2004 NISSAN MAXIMA Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, 1ST TO 2ND OR 2ND TO 3RD - ENGINE REVS, TRANSMISSION JERKS AFTER SHORT DELAY. WHEN GOING ON DOWNHILL BENDS THIS MEANS THAT THE CAR WANTS TO JERK OFF THE ROAD, SOMEWHAT. APPARENTLY DUE TO IMPROPER COOLING ON THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, IT GETS GUMMY, AND THEN THE SOLENOIDS CLOG UP AND GET STUCK. THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF WEAR ON THE GEARS. FOR THE FIRST REPAIR, A FLUSH AND REPLACING THE SOLENOIDS WILL USUALLY GIVE ANOTHER 20K MILES, BUT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T GET FIXED UNLESS A CUSTOM COOLING SYSTEM IS PUT ON THE TRANSMISSION LINES. IT'S A CRAPPY DESIGN. INSTEAD OF RUNNING THE COOLING LINES TO THE ENGINE AND PUTTING A THERMOSTAT ON A SWITCH, THERE SHOULD BE A DEDICATED COOLER ON THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, IT'S RIDICULOUSLY HARD TO GET TO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FILTER, WHICH IS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE. HOW HARD WOULD...

DROVE MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA OFF THE LOT ON 3/3/14 AND NOTICED A JERK ONCE I GOT TO 30MPH, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME AFTER I PURCHASED IT THAT WHAT EVER PROBLEMS I HAVE I NEED TO FIX MYSELF BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR "AS IS". *TR

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW NISSAN MAXIMA 2004. AFTER DRIVING FOR 5 YEARS, IT HAS GIVEN NOTHING BUT HEADACHE AND STRESS. IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OR WOULD BE JERKING/SHAKING AFTER STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. WHILE DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY, MY CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN AND COULDN'T DRIVE PASS 20 MILE PER HOUR, THEN ENGINE DIED. I HAD REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER ,SENSORS, MUFFLERS,BRAKES. AND THE PROBLEMS STILL HAVEN'T RESOLVED. AS OF TODAY, I DON'T HAVE A CAR, IT IS AT THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND HESITATES AS YOU PLACE IN GEAR. ONCE YOU PLACE IT IN GEAR FROM DRIVE TO PARK TO REVERSE IT JERKS VERY HARD WHICH PLACES PRESSURE ON THE MOTOR MOUNTS CAUSING THEM TO HAVE PROBLEMS. ALL OF THE NISSAN MAXIMA'S HAVE A SERIOUS MANUFACTURED FLAW WITH THERE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A SERIOUS FLAW AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY NISSAN, ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS MADE ARE ALL STATING THE SAME THING. THIS IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. THIS DEFECT OCCURS EVEN IF YOU ARE SITTING STILL WITH YOUR FEET ON THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPT TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE JERKS SO HARD IT MOVES THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH YOUR FEET IS ON THE BRAKES. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE. ONCE THE ENGINE WARMS UP THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO SLIP EVEN AS THE VEHICLE APPROACH A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THE CAR DOWN...

TRANMISSION SKIPPED @ 65,518 WICH I WAS TOLD WAS OUT OF THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY PAID $4,000.00 ON 12/08/08 FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A NEW TRANMISSION. FOUND OUT LATER NISSAN USES RE-BUILT TRANI. RIGHT AFTER THE INITIONAL TRANI WAS PUT IN I CONTINUED TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM...TOOK IT A FEW TIMES BACK BUT ALL I GOT WAS THE RUN AROUND...THEY STATED IT MIGHT BE THE MOTOR MOUNT, THAT GOT FIXED STILL THE PROBLEM WAS THERE. THE CAR WENT THRU DIAGNOSTIC READING FROM 2009 THRU 2012 BUT SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS NOT ON IT WOULD NOT GIVE ANY DIAGNOSIS CODES.... UNTIL APRIL OF THIS YEAR MY TRANSMISSION SKIPPED AGAIN @ APPROX. 113,500.00 WHILE BEING TESTED BY A NISSAN MECHANIC...UPDATED 07/13/12 *BF

I OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND WHEN I BOUGHT IT I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A GREAT CAR THAT WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO ALTHOUGH I STILL LIKE THE CAR IT IS STARTING TO MAKE THIS TICKING NOISE THE TICKING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AND IS DOING THAT BECAUSE OF A PIECE OF PLASTIC HAS GOTTEN LOOSE ON THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES SO NOW THAT THIS PIECE OF PLASTIC IS LOOSE MY TIMING CHAIN COULD POSSIBLY SNAP AND DAMAGE MY ENTIRE MOTOR SO I DECIDE OK ILL JUST FIX IT BUT OH NO ITS 1500 DOLLARS TO FIX BECAUSE OF ALL THE LABOR THAT IS NEEDED TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE LABOR INVOLVED IN GETTING TO THE TIMING CHAIN SO MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHY DO YOU HAVE A STUPID PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT IS NOW FAILING FOR ALMOST ALL VQ 35...

I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN JULY OF 2003 WITH LESS THAN 14 MILES ON IT. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR MYSELF (WHEN I CAN) SINCE A NAPA REPAIR SHOP PUT THE WRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID IN IT AND COMPLETELY RUINED MY TRANNY. I CHANGE MY OIL REGULARLY AND KEEP UP TO DATE WITH OTHER SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 144K MILES ON MY CAR AND I HAVE A OBD CODE OF P0420. IN ADDITION TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, MY BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER RELEASING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ONE THING I HAVE NOTICE IS THAT I HAVE TO ADD OIL EVERY SO OFTEN BECAUSE IT GOES LOW. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR IS APPROACHING 9 YEARS, BUT NOW WITH THE OBD CODE, I KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH ONE OR BOTH OF THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. PLEASE CORRECT THESE ISSUES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS...

I BOUGHT A USED 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AND I'M HAVING PROBLEMS THE JERKING, THRUSTING FORWARD AND THE BAD DOWN SHIFTING. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ACT LIKE THEY NEVER HEARD OF A PROBLEM BEFORE AND THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED A FLUSH ($200), SO I DID, IT CONTINUED KICKING. I TOOK IT BACK TO NISSAN THEY DROVE IT AND TOLD ME IT NEED MOTOR MOUNTS ($2,000), I GOT THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AT LOCAL AUTO SHOP. THEY HAVE NO PROBLEM WANTING ME TO SPENDING MONEY ON DIAGNOSIS THE PROBLEM, WHEN THEY KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THE TRANSMISSION IS A RECALL ISSUE THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE PUBLIC. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN NISSAN. I'VE HAD 2 ALTIMA, I HAVE A 1997 MAX AND NEVER HAD MAJOR ISSUES (I DRIVE THAT MORE THAN THE NEW CAR) AND I HAVE A 2004 ARMADA, I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THEM...

I AM A NISSAN MAXIMA LOVER!! I HAVE HAD A 95 MAX, A 00 MAX, AND NOW A 04 MAX. I HAD NO MAJOR PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER WITH MY MAXIMAS EXCEPT FOR THIS 04. THIS CAR IS LITERALLY DRIVING ME CRAZY! FIRST THE CAR STARTED JERKING. THEN MY WINDOWS STARTED STICKING MY DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOW WILL GO DOWN THEN SOMETIMES NOT COME BACK UP.THEN LATER IT STARTED MAKING THIS EMBARRASSING RATTLING NOISE. EVERYTIME I GOT AN OIL CHANGE IT WOULD STOP FOR A WHILE. I NEEDED A DEPENDABLE CAR WHICH IS WHY I GOT ANOTHER NISSAN BUT ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS GROCERY SHOPPING WITH MY KIDS AND AS I TURNED ON THE HIGHWAY HEADED HOME THE WHOLE CAR SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. HOW DANGEROUS IS THAT. I MANAGED TO COAST TO A GAS STATION AND HAD TO CALL AAA TO TOW IT HOME...

I TOOK POSSESSION OF THIS VEHICLE AROUND THE 14TH OF NOVEMBER AND THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD. I THINK THIS COULD POSSIBLE BE A FLOOD CAR THERE IS A SMELL OF MILDEW AND THE VISOR ARE WATER DAMAGED. TO THIS DAY THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AND IT IS THE 26TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2011. THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE SLIPPING AND I AM AFRAID TO ENTER TRAFFIC AS THE CAR STALLS AND THEN STICKS UPON ACCELERATING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AS WELL AS THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY ON WHEN THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAD TURNED THEM OFF. I CAN SMELL FUMES UPON STARTING AND DRIVING THIS CAR. I AM PARENT AND I DON'T LIKE TO GIVE MY CHILD OR ANY OTHER PERSON A RIDE BECAUSE OF THE SMELLS. THE TIRES WERE BALD ON...

WHEN THE PROBLEM INITIALLY STARTED YOU COULD HEAR A VERY LOUD RATTLING NOISE. NISSAN CERTIFIED DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. LAST MONTH THEY GAVE ME A LIST WHICH WAS HALF PRINTED AND HALF WRITTEN MEANING THAT THE MOST COSTLY, EXPENSIVE, AND IMPORTANT ITEM WERE NOT PUT IN THEIR DATABASE SYSTEM. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC BASICALLY TOLD ME TO GET RID OF THE CAR ( CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO BROKEN TENSIONER, MAIN CHAIN). IN ORDER FOR THEM JUST TO CONFIRM THAT-THAT'S THE PROBLEM, IT WOULD APPS. TAKE 8 LABOR HOURS TO TAKE THE MOTOR APART. THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS LITERALLY GOING TO FALL APART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 20004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE AT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF HOLES DUE TO CORROSION ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE FLOOR BOARD HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO A BUZZING NOISE IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TIMING CHAIN HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TIMING CHAIN WAS REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FLOOR BOARD WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR IS SLIPPING. WHEN I AM TRYING TO TAKE OFF MANY TIMES THE ACCELERATION IS DECREASED DRAMATICALLY AND PUTS MY FAMILY IN DANGER OF HAVING A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE GEARS ARE HARD TO SWITCH AND IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING IT STARTS JERKING AS IF IT WILL CUT OFF. THE DEALER CLAIMS TO NOT HAVE MANY ISSUES WITH THIS PROBLEM BUT MY ONLINE RESEARCH SHOWS ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS THE SOURCE OF MOST OF THE PROBLEMS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL CAR. *TR

CAR BEGAN MAKING A CHATTERING SOUND AND I HAD OIL CHECKED IMMEDIATELY. FULL, BUT IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME AT GAS STATION THAT I MIGHT HAVE A STICKING VALVE. I HAD AN APPOINTMENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH BUT ON SUNDAY, 11/6/11 AS I WAS GOING UP A SLIGHT HILL CHATTERING GOT LOUDER AND ENGINE STOPPED. I'M TOLD THE CAR "JUMPED TIMING" DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE TENSIONER WHICH HOLDS THE TIMING CHAIN. IT'S LIKELY THE HEADS WERE DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS BUT I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE ENGINE PULLED APART. FROM ON LINE RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAXIMA MODELS 2004-08. CALLED NISSAN BUT THEY INSIST THAT I HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND PAY A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THEN THEY "MIGHT" PAY FOR THE PARTS (JOB IS LABOR INTENSIVE!) FOR THEIR "FLAGSHIP"...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO JERK AFTER REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LUNGE FORWARD ABNORMALLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE TO ACCELERATE AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPMS TO 3000. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING INTO THE NEXT GEAR. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND THE TIMING BELT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL ON THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS OVERHEATING, CAUSING THE ENGINE COILS TO MISFIRE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE COMPUTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

TIMING CHAIN WHINE. ALTIMA, QUEST, MAXIMA, AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES WITH THE VQ35DE ENGINE. *TT

FOR THE 4TH TIME IN 35,000 MILES THE CAR BEGAN TO MISFIRE, RUN ROUGH AND LOSE POWER. SINCE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE WE QUICKLY PULLED OVER AND HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THE SAME PARTS FAILED THAT FAILED THE LAST THREE TIMES. THESE CONSIST OF IGNITION COILS (PLURAL). CHANGING THESE FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR 5 WEEKS WHERE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN ALTHOUGH MORE CATASTROPHIC. GROUNDING CABLES ($2250, SIX COILS ($1,100), AND THEN WHATEVER ELSE (ECM IS EXPECTED AND MAYBE CYLINDER SENSORS). DOING INTERNET RESEARCH HAS RESULTED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THE 2004 LINE THAT NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO COMPENSATE OWNERS FOR.

CAR JERKS WHEN GOING INTO 1ST, 2ND OR 3RD AND HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN 3RD GEAR WHEN DRIVING, HAD TO PUT IN MANUAL GEARS IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO WHEN PUTTING IN REVERSE CAR JERKS AND THEN WHEN YOU GO INTO DRIVE THE VEHICLE JERKS AGAIN. A/C ALSO WENT OUT ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER OWNING THE CAR, WHICH WAS BOUGHT IN 2009. VEHICLE HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT BY DEALERSHIP AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE MAIN PROBLEM IS WITH THE CAR, AND SAID THEY WOULD FIX 2 THINGS TO SEE IF IT FIXES THE PROBLEM, ONLY IF I PAY THEM ABOUT $3000.00 TO $3500.00. DEALER DOES NOT KNOW THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER THEY WANT TO CHARGE FOR "WHAT IF'S". CAR ALSO JERKS WHEN YOU BREAK OR SLOW DOWN WITHOUT USING BREAK SYSTEM. I AM AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND THE LIFE OF MY FAMILY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 136,000.

IAC VALVE WENT BAD AND CAR SOMETIMES DON'T START AND WHEN IT DOES IT IDEALS ROUGH CANT ORDER THE PART FROM ANYWHERE BUT THE DEALER AND THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE I CAN'T EVEN PULL ANYTHING UP ON IT NOWHERE OTHER THAN OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE THIS IDEM SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. CAR RPM'S GO WAY HIGH AND THEN JERKS AND GOES INTO GEAR. HAPPENS AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP. DOES NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY BUT IT DOES HAPPEN GETTING OFF AN EXIT. DOWNSHIFTING FROM GEARS 3 TO 2 THE CAR JERKS AND HESITATES ALMOST GIVING ME WHIPLASH. I WENT TO A NISSAN DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED BUT THE TEST CAN BACK WITH NO PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT ON. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE BUT IT IS MY ONLY WAY OF TRANSPORTATION SO I HAVE TO KEEP DRIVING IT. NISSAN NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THERE MISTAKE AND HAVE THE CAR RECALLED. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM.. PLEASE HELP US OUT AND DO THE RIGHT THING TO MAKE OUR CARS SAFER TO DRIVE..THANK YOU

FOR THE PAST 2 MONTHS MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA HAS, AT PERIODIC TIMES, STARTS PUTTERING LIKE IT IS ABOUT TO STALL, THEN SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. DOES THIS FOR EITHER A FEW MILES OR MY ENTIRE TRIP. IT ALSO JERKS VERY HARD WHEN CHANGING GEARS, EX FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. WITH IN THE LAST MONTH THE TRANSMISSION NOW FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING. RECENTLY, GOT STUCK AT A RED LIGHT IN A VERY BUSY CITY DISTRICT B/C MY CAR WAS FINE BUT THEN WOULD NOT MOVE, FINALLY JERKED BACK TO LIFE & STARTED GOING BUT AT THE NEXT STOP LIGHT DID THE SAME THING. I HAVE BEEN DOING TONS OF READING ON THIS & IT SEEMS LIKE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMAS HAVE A HORRIBLE REPUTATION ON THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. I BELIEVE DO TO ALL OF THESE COMPLAINTS A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO...

I PURCHASED A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA IN AUGUST 2006, AND IT ALL SEEMED FINE FOR A BIT BUT ONCE I REACHED ABOUT 84K MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. FIRST, WHEN I SHIFT FROM PARK TO ANY OTHER GEAR. IT SEEMS TO EITHER HESITATE TO SHIFT INTO GEAR AND ONCE IT DOES IT SHIFTS IN A HORRIBLE KNOCK! IT CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME PROBLEM AS WELL AS SLIP GEARS WHILE IN MOTION. IT USUALLY SLIPS FROM 1ST TO 2ND, OR 2ND TO 3RD. IT CAUSES THE CAR TO REV AND SHIFTS WHEN IT WANTS. THAT MAKES IT SNAP EVEN HARDER. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP WHICH PLACED IT ON THE COMPUTER. THE ERROR WAS A FAULTY CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR (BANK 1). COST WAS $181.52. I'M STILL HAVING THE JERKING WITH SECOND GEAR BUT ONLY WHEN I SLOW DOWN EASILY. THE CAR SHIFTS NOW, BUT THE...

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE WITH VQ35 3.5L V6 ENGINE - TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS MY MAXIMA TIMING CHAIN TENSIONERS NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN IN THE SECONDARY TIMING CHAINS WEARING THE TENSIONERS OUT FASTER THAN THEY SHOULD. NISSAN QUOTES ANYWHERE FROM $1,500 TO $3,000 DOLLARS TO COMPLETE REPAIR WHICH USUALLY CONSISTS OF REMOVING THE ENGINE FROM THE VEHICLE! MANY COMPLAINTS ON MULTIPLE FORUMS ONLINE FROM MANY DIFFERENT OWNERS COMPLAIN OF THIS SAME ISSUE, NORMALLY OCCURRING AROUND 60,000 MILE MARK. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE ALL OF THESE VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE I AM STILL FINANCING IS CATASTROPHIC! NISSAN WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM I SHOULD BE HAVING WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS STILL BEING FINANCED FOR A FEW MORE YEARS. TIMING CHAINS WERE DESIGNED...

ANOTHER MOTOR MOUNT BROKE, HAD IT FIXED. ONE WEEK LATER I STARTED EXPERIENCING JERKING AND GEAR CHANGING AS I DROVE. WAS ON FREEWAY AND VEHICLE WENT INTO THIRD AND JOLTED MY UPPER BODY (HAD SORE NECK FOR ONE WEEK). ALSO EXPERIENCING 2-3, AND 3-2. PUTTING VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE, THE VEHICLE JERKS BADLY, REVERSE BEING THE WORST. WHEN I COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD VERY SHARPLY. NISSAN PAID FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST $234.00 AND BUENA PARK NISSAN'S REPORT STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS IS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND WILL LET ME KNOW IF I GET A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THERE EXPENSE, I HOPE SO, I'M UNEMPLOYED SINCE 10/2010.

WARNING SIGNS STARTED WITH A HARD SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND TO 3RD AT 45K MILES. DONE REGULAR TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE BUT PROBLEM REMAINS THE SAME. LATER IT STARTED HARD BANG OR JERK WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE OR REVERSE TO DRIVE. AT 112K MILES IT GOT WORSE AND THEN KNEW READING ONLINE ABOUT FAULTY VALVE BODY PROBLEM IN MANY 2004-2006 MAXIMAS TRANSMISSION. REPAIR COST IS TOO HIGH TO EVEN MENTION. SECOND PROBLEM IS TIMING CHAIN PLASTIC TENTIONERS. A WHAT? YES PLASTIC TIMING CHAIN TENTIONERS INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PROBLEM STARTED AT 50K AND CONTINUED AS OF TODAY. COMPLAINED TO DEALER WHEN CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND DELER SAID MY CAR IS RUNNING AWESOME. NISSAN LATER CHANGED THE DESIGN OF PLASTIC TIMING CHAIN TENTIONER. BUT WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAS FAULTY DESIGNED TIMING CHAIN TENTIONERS? RESPONSIBLE PARTIES KNOWS ABOUT THESE ISSES BUT REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. WHY THERE IS NO RECALL YET?

2004 + NISSAN MAXIMA'S ARE HAVING TIMING CHAIN ISSUES WHICH STARTS TO OCCUR AFTER 50K AS PER THE THOUSAND OF FORUM MEMBERS ACROSS DIFFERENT FORUM. I AM A VICTIM TOO. ITS A KNOWN DEFECT IN MAXIMA'S AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS TO FIX THIS. THIS TIMING CHAIN ISSUE FIX COST APPX $1600 AND DIFFICULT FOR US TO PAY SUCH AN AMOUNT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED BY NISSAN AS A MAINTENANCE FREE ITEM. THIS TIMING CHAIN WOULD GRADUALLY LEAD TO ALL SORT OF PROBLEMS LEADING TO COMPLETE FAILURE IF NOT TAKEN CARE OF. WE AS A CUSTOMER PLEDGE NHTSA TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION. ALREADY CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER AND NISSAN USA WITHOUT ANY RESULTS. *TR

I HAVE AN 04 NISSAN MAXIMA. I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 04. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT 60000 AFTER COMPLAINING ABOUT THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP, A 200 DOLLAR TRANSMISSION FLUSH, AND THE REPLACEMENT OF A TRANSMISSION MOUNT, THEY FINALLY REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY FRONT STRUTS 3 TIMES, MY TIMING CHAIN $3500, AND NOW I NEED ANOTHER TRANSMISSION AT 126,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN ON NUMEROUS BLOG SITES WITH PEOPLE WHO SHARED SIMILAR STORIES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER IT WAS COLD, SNOWING AND APPROXIMATELY THIRTY DEGREES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SINCE 2004 IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER HAS MADE SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT IS ONLY ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WHEN SOMEONE JUMP STARTS IT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE FAILURE NEVER OCCURS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS. THE CONTACT WROTE A LETTER TO THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER AND HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE CONTACT HAS REPEATEDLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

'04 MAXIMA, MAINTAINED REGULARLY, ORIGINAL OWNER, PURCHASED IN SUMMER OF '03(FIRST BATCH OF ASSY. LINE); NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE. NOISE WAS LOUD WHEN ENGINE WAS COLD AND WOULD GO AWAY AFTER ENGINE HAD WARMED UP. EVENTUALLY STARTED TO STILL HEAR THE NOISE (NOT AS LOUD) AFTER ENGINE WAS WARM. LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SAID THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AND MOST LIKELY THE GUIDE HAD BROKEN AND WAS RUBBING THE CHAIN AND STATED BOTH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THIS SHOP HAD NEVER DONE ONE OF THESE REPAIRS ON A NISSAN BECAUSE "THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO A NISSAN MOTOR". YET THEY FOUND MANY TSBS AND INTERNET SEARCH RESULTS ABOUT MY PARTICULAR MODEL CAR HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. THEY SUGGESTED I HAVE THE DEALERSHIP TAKE A LOOK. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER AND WITHOUT TELLING THEM WHAT THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP SAID, ONLY SUMMARIZING THE...

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLIPS AND STALLS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. OCCASIONALLY, THE TRANSMISSION KICKS INTO GEAR, BUT IT IS SO SEVERE THAT THE VEHICLE FINALLY ACCELERATES TO A VERY HIGH SPEED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT NEW ENGINE MOUNTS WERE NEEDED. HE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT NEW ENGINE MOUNTS WOULD CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

MY CAR IS JERKING AND BUCKING BAD. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NISSAN IS NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. I HAVE HAD MY TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSHED AND IT HAS NOT HELPED. OTHERS HAVE HAD VALVE BODY WORK DONE AND EVEN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THE CARS ARE STILL DOING THE SAME. THE TRANSMISSIONS HAD TO HAVE BEEN POORLY BUILT. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. I AM STILL PAYING ON THE CAR AND HAVING MAJOR CAR ISSUES. NISSAN NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE. *TR THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. THE CD PLAYER HAD TO REPAIRED AND THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED. UPDATED 01/21/10.*JB

I WAS IN THE FREEWAY WITH MY BABY ON 405, CAR SUDDENLY STARTED FEELING WEIRD, 3 WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, MY CAR SHUT DOWN IN MIDDLE OF FREEWAY , I HAVE TO PUT MY CAR ON PARK AND PUT EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON. ALMOST CAUSED AND ACCIDENT WITH MY BABY. CAR WILL NOT START. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THIS IS A FAULT CAMSHAFT. THIS SAME PROBLEM WAS ON A RECALL FOR 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA, NISSAN REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP OUR 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA ARE HAVING SOME ISSUES. FIRST THE TRANSMISSION NOW WE ARE HAVING A HARD TIME STARTING THE CAR. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. HOWEVER THAT DOES NOT SOLVE THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WE ARE DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR CAR LOSES TENSION. WE ACCELERATE AND IT DOESN'T GET US ANY FURTHER. WE ARE LOOKING AT REBUILDING OUR TRANSMISSION AND TRADING IN THE CAR BECAUSE IT'S REALLY NOT WORTH ALL THE ISSUES THE CAR IS STARTING TO HAVE. ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS. *TR

CAR STARTED MAKING A WHINING SOUND SIMILAR TO A TURBO WHINE UNDER ACCELERATION, THIS GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH TIME AND MILEAGE. TURNED OUT TO BE UPPER CAM CHAIN TENSIONERS RESULTING IN THE ENGINE HAVING TO BE REMOVED FROM THE CAR TO REPAIR. REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE REDESIGNED AND DEALER SAID MOST VQ35 AND VQ40 ENGINES ARE EFFECTED. PROBLEM IS THE SYMPTOM'S DON'T SHOW UP UNTIL 50-75K MILES AND WILL NOT BE COVERED BY NISSAN. *TR

MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA WAS STALLED ON THE ROAD TWICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING AROUND JUNE 2008 WITH A MILEAGE OF 54,500. BEFORE THE STALLS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND VS VERSA. AT THE TIME OF THE STALLING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO NISSAN DEALER, THINKING IT IS STILL WITHIN THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. THE DEALER HOWEVER TOLD ME THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS PROBLEM. IT COSTS ME OVER $600.00. THE REPORT SAID THAT CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. ON APPROXIMATELY SIX OCCASIONS, THE ENGINE REVVED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP. THE BRAKE WAS BEING DEPRESSED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURES. THE ABS ACTUATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 62,000 MILES. TWO OF THE GOODYEAR TIRES CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 12/1/08 *CN THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. UPDATED 12/05/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE POWER AND STEERING FAILED AND THE ENGINE SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS JUMP STARTED AND DRIVEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE BATTERY AND CRANK SHAFT SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THE 2003 MODELS, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL SINCE THE FAILURES ARE IDENTICAL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,000.

MY TIMING CHAIN STARTED MAKING NOISE AT APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES. WHEN IDLING, I CAN HEAR THE LINKS IN THE ENGINE. ACCORDING TO NISSAN, IT WILL COST ME APPROXIMATELY $3,000 TO $4,000 IN LABOR ALONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. FRONT RIGHT TICKING SOUND. DEALER EVALUATED THE CAR AND SAID IT WAS A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN PROBLEM. SAID I NEEDED A REPLACEMENT. I'M TOLD BY ANOTHER NON-NISSAN DEALER THAT THIS IS SO COMMON IT SHOULD BE LISTED AS A RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE RPM'S INCREASED INTO THE RED ZONE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGE. THE GEAR FINAL CHANGED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK BADLY. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY SETTLED BACK INTO GEAR AND PROCEEDED UP THE HILL. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MOTOR MOUNTS. CURRENTLY, THE TRANSMISSION IS CAUSING THE SAME FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NISSAN TRANSMISSION AND TIMING CHAIN ISSUES. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED COMMENTS WHICH DEMONSTRATE EXTENT OF PROBLEM. NISSAN AND THEIR DEALERSHIP SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT. HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/VIEWCOMMENTS_REVIEW_61092.HTML. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE STEERING LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAM AND CRANK SENSORS CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS OF DECEMBER 18, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000. UPDATED 01/17/08. *LJ UPDATED *JB

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS IGNITION COILS REPLACED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST 16 MONTHS. SEVERAL TIMES INCURRING WEEKS WITHOUT THE VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RESULTING IN PART REPLACEMENT AND THE ENGINE CATCHING ON FIRE. NISSAN CORPORATE SENT TECHNICIANS TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE AND HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE, SAYING FORTUNATELY I STOPPED THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE FIRE GOT OUT OF CONTROL. UNDER THE HOOD WAS CHARRED AND MELTED PLASTIC AND OIL. SINCE HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED, I HAVE GONE 9 MONTHS AND HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH COIL FAILURES AND REPLACEMENT. I AM PERUSING LEMON LAW ACTION AT THIS TIME BUT NEED TO SEE WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE. I AM AT THE POINT WHERE I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTIME I SMELL SOMETHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, I FEAR THAT I WILL SEE MORE SMOKE AND...

10,522K MILES,- I BROKE DOWN DUE TO FAILURE OF ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOTH. 15,358K MILES,- I COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOUD RATTLING NOISE, LIKE A FLAT TIRE RATTLING GRINDING NOISE AND CAR FEELING SHAKY.= DEALERSHIP FOUND NO PROBLEM. CONTINUING DRIVING MY CAR THINKING EVERYTHING IS OK. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW SO I SHOULDN'T REALLY WORRY. I WAS WRONG FOR THINKING THAT. 27,500 MI. -I BROKE DOWN AGAIN GOT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP,WHERE THEY REPLACED ANOTHER ALTERNATOR. 27,732-I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP, BECAUSE I JUST THOUGHT THE NOISE MY CAR STILL MADE DIDN'T SEEM RIGHT.= DEALERSHIP RESECURED HEATSHIELD 3. 26'099 MI.-R/F HEADLIGHT BULB BURNT OUT. DEALER FIXED THAT ONE. 28'071 MI.-LEFT SIDE FRONT HEADLIGHT BURNT OUT. DEALER REPLACED . 29,276 MI.- I PAID $300.00 FOR MY MAJOR SERVICE THAT WAS DUE FOR MY CAR, ALSO THINKING MAYBE MY CAR WOULDN'T BE AS NOISY AS IT IS. MAYBE THE...

DT: WHILE THE CAR SHUTS DOWN/LOSES POWER. CONSUMER IS GETTING READY TO MAKE A TURN, AND DURING THE TURN, CAR LOSES POWER.*AK