I have an appointment with the dealer for condensation in the head light and will ask them to replace the transmission body valve kit, I hope they do... I really love the car but what did I get myself into.

I have been living with the same problems as previously described.

Specifically: 2004 Maxima runs fine when cold and when driven more than 15 minutes (sooner if in stop and go traff), then it shifts hard from 1st to 2nd and vice versa.

It also does something else that no one has hit on yet, when put into park or neutral, it takes almost 10 seconds to engage when put into drive again. This is most startling when it first happens, and could cause havoc on the engine mounts.

I took the car to AAMCO 1 month ago, and they said I needed to rebuild the entire transmission; that would start at $1800 and go up from there, depending on what they find. I am holding out for now until recall or bonus check arrives. Either one seems some time away.

Nissan is a disgrace because of the way they handle (or don't) this. I like the car, it turns wide, but all else is decent enough to want to rebuild the tranny. I would if I thought it would fix it permanently. Anyone out there that has more than 10,000 miles on rebuild? I would love to hear from you.

Thanks.

It unfortunate the 2004-2006 trannys have had so many problems. This was corrected in the 2007-2008 models with the CVT, though not as fun to drive. These are such beautiful cars to have such a major problem.

I own a 2004 Nissan Max and I have been having these same problems with the whining, ticking, and jerking problem. I bought the car used and now have 108xxx miles on it. I love my car but I don't have the extra money to get a transmission rebuilt. The whining noises sounds like what I was told like my Lifters was bad whatever that means. Im with all of you about Nissan needed to due a recall. I am going to try and replace the crank shaft first then go from their.