2004 Nissan Maxima SE from North America - Comments

I also seem to be having transmission jerk problems with my Nissan Maxima, but unlike others mine is a 2001. The car has 69,700 miles on and the problem is very recent. I get a jerking motion when the car shifts from 1st to 2nd. It jerks especially hard when making a turn and the car slows down and picks up speed again. And, in my case it also jerks one day and behaves OK another day. Also the problem seems to happen more with a warmer engine, and is rarely happening when the engine is cold. I also got a service engine light, and took it to the Nissan dealership to get checked, and their $50 diagnosis found the same problem "line pressure solenoid circuit dropping" issue as described in the Nissan TSB ttp://www.nissanhelp.com/Ownership/Bulletins/Nissan/2005/NTB05-001.htm. I reluctantly agreed to them doing a complete $250 check, and they came back saying that they see debris inside the transmission pan, and suggest a $3000 replacement or some kind of rebuild. Here is another blog I read about this issue, and the blogger suggests not going in for the solenoid replacement, and instead going in for the trans rebuild or replace. The dealership also told me the same thing, partial work will be not so cheap and the problem may recur. Has anyone yet faced some drastic consequences yet like breakdown etc or is everyone just talking about the annoyance?

I bought a 2004 Maxima SE back in April of'96 with about 48k miles in excellent condition from an Infiniti dealer who is also a Nissan manufacturer. I drive about 150 -200 miles per day normal comute to and from work. lately I have been noticing the same 1st to 2nd gear, as well as 2nd to 1st gear hard shifting as reffered to by technicians. Over time it worsens to a point where just about all gears begin to jerk somewhat. I also have been experiencing the timing tensioner noise comming from the front passenger side the only got worse before better. with both these issues mustering under the hood with no amicable resolution from Nissan except $$$$$$$$$, for a working man like myself its almost impossible to maintain civility knowing you own a 3yr old car with so many issues. I currently have 94k and warranty is out. but keep in mind... the car is only 3yrs old. Is nissan gonna adress this? I paid in exess of $20k for the car now it seems to have no value what so ever beacaue as of today it only drives in 5th gear due to the ongoing transmission and timing tensioner issue. The dealer says the transmision replacement would run about $4800 and the timing tentioner about $1200. that's 6 grand I do not have to spend on a 3yr old car... NISSAN whats going on?

I bought my 2004 maxima 1 1/2 years ago from a dealer and have about 79k on it. Yesterday it had trouble starting and when it finally did and I shifted into drive... the transmission jerked into gear and it seemed like it was in a high gear. I agreed with many of the statements here and just wanted to be 1 more voice. Obviously my warranty is expired, but I feel that nissan needs to be held responsible seeing how many people have a similar problem. I bought a maxima because I drive a ton and wanted something reliable. I spent more than i originally wanted to just to avoid situations like this.

I own a 2004 Maxima SE that I purchased 1 year ago with 62000 miles. Once the car hit approx. 77000 miles I started experiencing the 1st/2nd gear transmission jerk issue. After finding this bulletin board I am outraged that nissan has not recalled this transmission! I plan on taking this issue as far as I have to in order to get someone at Nissan to acknowledge this issue. I am a hard working family man that expects to be treated fairly and just. It is time to stand up for what is right people. These car dealerships will just keep jerking us around unless we demand attention!

I have recently purchased a 2004 Nissan Max with 48k miles and I am experiencing the same suspension noise and the rattling sound described here. Especially when I first start the car the morning. The dealer told me it was the strut which I replaced, but the thumping noise is still there. The rattling noise, according to a mechanic, is caused by some shield on the exhaust system around the engine area. He used a metal clamp to fix it so I am waiting to see if it holds up. Nissan is certainly trying to conceal an obvious problem with this model and their dealerships with their overpriced mechanical works are totally useless.

OK Nissan! This is really ridiculous. I have an 04 Maxima with same shifting/slipping issue. Obviously this is a problem Nissan should be fixing if we are all having the same issue. I am taking it to the dealer in 2 days with a printout of these comments. Has anyone gotten anywhere with Nissan on this issue?

I have a 2004 Maxima, and I am so glad that I found this board. I bought the car last year with @48k miles on it.. it now has @60k miles on it and I've started noticing a very loud metallic rattling sound when I accelerate. At first I thought is was my brakes, but I had them checked, and they are fine. I also experienced the extremely hard jerk when switching gears especially when slowing down and accelerating again. This is horrible! Nissan should issue a recall on the 2004 Maxima transmission!

I own a 2004 Nissan Maxima SE with 34,000 miles on it. I also have the same rattling/wobbling of the steering wheel problem. From what I see from this post, it must have something to do with the struts - but I have yet to see a post where someone says they've fixed the problem.

Has anyone been able to fix this problem? Please let us know what the problem was and how it was fixed.

Thank you.

I own a 2004 Maxima SE that I bought brand new. I am at 71,000+ miles. I have brought the car into Service from day one regarding a rattling noise. At first they said to change from 93+ octane gas to 89 octane, even though when I purchased the vehicle I was advised to use premium.

Then they said it was the heat shields.

Then they said it was a bracket on the muffler.

...to this day I have that annoying can-of-spray-paint rattling sound from hell coming from I don't know where.

2 days ago I experienced the transmission jerk for the 1st time. Something has to be done.

After reading this board I can finally tell my wife that I didn't mess up the transmission. I bought 04, Maxima at 64k miles. I have now 85K on the car & going thru the same transmission slip issue. 1st & 2nd gear when you accelerate it jerks & down grading from 2nd to 1st jerk as well. I took it to the dealership & they stated I should flush trasmission. I did that, but no use. Cold starts are bit better, but once it warms up it jerks a lot. I have exteneded warranty thru National Autocare, but I don't know if it is gonna be covered.

I would like all Maxima owners with this issue take it to the highest level.

I'm really pissed off & willing to do whatever I can. If it is OK with everybody here is my ph # I'm in Austin TX (512) 5762897. If you live around this area I'll go with you to a dealership & also if everybody agrees fax me your Name & phn # with your cars model, vin# & mileage. Ill make a case & contact Nissan Corporate on behalf of everybody & complain to the Govt dept as well. I'm dead serious about it plz feel free to contact me. thx.

Gohar Tareen

(512) 5762897

gonidz18@aol.com.

I have a 04 SE with 103k miles on it with most of these being true highway miles. This jerking problem when I slow down and then reaccelerate is going to give me whiplash. It feels like someone just ran into the back of my car. My sorry azz dealership told me I needed new engine mounts (800.00) and a synthetic trannie flush (300.00). I told them to bleep off and came home and googled this site. Like a dummy I even bought the extended warranty (750.00) but expired at 100k and problem just started to happen at 101k miles. All Nissan dealerships are taking advantage of this obvious flaw and what are the doing about it? Getting rich with their complete BS repairs at ridiculous prices. How could anyone actually want to work in a service dept. at a Nissan dealership knowing you are screwing over most of your clients everyday. Sounds like a great environment to be in.

I am glad a friend recommended this board. My 2004 Nissan Maxima SE is a problem; I bought my car used in 05. I had problems from about 5 months off the lot.

First was the rattle in the engine; the only way to combat this is to change the oil every month. I brought it to several dealers and mechanics, and they all say it's the timing chain, which is approx. 4000.00 cad plus labour, which is a whole other issue because its like a 3d puzzle.

React quickly and sell while you can.

04 Maxima SE, 65,000 miles, this is my first and last Nissan. Very discouraging because all this stuff happened at exactly 61,000miles. Right outside of the factory warranty.

#1) Tons of rattling from the front suspension, I thought it was the shocks, but got the car up on the lift and realized the bolt holding the steering column to the frame had fallen out, so the column was flopping around in the engine bay. That was easy, but dangerous.

#2) ABS kicked on under normal braking, brake lights went on in dash. The ABS motor stays running even when the vehicle is turned off and the keys are out. Only way to stop the motor is by clipping one of the terminals on the multi-fuse under the hood. ran the codes. Most likely the ABS solenoid Assy, $1400 from dealer. Just driving without ABS right now till I can save up the money or find one cheaper.

#3) Hard shifting from 1st-2nd and 2nd-3rd. I don't know if it the transmission or not, but its making me nervous.

#4) Engine vibration and engine noise under light acceleration until it downshifts to a lower gear and the RPM's rise again. It seems to be hanging in a higher gear longer than it should be while cruising and doesn't downshift fast enough when pedal is pressed to accelerate.

I wish Nissan would address some of these issues!!!

Here we are, another set of victims to the bad transmission problems on our 2004 Maxima we bought in 2005. We bought the car with 16,000 miles and the hard shifting didn't begin until 65,000 miles. The warranty had already expired and I am so happy to have come across this site. I was blaming my husband for not maintaining the car properly causing the hard shifting and the rattling noise we have been hearing, but now I know it's the car! I just came across a consumer website that explains what can be done for the bad shifting and I wanted to share it with you all because I have not seen anybody write about it yet:

Trouble Spots

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Check-engine light: The check engine light will come on due to misfiring cylinder (s) caused by faulty fuel injectors. (2004)

Cold-starting problems: Some early-build cars may be hard to start after cold soak (e.g. sitting over night), due to low fuel pressure requiring a revised fuel pump. (2004)

Transmission problems: Harsh shifts between first and second may be due to poor electrical contact at the line pressure solenoid, requiring a solder repair or solenoid replacement. (2003-04)

Hope this helps, but we have decide to trade in the car for something more reliable.

The Martinez

Los Angeles, California.

I have a 2004 Nissan Maxima and I am having problems with ABS system. The problem started at 37,000 miles. The dealer charged me 200.00 dollars to clean left rear ABS sensor and everything seemed to be okay. Then a week ago at 43,000 miles the problem reoccured. I took the car back to the dealer. They replaced the right rear ABS sensor, charged me 450.00 dollars and the problem is still there. Now there saying I need a ABS controler which cost 1600.00 dollars with installation. This is a problem that is happening on 2004 and 2005 Maximas. If anyone else is having this same problem please contact Nissan so they can put out a recall. This is going to be my last Nissan!!!