10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
50,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (1 reports)
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problem #1

Jun 122013

Maxima V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 50,000 miles

click to see larger images

surges forward when not in drive

Car was being moved backward. As soon as the shifter was moved to reverse, the car SUDDENLY shot FORWARD at a high rate of speed running over a HUGE flower pot, closed fence, car, second fence, large shrub, and ending in a brick house.

Pat Reynolds, of Nissan, stated since the person moving the car is a senior citizen, she apparently did not realize she had put the car into drive, did not realize she fully depressed the gas pedal, did not realize she smashed and ran over a large flower pot, did not realize she crashed thru a locked fence, did not realize she hit the rear end of a car with such force it pushed it out of the way, did not realize she crashed thru a second fence, did not realize she ran over a large shrub, and did not realize she smashed into a brick house.

When this site was mentioned, Pat Reynolds stated that it was driver's error as Nissan is the only manufacturer that uses a computer that never fails and irresponsible drivers did not want to admit they were at fault.

An inspection was requested and Pat Reynolds stated a team would come out and thoroughly inspect the vehicle to find the cause of the problem (if any). She stated it could be weeks or months before the team could do the inspection. She was told the car was in a junk yard, with fees incurring daily and asked if Nissan would pay any fees -- she avoided answering each time the question was asked.

Approximately two months later, the owner of the junk yard asked about payment of the fees and I stated I was still waiting to hear when Nissan would inspect the vehicle. He then stated one Nissan rep came out about 6 weeks prior. When I asked about the "in-depth accident inspection", he stated the only thing the Nissan rep did was connect to the car's computer and then input information. Apparently it took almost an hour for this inspector to "download" the information (or maybe it was the modification of the download that was time consuming??). He said the rep never looked at anything else. Upon receipt of the report from Nissan, they stated upon inspection, the brakes were found to be working.

HA HA HA There was ZERO complaint about the brakes -- in fact, today the concrete still shows how the brakes/tires peeled off the TOP LAYER!! Not only that but how can brakes be inspected without going under the vehicle? X-Ray vison?

Japan should be ashamed of the dishonor brought upon them by the employees here in the US. USA Nissan disgraces all that should be good and trusted in a company.

Update from Jan 14, 2016: NOTE: Josh O. states, "Ill have to agree with Pat Reynolds, its driver error. even if the car flips to drive you can press the brakes, use the emergency brakes, or turn the car off. If none of that goes through your mind as an option you shouldn't be driving."

Thanks for bringing this up as I had neglected to state that the car was NEVER placed into drive. It was still in NEUTRAL and the parking brakes were still applied. Complaint should have read shifted was moved toward reverse. Driver always put the car into gear before releasing the brakes.

- q.m., Spring Lake, NC, US