Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
0402104/29/200404021A10006162Engine cranks but hard/ no start after cold soak.*mr04/23/2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
NTB-10-04603/19/201010033346Nissan: revised vq35 engine timing chain procedures. removal and installation procedures for the vq35 engine front timing chain case and timing chains (primary and secondary) have bee updated to no longer require removal of rocker covers08/11/2010
NTB05-080A04/21/200810025503Airflowmeter service. *pe08/14/2008
0704207/17/200710022421Buzzing/whining noise from timing chain area. *kb08/13/2007
0602903/30/200610019626Engine oil cooler gasket available. *tt04/05/2006
0600903/31/200606009A10019613Mil on with dtc u1000 or u1010 stored in engine control unit. *tt04/05/2006
0600902/08/200610019300Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble code u1000 or u1010 stored in engine control unit. *ak02/28/2006
0509510/21/200510017490A rattle or buzz noise during acceleration or a malfunction indicator lamp on with dtc p1273 (a/f sensor). *tt11/08/2005
0411102/03/200604111A10010093Engine will not crank with outside temperature below 10 f. *jb *sc11/04/2004
0306710/22/200303067A10004556Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble codes p1274/p1284 a/f sensor bank-2 (rich monitor) stored in the ecm (engine control module). 2004 model. *tt12/18/2003
03067A10/22/20030306710003899Malfunction indicator lamp on with diagnostic trouble code p1274/p1284 (a/f sensor bank-1/2 rich monitor). *tt11/06/2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
0502103/14/200510012861Exhaust rattle buzzing noise present during acceleration. *eh03/31/2005
0401902/06/200410006169Exhaust ticking noise.*mr04/23/2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
0408006/30/200410008715Essential tool - j-44626 air fuel sensor socket. also including 2005 all nissan vehicles. *tt08/18/2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
NTB-05-037A06/11/200910030089Nissan: the mil is on and code p1402 egr open is stored in the ecm. inspect the egr valve for metallic debris. *pe07/31/2009

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
12/08/200865518
 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
04/18/2012
 My transmission in my car keeps getting stuck in 5th. it is an automatic with a slap stick, i have tried to manually gear it down and it will jerk and make a loud noise and will not come out of 5th. i have to turn the car off and wait about 10-15 minutes and crank it to see if it is back in 1st 9 times out of 10 it is still in 5th so i have to keep turning off the car and re crank it and it acts like it doesnt want to start!
10/19/2011115000
 I own a 2004 nissan maxima and when i bought it i thought i was buying a grreat 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 engines it just doesn't make any sense why as a company you are so cheap that you cant design something more durable than a piece of plastic to hold together the engine of my car that when it first came out in 2004 was going for like 26000 dollars how cheap can you get unbelievable you would think i would not have to worry about my car dying because of this one stupid piece of plastic that is basically defective and was not meant to hold together a timing chain what a crap company now im on the hook for 3 years and i have to pray that my chain doesnt snap because i cant afford to pay 1500 dollars to fix my car because of a stupid piece of plastic
03/04/2012
 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 maintainence. 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 injured.
02/26/2010
 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 now i am stuck with a car that i cannot drive and have to continue to make car payments on. ive been told it was a mixture of my transmission and timing chain.there have been several reports on this site with transmission and timing chain problems. unless nissan does something about this my next car will be a ford fusion! love my maxima but cannot endanger my kids with an undependable vehicle. with all that business nissan gets what harm will it cause for you to help your customers fix cars that you caused the problem to with this faulty engine and transmission problems. it would keep customers like me coming back to nissans. i do like the new models but i dont want to go through this problem with a newer car. nissan what are you going to do?????
10/18/201195000
 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. rvk
10/18/201195000
 Tl- the contact owns a 20004 nissan maxima. while at an independent mechanic for routine maintenance the contact was made aware of holes corroded in the the front driver and passenger side floor board. the vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic. the technicians stated the floor board would have to be replaced. there was also a buzzing noise coming from the front end of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. the mechanic stated the timing chain would have to be replaced. the timing chain was replaced. the floor board was not repaired. the approximate failure mileage was 95,000. ds
07/03/200981032
 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.
11/06/201160082
 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 engine, it was probably not a good idea to use a plastic part in it! i will be contacting nissan again soon. thank you.
07/03/200981032
 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.
11/06/201160082
 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 engine, it was probably not a good idea to use a plastic part in it! i will be contacting nissan again soon. thank you.
07/03/200981032
 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.
11/06/201160082
 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 engine, it was probably not a good idea to use a plastic part in it! i will be contacting nissan again soon. thank you.
01/01/2011100000
 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.
09/12/201085000
 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.
09/12/201085000
 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. kmj
09/12/201085000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. the contact stated that the vehicle would lunge forward and while driving slow the vehicle would hesitate to move, the rpms would go up to 3000 and the vehicle would jerk violently into the next gear. the engine warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel of the vehicle. 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. nw
03/07/2009100000
 Timing chain whine. altima, quest, maxima, and other nissan vehicles with the vq35de engine.
06/08/201160000
 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.
03/07/2009100000
 Timing chain whine. altima, quest, maxima, and other nissan vehicles with the vq35de engine.
06/08/201160000
 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.
03/07/2009100000
 Timing chain whine. altima, quest, maxima, and other nissan vehicles with the vq35de engine.
06/08/201160000
 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.
03/07/2009100000
 Timing chain whine. altima, quest, maxima, and other nissan vehicles with the vq35de engine.
06/08/201160000
 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.
08/01/201087000
 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.
06/23/2011136000
 Tl. the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. the contact stated while driving 15 mph the will stalls and loses power. the contact stated the vehicle could cause a crash while driving in heavy traffic. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and the dealer stated the transmission and the motor mounts are faulty and needs to be replaced. the contact has not had the transmission or the motors mounts replaced. the contact notice numerous complaints regarding the faulty transmissions. the failure mileage was 136,000. jo
03/12/201188000
 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
01/13/2011
 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 keep throwing thousand of dollars on a car that i have always serviced properly & until i hot the 100k mileage mark never had a problem with. this car is dangerous to drive due to the severe jerking while changing gears, stalling out, etc. please look into asap. thanks
03/13/201184170
 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 jerking continues. the local transmission shop said that i would have to replace the transmission for around $3,500 in order to alleviate the jerking and transmission slip issue. i bought a nissan because they are supposed to be dependable long lasting cars. i would hope that it would last over at least 100,000 miles before any sort of problems would even occur.
12/24/201090000
 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 occuring 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 to allow customers the security of not messing with them for way more than 100k miles, or 60k miles rather! i am so lucky mine has even lasted this long and nissan refuses customers regularly who ask for assistance. nissan needs to be held accountable for this repair since they know about the issue, released a technical service bulletin (ntb07-042c) highlighting the issue, and notify their technicians of the faulty secondary timing chain design.
11/20/201047600
 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.
12/24/201090000
 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 occuring 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 to allow customers the security of not messing with them for way more than 100k miles, or 60k miles rather! i am so lucky mine has even lasted this long and nissan refuses customers regularly who ask for assistance. nissan needs to be held accountable for this repair since they know about the issue, released a technical service bulletin (ntb07-042c) highlighting the issue, and notify their technicians of the faulty secondary timing chain design.
11/20/201047600
 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.
09/01/200642000
 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?
04/13/2007600001
 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
12/10/200575
 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.
09/01/20091150001
 '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 explanation of the noise when engine was cold and then goes away after warm up, the service advisor interrupted me and said, it's the timing chain guide. he barely let me finish the story before he knew exactly what it was. he said that was because he (his service center) has done this repair on 04 maxima's so many times it's ridiculous. he also stated that it has been recognized by nissan as a common problem with the 04 model engines but yet will not cover the repairs. nissan boasts that the timing chains in these engines are maintenance free or at least worth 300k+ miles (since by that time most owners would have got 15 years+ out of the car), but yet the parts to hold the chain on break down way before that. the labor to repair the surrounding parts is the same to replace the chain since the tech has to reach to the same spot of the engine for repairs. i was originally quoted $1500.+ for the repairs but was able to strike a small discount and paid $1133.55 for 2 tensioner chains, chain guide, tensioner assembly, and some other seals & gaskets. labor alone was $787.50. which was discounted from $1100.+. outrageous. *tr
09/01/200860000
 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.
11/19/20081
 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
04/17/20091
 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
02/28/20091
 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
09/27/2008575251
 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
06/11/2008546881
 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
10/02/200862000105/01/2006
 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
09/16/200883000
 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.
07/01/20071
 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
01/01/2008750001
 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
06/23/200862000
 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.
07/25/200798000103/20/2004
 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
11/01/200780000109/01/2004
 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
08/15/2005420001107/09/2004
 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 another fire. the technician said the ground wire from the battery was shorting out against the body of the engine and transmission. the wire that was replace 9 months ago was replaced again two weeks ago for corroding completely through and making contact with the engine again. *jb
12/14/200410522106/01/2004
 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 dealership might find the problem. 31'431 mi.- i still hear the grinding noise,the cover under engine was loose, my air conditioner was not cold enough, and the center console was loose.=this time the dealership said it was the heat shield for the grinding noise, they fixed the loose cover under engine,fixed center console, and replaced low pressure hose in the a/c. 31'813 mi.- car still making the grinding noise, i hear knocking noises from the back of the car when i reverse, and the a/t light stays on longer than normal,then turnes off.= dealer replaced front exaust pipe, said the knocking noise i hear in the back of the car, is from the aftermarket air cleaner.(that is in the front of car).when i picked up my car from the dealership, i felt like this time my car was going to be fixed.i got in my headed for home.i heard the same noise i have been complaining about since 15,358 mi.i turned around brought right back in to service.=they replaced the rear manifold and cat converter.i picked up my car but i still hear the noise my car makes and it is louder when turning. *jb
04/01/200540000103/01/2004
 Dt: while the car shuts down/loses power. consumer is getting ready to make a turn, and during the turn, car loses power.*ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
04/01/20051
 2004 maxima has had timing chain noise for years has been blowing oil for 2 years now transmission is banging and shifting very hard losing power etc. for 3 months now had trans flushed did not help at all tires were defective in the first year a/c has not worked for 2 years this car is very much a lemon. *tr
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
08/25/20042
 While driving at highway speed steering wheel shook. dealership inspected vehicle twice. first time they tightened the suspension system. the second time dealership replaced the front rotors, but the problem recurred. also, radiator failed. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
06/01/201060000
 Tl - the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. the contact stated that the vehicle jerk violently when speed reaches 2-3 rpms. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to diagnosed the failure. the manufacturer was contacted who did not offered any assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 60,000 and the current mileage was 69,900. pm
01/20/201017000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. while attempting to accelerate after a stop the contact noticed that the vehicle will began to jerk forward and vibrate. the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the contact was informed that the control solenoid and valve body needed to be replaced. there were no prior warnings and the vehicle has not been repaired. the failure mileages were 17000 and the current mileage was 82000. bml
09/01/2009630001
 My 2004 nissan maxima with 64000 miles, has started shifting hard in 1st, and 2nd gears, with these transmissions your not suppose to feel the gears changing at all. also there is a ticking coming from the timing belt which i am told is normal....doesn't sound normal to me! *tr
10/27/200748701
 Tl*the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. when he started the vehicle there was a loud noise in the engine for approximately 3 minutes. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and remained there overnight so that the dealer could duplicate the failure; however, they stated that they couldn't duplicate the noise. the failure has occurred since the vehicle was purchased on 10/27/07. the mileage at the time the vehicle was purchased was 48,701 and he is the second owner. the manufacturer stated that a representative would call him regarding the failure. the current mileage was 4,000.
10/07/20091320001
 2004 nissan maxima: october 7, 2009 the check engine light came on, several miles later as we entered our drive way the car started to shut down. i notice some jerking and metal rattling noise as i slow down. after stopping the car would not go forward. at this time the car would only go in reverse, but once i turn the engine off i could not start the car again. the dealership were i purchase the car has done all the services, and yes they did flush the transmission. type of transmission fluid is not know. *tr
04/01/20051
 2004 maxima has had timing chain noise for years has been blowing oil for 2 years now transmission is banging and shifting very hard losing power etc. for 3 months now had trans flushed did not help at all tires were defective in the first year a/c has not worked for 2 years this car is very much a lemon. *tr
07/12/2009550001
 I recently brought a user maxima 2004 se 3 weeks back. when i first drove it with 55,500miles on it. it is having this problem from day one but i did not observer clearly but these days i can feel the jerking affect. when i start driving the car it jerks from 1st to 2nd and sometime into 3rd. while accelerating from stop the rpm shows a high value (3k) but the car wont move accordingly. all of a sudden it picks and shifts two 2nd gear and start moving. this happens all the time when i accelerate from 0mph. i have not yet replaced due to the fact that almost all the 04 maxima's are having this issue. hope someday nissan will recall these faulty transmission systems. *tr
10/10/2008800001
 I purchased a 2004 nissan maxima in 2006.the first year my tires were on recall.that same year my car had a rattling noise when you start the car. one day driving on the city street with my kids the car completely shut down. the engine light was on. a few months later the car was not driving past 20 mph. i had the car towed to the dealer who said it was a cam crank sensor. that cost me 441.46 cents. the car was now driving on 4th and 5th gear.that was on 10/10/o8.this past year on 1/22/09 the dealer called me to say that nissan recalled the rear suspension membrane. i towed the vehicle to get fixed i was then told my transmission was gone. nissan did not want to pay for this bill. i paid 3,000 to replace the trasmission. my car is still rattling. *tr
11/01/2008900001
 Terrible transmission issues with my 2004 nissan maxima. *tr
12/20/20081030001
 I have a 2004 nissan maxima se with 103,000 miles. i am having transmission problems and after reading several forums on the internet, it seems as though i am not the only one with this problem. nissan is not willing to rectify the situation - i can not afford to buy a new transmission, the car is still practically new! this is something that nissan needs to do and issue a recall on all 2004 nissan maxima's - with the way the economy is going right now, this is an additional expense. http://www.carsurvey.org/viewmorecomments_review_61092_4.html. *tr
08/19/2008635001
 My car was having shifting issues with the transmission. the car shut off while i was driving and when i restarted it, it stayed in 5th gear. i took the car to the local dealership where they did something and resolved the problem but didn't inform me what it was. i then had the same issue about 3 months later i took the car to the same dealership they said they test drove my car but the mileage was only 1 mile different from when i dropped it off. so i know that was a lie. i was told they were unable to duplicate the problem. my vehicle was under warranty. i pleaded with the service manager telling him that i drive the car everyday and i have the problems all the time. he game me a smart ass answer like when it does it again stop by and pick me up and show me what it is doing. now 4 months later my warranty is over and my transmission is shot. they are now saying they are going to do nothing to help me out with this issue. i have to pay $3600 to fix the problem. *tr
11/16/200633000703/03/2004
 Tl*the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. while driving the contact heard a buzzing sound which alerted him that the motor mounts were failing. the dealer stated that the engine motor mounts were torn , and the front and rear mounts on the cross member were replaced. approximately one month later the contact heard the buzzing sound and felt the engine shifted. the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. approximately three months later the vehicle was taken to the dealer again. the dealer replaced the front and rear motor mounts. the contact continued to hear the buzzing sound. the dealer advised the contact to replace the transmission fluid, and the right front strut. however, the repair did not solve the failure. the dealer informed the contact that the ecm computer should be replaced. the buzzing sound continued and the manufacturer stated that they would have their technician inspect the vehicle. presently, the technician has not inspected the vehicle. the current and failure mileages were 33,000.*ak update 5/3/07*tr
07/12/20043992104/12/2004
 Problem 1 of 5: purchased 2004 maxima brand new on 4/12/04. end of june, 2004, noticed temperature gauge pinned at hot. also, sometimes when i reverse, my trunk pops open. called nissan to bring car in. was not given appointment until 7/12/04. of course, the wonderful mechanics at nissan huntington could not experience the same problem and said my car was operating property at that time. gave me my car back and was told the next time my car is pinned at hot, bring it right in. then, a few weeks later, the thermostat was pinned at hot again. when i called nissan the woman who answers the phone for service would not let me bring my car in despite what the mechanic told me a few weeks back. she would not give me an appointment until the following week. i told her that this could be a major engine problem and what if my car engine fails. she did not care. so i drove the car in anyway, and had to cut the line at the service dept and grab a mechanic so they can see for themselves that the thermostat was indeed pinned at hot and i am not crazy. this was on 8/11/04, my car is just about 4 months old now. the dealership finally determined faulty temperature gauge and placed gauge. i only had 3,992 miles on this car. the dealership did give me a rent a car because i made a big stink about my car being broken and i would be out of a car for 4 days. *nm
05/15/20061
 This is problem #1: (i had so far 4/5 major problems) purchased 2004 nissan maxima brand new. within 2 months of driving this car, the thermostat kept registering at h, pinned at h. when i took it to the dealership in huntington, ny, they could not find the problem. was told, when it pinns at hot again, bring the car in. well, when i driving to work and the thermostat was pinned at hot again, i called the dealership to tell them and the receptionist said i could not bring my car in, it was not an emergency. i informed her that i don't know what type of problem this can be and what if my engine ceases? she said there was nothing i can do, and i can come in next week. i drove there anyway, and had to grab a mechanic to see that my car thermostat was indeed pinned at hot. it turned out to be a electrical problem and they had to replace the entire thermostat, and dash board. also, while all my problems were going on, my trunk pops open when i reverse every now and then. of course, the wonderful mechanics at the service dept in huntington could not duplicate the problem.. what a surprise?? *nm
06/25/2006109000105/15/2003
 Dt*: the contact stated that while driving 72 mph, a piston in the engine fractured causing oil to leak out of the vehicle. the instrument panel failed to provide a warning that the oil was low, and that the vehicle was overheating. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer, where the dealer was unable to repair the problem.
08/22/2005108/29/2004
 When accelerating, there's a rattling sound/noise coming from around the engine area. *nm
01/30/20049800103/12/2003
 The car started up and was running fine. my wife went back into the house to get our daughter and found the car had stalled. the car has not started since. i am concerned about this situation, because of the fact that the car justed stalled for no apparent reason. i hate to think what could have happened if my wife was driving the car. in addition, according to several post on edmunds.com this is happening to other consumers. i have had other problems with this car since i purchased it 3-12-03. it has been back to the dealership several times for the following reasons: service engine lights coming on, leaking sunroof, cd not working, a fog/condensation behind center console screen, and interior molding coming loose. i have called nissan usa and spoke to matt at 310-771-8454 ext 8454. if you can help with this please contact me at 410-239-0119. thank you for your time and efforts. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
09/16/200325500110/24/2002
 The engine stalled after sputtering briefly while in park.*ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
06/13/2006600001
 Good morning, i currently own 2004 maxima & have been experiencing major problems with this car for about 2-3 years. my major problem at first was my transmission. apparently the dealership states i will need a new transmission which is absurd since the car is not even 10 yrs old. i knew there was a problem when the car started jerking on its own. at times it jerks real hard when shifting from 1st to 2nd and it is quite scary & embarrassing. when the problem started, i have two friends who were owners of a nissan maxima as well and they were experiencing the same jerking transmission problems. they eventually traded their cars but i not wanted to go through the whole process of financing a car, i figured i'll fix the problem. the transmission is one problem but why every couple of months there is other problems as well. for example i last year i had to change my catalytic converter, my mounts, and my routers. now what has made me at my ends with this car is what happened last month (june 2009). while driving, there was a loud sound, i opened the hood of the car and right buy the engine, and there were flames. the fire dept was called along with the police. as i submit my complaint now my car is still at the shop. this has become a frustrated and very expensive issue that i have been facing. honestly i have spent about 5k's or more on this car, not considering that i'm still financing as well. how is it that, i have done my research and there are many others out there who have the same issue. nissan needs to take full responsibility and it is not a coincidence also. i have documents and emails from others who are also experiencing the same issue (over 300 complaints since 2006). pls if anything, there needs to be an investigation, many ppl are suffering and losing $ as well. *tr
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
03/01/200729000307/01/2006
 Tl*the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. when the vehicle was started, the clutch would not shift into any of the gears. the dealer repaired the master cylinder and the clutch system twice, yet, the failure continued. another dealer stated that the transmission was failing. the vehicle has not been repaired and is currently parked. the failure mileage was 29,000 and current mileage was 83,000. updated 06/17/08. *lj the consumer stated the fule pump and map sensor was replaced. updated
01/30/20049800103/12/2003
 The car started up and was running fine. my wife went back into the house to get our daughter and found the car had stalled. the car has not started since. i am concerned about this situation, because of the fact that the car justed stalled for no apparent reason. i hate to think what could have happened if my wife was driving the car. in addition, according to several post on edmunds.com this is happening to other consumers. i have had other problems with this car since i purchased it 3-12-03. it has been back to the dealership several times for the following reasons: service engine lights coming on, leaking sunroof, cd not working, a fog/condensation behind center console screen, and interior molding coming loose. i have called nissan usa and spoke to matt at 310-771-8454 ext 8454. if you can help with this please contact me at 410-239-0119. thank you for your time and efforts. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
02/28/200884000502/15/2007
 Tl*the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. while attempting to accelerate from a traffic light, the vehicle would not move. the contact had to shut off the vehicle and wait a few minutes to restart it before it would drive normally again. the failure occurred several times at various speeds. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the catalytic converter and transmission were failing. the current and failure mileages were 84,000.
09/18/200656000702/03/2004
 I have had numerous problems with my 2004 nissan maxima. i have had to replace tires, have had the vehicle in the shop for the check engine light coming numerous times; have paid to have the battery replaced because the car suddenly stalled; have had the catalytic converter replaced because of one of the check engine light trips to the dealer. most recently, i replaced the front and back brakes due to what i thought was normal wear and tear. a month later, the abs brake system fails, and i am told that is not under warranty, and the charge will be $1,645. the car is only two years old. i am at the dealer at least once, sometimes twice a month. i used to be the biggest cheerleader for nissan. i had a 1991 nissan maxima that i bought used with 173,000 miles on it. that car was on the road until it had more than 300,000. now i feel like i purchased a lemon. i bought a new car because i didn't want the headaches that come along with a used car. i took my car to the dealer on september 18th because something weird going on with the brakes. i had had the brakes changed about a month before that, i knew that they were in good condition. i received a call later that day telling me that my abs brake system was bad and needed to be replaced. and that i would need to cover the cost because the part was no longer under warranty. i contact nissan north america to lodge a complaint on september 19th to see if they would cover the cost for the abs system failing, because i don't think that i should have to cover a major repair like that on a 2 year old car. i was told that a regional specialist would call me back within 24 hours. 2 days passed without a return call. i called again on the 22, and again on the 25th with no response. l believe that nissan is aware of all of the manufacturing defects with the maxima and by not responding hope that consumers will go ahead and pay for the repairs over and over again because they are afraid to drive an unsafe car. *nm
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
12/14/200410522106/01/2004
 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 dealership might find the problem. 31'431 mi.- i still hear the grinding noise,the cover under engine was loose, my air conditioner was not cold enough, and the center console was loose.=this time the dealership said it was the heat shield for the grinding noise, they fixed the loose cover under engine,fixed center console, and replaced low pressure hose in the a/c. 31'813 mi.- car still making the grinding noise, i hear knocking noises from the back of the car when i reverse, and the a/t light stays on longer than normal,then turnes off.= dealer replaced front exaust pipe, said the knocking noise i hear in the back of the car, is from the aftermarket air cleaner.(that is in the front of car).when i picked up my car from the dealership, i felt like this time my car was going to be fixed.i got in my headed for home.i heard the same noise i have been complaining about since 15,358 mi.i turned around brought right back in to service.=they replaced the rear manifold and cat converter.i picked up my car but i still hear the noise my car makes and it is louder when turning. *jb