Basiclly the same problems as you've heard about...we bought this car with 42,000 miles in 9/2007, its now 9/2011 @ 130,000 and the slipping and jerking is out of control. The jerking into reverse started about a year ago if not earlier, but it didn't seem too important until the jerking and shifting in and out of gear on the way to work has people almost rear-end me because I am unable to accelerate sometimes...

I had a quote to fix transmission from a reputeable mechanic of about $3800, but after reading all of these posts, I don't think I will waste my money on that...

I love this car, its too bad nothing more could be done by nissan to fix the problems...I don't know what more we will do, I'm going to talk to my husband about all this great information I just found...he drove it today and said I must trade it or get it fixed, because the jerking and slipping is so unbelievably annoying, not to mention dangerous...but I don't want to waste $4000...thanks everyone, will update you with the fix as soon as we figure it out!

2004 Nissan Maxima. Problems since I drove the car off the showroom. Could kick myself for not demanding another vehicle! Went thru the Nissan route and sent them all the service tickets etc. They basically said...."too bad."

There is a law firm that has filed a class action lawsuit again Nissan regarding the transmissions. The name of the firm is: CHIMICLES & TIKELLIS LLP

One Haverford Centre

361 West Lancaster Avenue

Haverford, PA 19041

610-645-4712 (Direct)

I have now become part of the class action lawsuit. Others should email the firm and join in. Nissan does not stand behind their product! This is my second and my last Nissan!

Okay, so I have had my maxima for 2 1/2 almost 3 yrs. It wasn't until I got up to about 115k or so that my transmission gave me problems. It started jerking, and having issues shifting from 2 or 3. As most other complaints, I noticed it the most when having to do repeated stopping and going. I would pull over sometimes and turn off my car to let my car cool down and then it would work ok. I am a parent and pregnant again so it worried me to have it do this so often. Finally one day, it stopped accelerating, after about 4 months after the initial slipping began. I pulled over, turned it off, and was able to somehow drive it home, but barely. The next day, I had it towed to a GREAT repair shop, however, I needed a total rebuild. It was cheaper than the dealer, but still came to $3,485.00 even, with a 1 yr warranty. I pray that the car may actually last me now. I love this car, its my baby and the first car I bought on my own, but if I have anymore problems, I'm trading it and will NEVER buy another Nissan vehicle again!

I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS MANY OTHER 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS. THE ISSUE HAS TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION FAILING AND THE DEALER CHARGING OVER $5,000.00 TO REPLACE IT. NISSAN KNOWS THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE DEFECTIVE AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERING THE HUGE RISK FACTOR FOR PEOPLE DRIVING THESE CARS OF HAVING AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE MALFUNCTIONING OF THE TRANSMISSIONS. THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT OR UPSHIFT PROPERLY IN MANY INSTANCES LIKE STOPPING IN A TRAFFIC LIGHT, GOING UPHILL OR EVEN JUST CRUISING. THE CONCERN IS THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND THE UNNECESSARY EXPOSURE TO AN ACCIDENT. THANK YOU

I bought my Nissan Maxima back in February. About a month after buying, the transmission started jerking. Every time the car switched gears it would jerk. Now it's October. I've put over $5,000 on that car. it needed it new O2 sensors, so that was about $900. Then another time the car stopped in the middle of the road when I was driving it. Nissan told me they didn't know why the car wouldn't start but it MIGHT need a new computer. I got them to install a new computer for 1,500$ but guess what, the car still didn't start!! so then they told me they would have to rewire the car for another $2,000. I said no thank you and took the car to another guy who fixed for $980. It starts and runs now. But it still needs a new transmission. There are times when the car drives smooth and then BOOM it'll just jerk and pull really hard. I've almost gotten so used to it that i know the exact moment that it will start to jerk. Nissan sucks but i still love my car. I'm going to try and get the new transmission and hopefully that'll be it.

I PURCHASED MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA IN 07/2004 BRAND NEW AND WITHIN 6 MONTHS THE TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THANK GOD IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. TWO YEARS AGO I HAD THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED BECAUSE OF JERKING AND NOW 07/2011 THE JERKING HAS BEGUN AGAIN...... I WENT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP HE RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND SAID IT'S NOT MY TRANSMISSION. THEN I WENT TO ANOTHER CREDIBLE AUTO SHOP AND THEY SAID I HAVE (2) BROKEN MOTOR MOUNTS WHICH NEED TO BE REPLACED, $600 WITH PARTS / LABOR COMBINED.

EVERYDAY I DRIVE TO WORK I FEEL SO UNSAFE.... MOSTLY ON THE WAY HOME AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR, GOING UP THE 60 FWY EASTBOUND BEFORE REACHING THE I-215 HWY, I FEEL THE JERKING AND SHIFTING OF GEARS IF IM GOING UP THE ON-RAMP, HOW EMBARRASSING. I SOMETIMES PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND LET OTHER CARS GO BY ME. I'M A SINGLE MOM RAISING 2 DAUGHTERS, ONE TO GRADUATE THIS YEAR AND I DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. WE NEED TO BAND TOGETHER NISSAN OWNERS AND COMPLAIN TO RECALL THIS VEHICLES AND IT'S ONGOING PROBLEMS. I'M GLAD I'M NOT CRAZY AND NOT ALONE, BUT CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHERE TO GO FIX IT FOR LESS? I'M AFRAID OF SHADY MECHANICS. A FRIEND SAID HE CAN GET THE MOTOR MOUNTS FOR $85-FRONT/$110 FOR TRANSMISSION MOTOR MOUNT-FRONT LEFT. BUT SOME TESTIMONIES SAY THEY GOT THE MOUNTS FIXED, BUT STILL HAD THE JERKING! IM NOW TERRIFIED AT WASTING MY MONEY....I WOULD TRADE IT IN, BUT WE DON'T GET MUCH, SAD TO SAY...... ANY ADVICE FOR ME? APPRECIATED

Might as well add one more name to the long list of 04 Maxmia owners with transmission problems. I bought this car because of the "quality" product Nissan was known for. A great award winning V6 with a crap transmission. I have the same hard shifting along with a great quality THUNK when put in reverse. I had been told this car would last forever and known people with older models still driving them with no problems. Here I have a car barely with 50,000 miles and I am told I need a new transmission.

I should have stuck with GM or Ford everyone I had I sold had over 150,000 miles. I wish now more than ever that deer would not have totaled my Buick or would not have seen that great looking Maxmia. I would not even complain if Nissan would HONOR (aren't the Japanese known for that?) the problem and replace it. Nissan stand behind your product and maybe get some loyal customers! I may try Toyota or Honda next maybe they are honorable.

Like many others my transmission jerks while shifting gears. Searched in the Forums especially for Maxima ( Maxima.org ) and Carcomplaints.com and NHTSA.com and found out that many others are experiencing the same problem at this mileage ( Mine is 87000 ). I have all the service records and Transmission Fluid has been changed regularly. ECM and TCM was upgraded couple of months back. Nissan should do something about it, this is a fault at the transmission design. So many customer complaints can not be wrong.

I purchased my 2004 Nissan Maxima at Lexus of Rockville Center in 2007. It had 24K miles on it or so, and it seemed to be a very good buy at the time. Fast forwarding, at around 75k miles or so, I started getting issues with the car, there is jerking and hesitating when the car is shifting. Asking mechanics that I know, they are advising that I get a new transmission. However, after researching a little further, there is insight that is suggesting other wise.

I even had a certified Nissan Dealer diagnose it recently to see what they would say. $100 later, I was advised that the transmission needs to be replaced, and the oil is burnt. This is after having the transmission serviced (oil change, etc).

It is safe to say that this is the worst experience that I ever had with a car. American cars have been ridiculed in the past, but I never had a transmission problem with an American car. In fact, I had a 1981 Chrysler Cordobra and a 1987 Chrysler New Yorker, and they ran very well in to the 90 and 100K mile range. I will definitely advise that people refrain from buying a Nissan product until this problem is resolved. There is no reason why people should be making car payments and having their car running like this. Totally rediculous.

Hi everyone, The Nissan Max was my dream car for years but my dream became a nightmare. This is my first post on this message board and I wish I had known about it sooner. really haven't had or experienced any issues with my vehicle and maintain it well from the dealership. however, recently I had an issue with my Max where it started to jerk in and out of gear - the check engine light would turn on and off while at a stop sign or light. It felt really shifty when I would accelerate.

So the same day it was acting funny I called and brought it to the dealership. they said they would run some diagnostics/testing and find out what is causing the problem.

they then called a few hours later to tell me that the transmission is in need of a partial rebuild-specifically the replacement is the valve body of the transmission and its going to cost approx. $2,200 to fix.

so they know this and have a good history on everything with the vehicle. I was putting in a claim at the consumer affairs office because they were initially declining the goodwill; I know have them paying for about 1,500 of the repair work.

My question to everyone is that do you know or have you experienced issues with the transmission failing? at 67K and for a well-maintained vehicle, this doesn't sound right to me at all? not sure why this happened, but I felt nissan should have taken care of this 100%-even the service person at the dealership told me that this is out of the norm for this to happen and he seemed to side with me.

any comments?

thanks everyone.

Loved my Maxima until the transmission problems occurred. Started whenever the car was hot, shift from Reverse to drive, hesitation then a heavy slam as the transmission kicked in. Read about all the complaints online (some sites had over 400 complaints). Took it to a dealer who said he could count on One Hand the number of transmission problems that had come through and not to believe what I read. He also tried to tell me that Nissan didn't sell the parts to fix it and to go to a Transmission specialist!!

Contacted Nissan Canada and they made it very difficult to lodge a complaint and didn't have answers. After escalating it through Marketing person at Nissan I had an apology and was told they would try to see if they could take care of the problem. After that I had to follow up (instead of the promised phone call) and was told I was out warranty and out of luck.

My mechanic changed out the valve body assembly 2 weeks ago and it has been running great ever since then.

Not impressed with Nissan as this is clearly a recall item.

I am so surprised to see all the complaints against Nissan. I thought I was alone I have been taken my damn car back and forth to all mechanics to see if I could get the problem resolved and I have spent money out of the ass. At first I had the transmission filter change with all the fixings. The car still jerked, then I was told I need motor monunts I had them put on the front and the back so they say. And it continued to happen, overall I have spent at least 2,000 or more on this damn car. I cant believe there is no solution to this problem one damn thing for sure I will not ever purchase another Nissan as long as I live. I have not had the car check over a year and it still does the jerking thing. I am refuse to put any more money in this vechicle. After completely paying for the damn car this is what the hell happens. I am sick to my stomach after reading all the complants.

ok back to the transmission place thinking its my transmission. car still jerking and not wanting to get past 20 mph. service engine light on. ok they tell me cam sensor. got that fixed. now the car still jerks, cuts off if you don't give it gas, and engine light still on...

Update from Jan 1, 2012: thought my transmission was slipping. dealt with it for awhile until it became evident that something need it to be fixed. because at first the jerking didnt happen often. took it to the shop and was told it was nothing with the transmission. was told to take it to nissan were they told me it was my motor mounts. got that fixed and continued to have the same problem. the car never jerked when i drove the 25 miles back to the nissan place so they could recheck it.