NHTSA Complaint #10202330 — 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA

LONG DRIVES IN HOT WEATHER (ABOVE 85 DEGREES) CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. IT USUALLY OCCURS 45 MINUTES INTO A STEADY DRIVE OF 60 TO 75 MPH OR HEAVY STOP AND START DRIVING. PULLING OVER AND WAITING 10 TO 15 MINUTES WILL CURE THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN IF THE SAME TYPE OF DRIVING CONTINUES. WHEN THE WEATHER IS COOL OUT FALL THROUGH SPRING, THE PROBLEM RARELY OCCURS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE INTERNAL SEALS OF THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN THEY GET TOO HOT THEY EXPAND AND ALLOW FLUID TO "BLOW BY" WHICH DECREASES PRESSURE IN THE VALVE BODY CAUSES THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE. I HAVE FLUSHED THE TRANSMISSION EVERY 30,000 MILES AT THE DEALER SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THIS IS NOT A ONE OFF PROBLEM. I HAVE TWO 2000 MAXIMA'S, BOTH WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS ALSO A CO-WORKER OF MINE WITH A 2001 MAXIMA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THERE ARE INTERNAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. I DO NOT EXPECT NISSAN TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, HOWEVER THEY MUST KNOW THEY ARE LOSING CUSTOMERS. THIS COMES ON TOP OF THE IGNITION COIL PROBLEM I HAD WITH BOTH VEHICLES, WHICH OF COURSE NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *JB