20th May 2009, 22:16

Hi, me too. The first time I thought someone random thing,I was climbing a steep hill and felt a hard bump from the back, I thought someone rear ended me, but no one was around. This went on every once in a while. It would never do it for the mechanic. Then at 62000 miles, 200 over my warranty, all heck broke loose. After a long freeway drive, if I hit stop and go traffic or if I am going up & down hills, it jerks into gear and bumps. I am in Southern Ca, when am I not in stop and go traffic or going up hill?

I called Nissan and of course they don't know a thing about it. I was going to get a new transmission, but from what you guys say it is not going to help. We need to file a class action suite. We really got ripped off.

31st May 2009, 23:31

I REPLACED my transmission on my 2004 Maxima in November due to the SAME problems I've read about the 1-2 gear and 2-1 gear slipping. Out $3600... Funny thing is the NEW TRANSMISSION is now doing the same thing with only 6000 miles on it. Replaced the old one at 77000 miles.

Does anyone know if Nissan is going to do anything about this. It's my 2nd Maxima and I really hate to give it up. At least the new trans is under warranty. But still... frustrated with the jerking around - literally!

7th Jun 2009, 16:51

We have a 2004 Maxima and are very disappointed. We have the same transmission problem everyone on this website has complained about. We first noticed March of 2008 at about 60K miles. Took it to dealer a month later. Two trips to dealer and over $1,000 later and we still had the same problem. Replaced motor mounts and struts from another mechanic and had other general transmission preventive maintenance done, another $1000, no help.

We decided to live with it rather then spend any more money. In March 09, checked for this problem on the Internet after my wife mentioned a particularly bad shift one day and found this is a widespread issue on the ’04 Maxima only. When we first went to dealer in April ’08, and 67K miles on the car, they said it was just us, and there was really no mention of the problem on the Internet. Fast forward to March 09 and I realized this was a problem with that model car only and other owners had the same problem.

When I called our local Nissan dealer in March, much to my surprise, the service rep described the problem in great detail. He explained the problem occurred when the car had been on the road for a while, the jerky shifting, and even explaining how it was especially bad turning up a slow grade and shifting from 1st to 2nd. I asked him how he new the problem so well, and he told me he owned a 2004 Maxima himself and had been experiencing the same problem.

I was relieved until I found out that the problem was the transmission, but unless you had an extended warranty, you would have to pay for a new transmission. He told me they had been replacing transmissions and it was fixing the problem that way, but it would be over $4,000 to replace the transmission. He recommended I speak to Nissan Consumer Affairs and see what they could do.

After a few phone calls and explaining the issue a number of times, Nissan Consumer Affairs stated they were not aware of this issue (Yea Right!). All they could recommend was to take the car to the dealer once more and see what they could do. Of course I would have to pay for the service fee. I balked and her recommendation and told I would only take the car to the dealer if I could be assured I would not have to pay for the visit. She of course said that was impossible and said they could not do anything unless we took the car to the dealer.

We, I just finished filling out rather scathing survey of the service from Nissan Consumer Affairs. I also expressed that I would not be purchasing another Nissan, though I had purchased 8 cars since 1983. My wife is upset, with reason, and we will not be purchasing another Nissan in the future. Too bad, since I love my Xterra, but I cannot reconcile how we are being treated. With the way the economy is going, this is not the way to keep valued customers. BMW or Mercedes for us next time.

8th Jun 2009, 05:47

I think I found the problem!!! Hopefully this can help everyone from getting ripped by Nissan.

About 7 months ago I had the same problem, car stuck on 5th gear, so I decided to not take it to Nissan and take it to a Hyundai dealership near Nissan. They called and said it was the crank shaft sensor and replaced it for a $130 fix. After that, no problems, now 2 weeks ago had the same problem, this time took the car to Nissan and they called back the next morning saying I had to get a 4k $ transmission cause it was fried. I told them that this happens before and it was the crank shaft sensor, but they said no it was the trans.. So I began looking for my own transmission and told them to give me a oil change and fix the crank shaft sensor. They call back 3 hours later to say the car is done and it's running perfectly and going into all gears :0 I was just like wow! Don't buy a trans.. Just try replacing the sensor, I think that's what Nissan screwed up on. Hope this helped, good luck.

9th Jun 2009, 00:42

This sucks! After reading all these comments, I feel like selling my Maxima as soon as possible. My car is at the dealer now because of the same shifting problems. Hopefully I'll have some good news.

I have also filled a complaint at http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Owners/

Transmission Recall Now!

lunegosk8@hotmail.com

27th Jun 2009, 11:11

I live in Toronto, Canada and having exact same problem with my 2004 Maxima. The problem started about 2 weeks ago and I got 150,000KM on mine.

Not sure what to do now, will probably get rid of it.

This is my first and last Nissan should've went with Acura instead.

29th Jun 2009, 13:51

I just replaced my tranny. $4500.00! I didn't go through the stealership though! Now 1st to 2nd and 2nd back to first isn't smooth as the other gears. Was taking it back to where I purchased my transmission to have it fixed. I will tell them about the crank shaft sensor. If I just deal with this do you think my tranny will get progressively worse and I'll be in the same boat again? I love my car and I take care of it. I have 129k miles on it and not one door ding! I was surprised when I needed another transmission! We're in a depression and I can't be going through this.