NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
948 reports68,000 miles · Dec 1, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
NHTSA ODI #10437929
12,500 miles · Nov 30, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I LIKE MANY OTHERS AM HAVING THE EXACT TRANSMISSION "SLIPPING, JERKING" PROBLEMS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THE RPM'S JUST JUMP RIGHT UP UNDER ACCELERATION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS THEN CATCHES CAUSING A JERKING, LURCHING FORWARD ACTION. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY COMING ON TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY. BECAUSE OF THIS I WILL NOT LET M…
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I LIKE MANY OTHERS AM HAVING THE EXACT TRANSMISSION "SLIPPING, JERKING" PROBLEMS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THE RPM'S JUST JUMP RIGHT UP UNDER ACCELERATION, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS THEN CATCHES CAUSING A JERKING, LURCHING FORWARD ACTION. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY COMING ON TO A MAJOR HIGHWAY. BECAUSE OF THIS I WILL NOT LET MY WIFE AND CHILDREN DRIVE IN THE CAR. WE CANNOT AFFORD THE QUOTED $3500 TO $4000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. NOR DO WE FEEL AS IF WE SHOULD HAVE TO. WE HAVE OWNED THIS CAR SINCE NEW. IT HAS BEEN VERY RELIABLE BUT THIS IS ABSURD. NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THIS MODEL YEAR AND REPLACE WITH CORRECTED TRANSMISSION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. OR IS THAT WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO GET THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10437806
58,000 miles · Nov 25, 2011
Power Train
AT 57,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD (JERKS) AND ERRATICALLY (CANNOT PREDICT) WHEN UP SHIFTING AND DOWN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 3RD GEARS. VERY NERVE-RACKING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WHENEVER IN SLOW MOVING OR STOP-N-GO TRAFFIC. HAD TO MAINTAIN VERY LARGE GAP (WIDER THAN NORMAL) WITH VEHICLES IN FRONT TO AV…
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AT 57,000 MILES, TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING EXTREMELY HARD (JERKS) AND ERRATICALLY (CANNOT PREDICT) WHEN UP SHIFTING AND DOWN SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 3RD GEARS. VERY NERVE-RACKING TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE WHENEVER IN SLOW MOVING OR STOP-N-GO TRAFFIC. HAD TO MAINTAIN VERY LARGE GAP (WIDER THAN NORMAL) WITH VEHICLES IN FRONT TO AVOID COLLISIONS. PAID NISSAN DEALERSHIP $3,300 FOR REPAIR. NISSAN DOES NOT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION, IT IS SIMPLY REPLACED WITH A "''NISSAN FACTORY CERTIFIED RECONDITIONED" TRANSMISSION, THAT ONLY COMES WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY. NOT MUCH OF A WARRANTY FOR A "''CERTIFIED RECONDITIONED" TRANSMISSION COSTING $3,300! POWERTRAIN HAD A 5 YEAR/60,000 MILE WARRANTY, TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 57,000 MILES, BUT VEHICLE WAS OVER 5 YEARS OLD. THE FACT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE TO ORDER THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION(HAD IT IN STOCK), TELLS ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE AND REPAIR! THE COMPONENT THAT FAILS ON THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES IS THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. COUNTLESS BLOGS ON INTERNET ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE. SINCE 2006, THE NISSAN MAXIMA HAVE CVT (NO SHIFT) TRANSMISSION. THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO TWO OUT OF THE THREE MOTOR MOUNTS, WHICH WILL COST ANOTHER $800-$1,000 WHEN REPAIRED. CONTACTED THE NORTH AMERICAN NISSAN MOTOR CORPORATION, CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION IN FRANKLIN TENNESSEE HOPING THEY WOULD MEET ME "''SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE" TO COVER PART OF THE REPAIR EXPENSE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING OR HELP ME OUT. EVERYONE FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE KNOWS THE NISSAN MOTOR CORPORATION HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE INFERIOR TRANSMISSIONS, BUT YET, FAILED TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE CONSUMER BY WAY OF A "''FACTORY RECALL." I HAVE BEEN A LONG-TIME NISSAN CAR OWNER, GOING BACK TO THE DATSUN YEARS, AND I CAN TELL YOU THIS, THIS WILL BE THE LAST NISSAN I WILL EVER OWN! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10437227
100,300 miles · Nov 22, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER MECHANIC THAT I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TIMING CHAIN TIGHTENER. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE SOUND IT WAS MAKING WOULD WORSEN WITH TIME, AND THAT I SHOULD GET IT REPLACED BEFORE IT FAILS COMPLETELY. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE FEELS A RECALL SHOULD HAVE …
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I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER MECHANIC THAT I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TIMING CHAIN TIGHTENER. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST DIAGNOSED MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE SOUND IT WAS MAKING WOULD WORSEN WITH TIME, AND THAT I SHOULD GET IT REPLACED BEFORE IT FAILS COMPLETELY. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME HE FEELS A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED ON THIS PART, BUT SO FAR NO SUCH RECALL HAS BEEN MADE. THE INTERNET IS RIFE WITH SIMILAR STORIES, AND THE GENTLEMAN IN LINE IN FRONT OF ME HAD THE SAME DIAGNOSIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10436718
110,000 miles · Nov 17, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE GEAR SLIPPED AS THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED BEFORE SUDDENLY ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BUT THE GEAR SLIPPED AS THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED BEFORE SUDDENLY ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO JERK FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 02/01/12*LJ UPDATED 02/08/12
NHTSA ODI #10436255
Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2011
Power Train
SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN PUT IN D OR R THEN HARD JERK AND CLUNKING SOUND WHEN GOES INTO GEAR. HAS A HARD JERKING WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND DOWN SHIFTING. WILL SLIP IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. RPM'S WILL REV UP TO 6000-7000 BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THIS MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP. BUT GOES IN AND OUT OF GE…
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SLIGHT HESITATION WHEN PUT IN D OR R THEN HARD JERK AND CLUNKING SOUND WHEN GOES INTO GEAR. HAS A HARD JERKING WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND DOWN SHIFTING. WILL SLIP IN AND OUT OF GEAR WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD. RPM'S WILL REV UP TO 6000-7000 BEFORE SHIFTING INTO GEAR. THIS MAINLY HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS WARMED UP. BUT GOES IN AND OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 20-40 MPH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10436253
91,000 miles · Nov 17, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE WOULD BECOME MORE SEVERE WHEN THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK ABNORMALLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. THE FAILURE WOULD BECOME MORE SEVERE WHEN THE ENGINE HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR A PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10436250
49,000 miles · Nov 17, 2011
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 49000 MILES ON A NEW PREOWNED VEHICLE PURCHASED ONE MONTH EARLIER. DROVE THE CAR FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR TO THE DATE, AND NOW EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AGAIN. DEALER SUGGEST NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS WILL MAKE THREE TRANSMISSIONS FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 75000 MILES.....NOT TO MENTION TWO CRACKED ENGINE MOUNT…
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TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 49000 MILES ON A NEW PREOWNED VEHICLE PURCHASED ONE MONTH EARLIER. DROVE THE CAR FOR ALMOST ONE YEAR TO THE DATE, AND NOW EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AGAIN. DEALER SUGGEST NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS WILL MAKE THREE TRANSMISSIONS FOR A CAR WITH ONLY 75000 MILES.....NOT TO MENTION TWO CRACKED ENGINE MOUNTS, FRONT SUSPENSION WORK AND NEEDS A NEW TIMING BELT ALL WITHIN 1 YEAR OF OWNING. THIS IS SUPPOSE TO BE A PRE-CERTIFIED CAR!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10436225
76,000 miles · Nov 15, 2011
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWNSHIFT AT LOW SPEEDS AND HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWNSHIFT AT LOW SPEEDS AND HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
NHTSA ODI #10435684
6,500 miles · Nov 14, 2011
Power Train
TRANSMISSION WILL JERK OUT OF GEAR FROM SHIFTING FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10435583