2004 Nissan Maxima SE from North America - Comments

Re: 2004 Nissan Maxima SE.

Nissan is replacing the transmission under warranty today. They just called & said that the engine & transmission mounts needed to be replaced as well. they told me that the mounts are made of rubber & since I live in Southwestern United States they prone wear quickly. $457 ouch... I'm having them do it because I've made a long term commitment to this car financially. I'm really disappointed. I've owned a 1992 Maxima & 2000 Maxima and the quality has gotten worse with each car. My advice is to go after Nissan with any transmission issue.

I have 04 maxima. These days I got a slipping on the gear when it accelerates or changes from 1 to 2. The dealer suggest me to do the transmission flush. Is this a good idea? just feared...

I came across this board after just learning today that my 04 Maxima is in need of a new transmission.

The sound started on Friday (today is Monday) as a quiet thump from the driver's side front end and quickly got louder. The sound correlated with the speed of the car. I put the car on jacks and initially thought it was a loose air dam around the wheel well, taped it up, and the sound persisted. Upon further look, I popped the car in Neutral, and found a spot in the front axle rotation where it would squeak (without weight on it). With the weight of the car on it and increased speed, the squeak got louder and louder. It also seemed to go away when accelerating and braking.

So, the dealer took a look today and determined it was a bearing the went out in the driver's side differential. They told me that the only way to fix it (can't just replace that part) is to replace the entire transmission. I sure am glad that I bought the extended warranty because the $50 deductible I'll pay is well worth it.

The thing that really gets me is I just had it in about 3 weeks ago and the dealership I took it to (where I bought it) did a transmission fluid flush and a 60k service, which I would imagine would include a full check of everything, including the transmission. Interesting thing is that the tech I talked to who will replace the tranny asked which dealer I had taken it to, and he said he wasn't surprised. Needless to say I won't be taking it back to that dealership (if you live in Sacramento, CA, all I'll say is don't take your Max to a particular dealership in South Sacramento - I'd look to Yolo County).

It sounds like Nissan has a problem on hand with this year and model - I just hope this fixes it (although I have to wait a week for it to arrive) as I'm still paying on it. It is really frustrating too when you take care of a car and have all scheduled services performed and still experience these problems - and I thought I would get away from that by finally buying a Japanese-made car, as opposed to the POS Jeep and Saturn I had before - both that experience major problems - I guess it's all relative.

I'll be checking back here and all over if there is a class-action or recall on this issue.

I purchased my 2004 Nissan Maxima in July 2003. After 120K miles, It started jerking violently between 1st and 2nd gear and when downshifting back to 1st from 2nd. Yesterday, I took it to a Nissan dealership for a diagnostic check although the check engine light never came on. It was recommended that I get the transmission flush ($199) to see if that would solve the problem and if it didn't I would have to replace the solenoid valve. If I chose to do nothing, I would have to pay $90 for the diagnostic check. I opted to do the flush, but unfortunately it didn't solve the problem. So now I'm faced with over $800 more for repairs. After reading the posts here, I am convinced that Nissan knows about this defect in the '04 Maxima. After all, they have a TSB on how to fix it. I don't understand why I have to pay $90 for a diagnostic check when they already know about the defect. I am interested in helping to get the car recalled. Where do we go to file a complaint so that our voices can be heard collectively? Then, Nissan will be forced to deal with this issue on their dime and not profit from hard working customers who are forced to repair the car themselves.

Hey guys guess what looks like I'm another victim of this 04 maxima crisis. my transmission is acting up, there seems to be a problem when it shifts from first to second gear. I took it in to the dealership and just because I have no records of check ups they want to charge me about 4000 for a new trasmission. My family needs a reliable car and that's one of the reasons why I bought this car. Nissan I'm very dissapointed.

I too have a 04 Maxima that was violently jerking from 1st to 2nd gear. I took it into the Nissan dealership where they checked the transmission and said it was fine, but they said my motor mounts had to be replaced and my transmission flushed. In total it costs me around $1,000. Two days later my car started jerking again and even worse now. So I took it in again and now they said the diagnostics on my transmission is to rebuild the transmission and it is going to cost $3,600!! I said no and now looking around to fix the problem. I also saw there was a TSB to fix this problem, but I don't understand why there has not been a recall. I saw this link, http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/#gen_info, in early post. I'm not sure if anyone has submitted a complaint, but since there are more people coming forward with the same problem on the 04 Maxima, I'm hoping this will get the ball rolling in recalling this horrible car. I will NEVER buy a Nissan again!

I am also an owner of a 2004 Nissan Maxima. I have recently passed the 65k mile mark and suddenly began having problems with my transmission shifting hard, just like so many others on this board. I spoke with my local dealership and they insist they have had no other complaints on their Maximas. Of course they wanted me to bring in my car for a diagnosis, but I do not feel comfortable that they will actually be able to help me after spending some time on the phone with them.

Another very unhappy Maxima owner.

Nissan, Nissan, Nissan... shame on you! We work to hard for our money to just hand it over to you for a known transmission problem. I am glad that I am not the only one experiencing these problems on the same make/model car (2004 Maximum SE). Is there anyway, we can strongly suggest Nissan to recall the 2004 Maximum SE Nissan transmission line pressure solenoid for FREE? They should take the hit on this one!

R.

Carol...

This may initially help some of you to get started with addressing your problems with Nissan on potential recalls: http://www.nissanusa.com/apps/recall

They cannot issue a recall unless they get a substantial amount of feedback on the same or similar problems. Hope this helps...

-Nissan Owner

2003 Sentra SE-R.

I too have a 2004 Nissan Maxima with about 65,000 miles. A couple of days ago I heard a grinding noise coming from the front of the car.

It went away eventually, but then the ABS came on for no reason. After that, the grinding noise was back, the car kept jerking, all the brake-related lights came on on the dash - ABS, Slip, Brake and TCS Off were all on.

The dealer says it needs a new ABS actuator - $2,000! Plus it will take a week to get the part. The brakes were already replaced at 30K miles - premature since 90% of the driving is highway.

This is my last Nissan. Hopefully nothing else major will break before I get rid of it. Very unhappy customer.

I have a Nissan Maxima 2004 that needs an ABS actuator. The dealer quoted $2000. If that's not bad enough - now the part is back ordered; I've been waiting 2 weeks already. They won't tell me if it's back ordered because they never need to replace them, or because they are replacing so many. Interesting (and a huge inconvenience).

Well I am also an owner of of Nissan Maxima SE 2004. I have been experiencing the transmission problem for some time now. I live out in Canada. I will be printing these web comments and meeting with my dealer in a very near future. I have complained in many instances, but getting no valuable action. Shame on Nissan!!!

I have an 04 Maxima and have the same issues as most of you. It went from a slightly weird noise and reaction to feeling like my car is possessed. It drives fine when it's cold or just started, but after driving for a while it bucks, surges, and acts like it's going to fall out of the car.

I had three quotes, all of which were not under 3500.00. I called the dealer, and after my tires were defective, my skylight cracked from a defect, two of my rims bent because they were cheaply made, my struts were messed up because of a defect, and now the transmission went, they would help me... to no avail. 2600 just for the tranny and 3500 installed.

I truly thought Nissan made quality, but thousands and not low thousand of dollars later, I'm stuck with a very expensive piece of crap.

Amazing, I thought I was the only one with this problem.

I bought my 2004 Maxima SE in August of 2003 (I had to have it). At around 66k mile mark, the transmission started to slip and jump out of gear. I pleaded with the folks at Nissan in Tennessee and my local dealer in Temecula California (where I bought the car). No one would help. It cost me $3,000.00 to replace the trans which was the only solution. When I ordered the trans from Tennessee, there was a backlog of orders and it took three weeks to get it. Folks ITS TIME FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT! This is clearly a design flaw and Nissan and the dealers will continue to jerk you around until you take a stand. I have copied some of your emails although many of you did not leave any. I've lost confidence in Nissan products. I will never buy another Nissan product. I paid sticker for this car ($31k) as it was hot at the time and few dealers had them. I'm still driving it at 87k miles, but I'm still angry and I want Nissan to repay me for my expenses (trans, car rental). I will begin to research the process in starting a class action suit although I need your help. Contact me at skyislands@hotmail.com.

GV.

I have a 2004 Nissan Maxima assigned to me which was seized by the US Government. It has approx. 72,000 miles and the transmission is slipping/jerking. Today, (02-22-2008) I had the transmission fluid changed and it did not resolve the issue. My problem is EXACTLY the same as others have reported on this website.