Power Train. Review the 934 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

33 crash reports16 fire reports22 injury reports

Power Train complaints

934 reports

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41,000 miles · Mar 20, 2009

Power Train

CAR WILL SHIFT HARD AND JERK FROM 1ST TO SECOND GEAR AND FROM 2ND TO 1ST WHEN DECELERATING. IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO STOP AND CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND FEAR FOR MY SAFETY AND MY KIDS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262604

86,000 miles · Mar 19, 2009

Power Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10262491

92,000 miles · Mar 19, 2009

Power Train

I HAVE A NISSAN MAXIMA 2004 AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND OR DOWNWARDS. I KNOW I M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. IM AT 101K MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOULDN'T BE DOING THIS AT THIS POINT. I UNDERSTAND THIS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. THEY CHARGE ME 4000 TO GET A REPLACEMENT AND I FEEL NISSAN SHOU…

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NHTSA ODI #10262441

98,000 miles · Mar 18, 2009

Power Train

I HAVE A NISSAN MAXIMA 2004 AND THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. I WAS READING ON THE INTERNET ABOUT SEVERAL OWNERS OF MY MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR MAXIMA THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. ACCELERATION WHEN COME TO A STOP AND TRANSMISSION SLIP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10262366

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2009

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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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

NHTSA ODI #10262243

58,000 miles · Mar 18, 2009

Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND HE WAS EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS OR MAKING TURNS, THE VEHICLE JERKS WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILIN…

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NHTSA ODI #10262233

105,000 miles · Mar 14, 2009

Power Train

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

NHTSA ODI #10261813

56,000 miles · Mar 14, 2009

Power Train

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I OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT HAS 107,000 MILES ON IT AND IT NEEDS A TRANSMISSION. ON MARCH 10, 2009, I WENT TO TWO AUTO REPAIR SHOPS AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO I WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY TRANSMISSION AND I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO GET THE PROBLEM TAKEN CARE OF AND THEY EXAMINED MY VEHICLE AND TOLD ME THE TRANS WAS OK AND THE PROBLEM I'M HAVING IS DUE TO TWO MOTOR MOUNTS THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $800.00 . THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSIONS IN THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA'S ON LINE. WHILE YOUR CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY NISSAN WILL FIND THINGS THAT ARE WRONG WITH THE CAR THAT ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY AND TELL YOU ITS NOT THE TRANSMISSION IT SOMETHING ELSE. ONCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THEN THEY WILL SAY THAT IT IS YOUR TRANSMISSION. THESE VEHICLES NEED TO BE RECALLED AND HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261797

70,000 miles · Mar 11, 2009

Power Train

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I OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR AND ALSO IN REVERSE SEQUENCE. I HAVE DONE TRANSMISSION FLUSHES AND THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. IT IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ON A FORUMS FOR NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS AND HAVE BEEN SEEING THOUSANDS OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. FOR EXAMPLE HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEWS/NISSAN/MAXIMA/R61092/COMMENTS/PAGE-5/. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261588

92,000 miles · Mar 10, 2009

Power TrainCrash

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1. BEGIN EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AROUND 65K MILES. HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICES. THE PROBLEM SUBSIDED FOR A SHORT PERIOD. HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AT 80K MILES. AT 90K THE CONDITIONED WORSENED; THE CAR JERKED WHEN SLOWING AND GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE - NISSAN COULD NOT PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK TO NISSAN AND THEY RECOMMENDED A NEW TRANSMISSION - COST 4K. 2. THE FAILURE HAS WORSENED. IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY - SOME DAYS THE CAR SLAMS INTO DRIVE OR WHEN SLOWING DOWN - THE INTENSITY IS CHANGES DAY TO DAY. THE FAILURE HAS CAUSED SOMEONE TO RUN INTO THE BACK OF MY VEHICLE. 3. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. TRANSMISSION SERVICES HAS BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE THE FAILURE AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ A NEW TRANSMISSION DOES NOT NECESSARILY CORRECT THE FAILURE - SOME OWNERS EXPERIENCE THE SAME SYMPTOMS WITH THE NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER X NUMBER OF MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10261437

Official recalls

05V512000 · Seats:front Assembly:power Adjust

Nov 7, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE DRIVER PREFERRED PACKAGE, THE WIRE HARNESS FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT POWER LUMBAR SUPPORT SWITCH MAY BE ROUTED INCORRECTLY AND COULD BE PINCHED UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A PINCHED HARNESS, IN COMBINATION WITH DRIVING VIBRATION, MAY RESULT IN A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE HARNESS THAT COULD LEAD TO A FIRE IN THE SEAT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRE HARNESS AND ROUTE IT CORRECTLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 16, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

04V326000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Jul 7, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SKYVIEW ROOFS, THE GLASS FOR THE ROOF MAY NOT HAVE BEEN QUENCHED PROPERLY AFTER THE FORMING PROCESS, RESULTING IN TEMPER IMBALANCE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL STRESS IN THE GLASS AND EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER, CREATING A RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE GLASS IN THE SKYVIEW ROOF. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE04035 · Glass Roof Shattering

Opened Apr 12, 2004 · Closed Jul 13, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON APRIL 12, 2004, BASED ON FIVE REPORTS INDICATING THAT THE SKYVIEW GLASS-PANELED ROOF, WHICH IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES, WOULD SUDDENLY SHATTER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE.FIVE INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO ODI, RESULTING IN CUTS TO THE HEAD, HANDS, ARMS, OR FACE.NISSAN DISCOVERED THAT THEIR SUPPLIER FOR THE SKYVIEW GLASS PANELED ROOF DID NOT PROPERLY QUENCH (COOL) THE GLASS AFTER IT WAS FORMED.THE RESULTING TEMPER IMBALANCE COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE INTERNAL STRESS IN THE GLASS AND CAN EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE GLASS TO SHATTER.NISSAN REPORTS THAT GLASS PRODUCED BEGINNING OCTOBER 23, 2003 WAS PROPERLY QUENCHED.NISSAN HAS INFORMED THE AGENCY THAT IT WILL RECALL 32,100 MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMAS BUILT FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION THRU DECEMBER 17, 2003.IT REPORTS THAT VEHICLES BUILT AFTER DECEMBER 17 ARE NOT AFFECTED.TO CORRECT THE CONDITION NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING SKYVIEW GLASS WITH NEW PROPERLY QUENCHED GLASS.NISSAN WILL BEGIN OWNER NOTIFICATION ON SEPTEMBER 7, 2004.ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY ONE COMPLAINT AND NISSAN REPORTS NO COMPLAINTS OF SKYVIEW GLASS PANELED ROOF BREAKAGE ON VEHICLES BUILT AFTER THE DECEMBER 17 DATE.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED, HOWEVER THE AGENCY WILL MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION AS APPROPRIATE.