NHTSA Complaint #10371135 — 2004 NISSAN QUEST

THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THE SHIFTER/TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 NISSAN QUEST VAN. THE PROBLEMS STARTED A FEW YEARS AGO WHEN PARKED ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND THE VAN WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO REVERSE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY ADVISED ME TO PULL FORCEFULLY ON THE SHIFTER TO MAKE IT SHIFT. IT DID SHIFT BUT THIS HAS CONTINUED TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF DEALING WITH THIS, THE SHIFTER STARTED TO NOT ENGAGE IN THE CORRECT POSITION INDICATED ON THE DASH AND I WOULD HAVE TO PLAY AROUND WITH IT TO GET IT TO ENGAGE IN THE CORRECT GEAR (IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS IN DRIVE ACCORDING TO THE BASE OF THE SHIFTER, BUT WAS ACTUALLY STILL IN NEUTRAL). THERE WERE OTHER SYMPTOMS SUCH AS HAVING TO PUSH THE SHIFTER FIRMLY IN TO PARK TO REMOVE THE KEY. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY AND I FINALLY DISCOVERED WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING. I WENT TO SHIFT IN REVERSE ON AN INCLINE AND HAD TO VERY FORCEFULLY PULL THE SHIFTER INTO REVERSE. AFTER DOING SO, THE DASH AND THE BASE OF THE SHIFTER ARE MISMATCHED BY A WHOLE GEAR. *TR