2004 Nissan Maxima: check engine light

Filed Jan 12, 2016 · Engine, Transmission · 188,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the gear shift failed. The check engine warning indicator illuminated continuously. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the solenoid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 188,000.

Filed Dec 28, 2015 · Body, Engine · FL

I took my car in for an inspection, found out that the floor on the passenger side had rusted from the inside out and there was a good size hole. It cost me a couple hundred to fix because it wouldn't pass the inspection. The next thing was the slack timing chain, the car sounds like a truck. I've been told it would cost up to $3000 to fix. Then the biggest safety issue is the transmission, this one is really concerning. The jerking, bucking, kicking, clanging, the seconds of hesitation between drive and reverse and then suddenly it engages and the kick could give you whiplash. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a rodeo. When the car sits for awhile (overnight) there is no issue with the initial start but once it warms up that's it. You can't accelerate properly once the car slows down, or is making a turn, going around a bend or comes to a stop because it drops out of gear, then there is the hesitation and at that point it just revs, this happens 2 or 3 times before it engages again then there is a massive bang and the car lunges forward, by then the traffic is right under your rear bumper. After this happens a few times there is no more acceleration, the pedal has to be pushed to the floor for the car to move. The engine light came on a month or two ago and hasn't gone off. This is a real dangerous, safety issue. A few days ago another issue appeared, I cannot open the driver side door with the remote door opener or the electronic door opener on the inside of the door. At this point I've read many complaints about these issues, they are all manufacture problems but the timing chain and transmission is the biggest when it comes to safety because you do not know when the car will stop. Why hasn't nissan done a recall????? There are enough complaints.

Filed Jul 23, 2015 · Engine · 120,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. The contact stated that while driving about 20 MPH, the vehicle shut off and the check engine light illuminated. The vehicle restarted. However, the failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Apr 18, 2015 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 166,000 miles · KY

I was driving on the interstate and I was going about 60mph then all of a sudden the car stalls out I have no control over the vehicle I come within seconds of being rear ended I'm in the middle lane so I have to figure out how to merge over but guess what I can't because the car is stalled out so I put caution lights on and it takes about twins before the car will even start back up and when it does its geared up to what sounds like a fifth gear and it barley takes off I'm talking my foot to the floor and it's taking off at 2mph come on now, so call for help get my car towed check engine light said it was crankshaft position sensor had it replaced check engine light went off came and picked up my car had to drive that day 45mins from where I lived and about e0mins into the trip bam it stalls again at 60mph same scenary after the car cools down it starts back up just fine but after 30mins of a constant drive it stalls out and I'm stuck in 5th gear ....please help!

Filed Sep 28, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 100,030 miles · MA

I bought used 2004 nissan maxima car at north shore auto mall on 9/18/14,the service tech. Drove car up to front of dealership w/car still running he test drove car w/me( didn't think anything about it at the time) I got in and we went for a test drive, car was great. Got back to dealer, gave the balance. Once I left dealer, while driving on highway the car started to skip & felt like it was going to stall, I pulled over to right lane, put hazards on w/traffic behind me, the car stalled, I almost caused a collision, cars were beeping, swerving out of the way, I couldn't get any acceleration with it in drive, so I put it in neutral & after 3 tries it started up w/much hesitation. I was scared for my life & others on the road, I took side streets to make it home & when I stopped at stop sign it stalled again, I repeated the same steps as above w/hazards on the whole ride home.now I know why the service tech. Took test ride w/me. I had a friend with me as my witness.this car wont pass inspection , the check engine light will not turn off, I called dealer he said make an appt, I said I only have 7 days for inspection sticker, he said, he has nothing to do with service and to call them. I called on monday the 22nd &1st,available appt.wasn't til 9/25/14, my 7 days were up on that thursday. He said he'll call me around noon, I waited til friday 5pm, he nor anyone in serv. Called to update me & let me know car will be there over the weekend. What do I do & what's the time limit on fixing my car w/o any communication to me. Im sooooo upset at the lack of professionalism and ethics, im afraid if I say something derogatory, they will sabotage my car. Please help me..!!!!

Filed Sep 23, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 100,030 miles · MA

While picking my new, used maxima 2004 from dealer, pulling out of the lot and waiting for clearance to get on highway, I proceeded to turn onto hw & it stalled & alternator light came on & "check engine" it hasn't shut off yet, I felt like I was in a horrible nightmare.. I thought I was going to get hit because cars were coming, I quickly put hazards on, and put it in neutral and tried to start it, it was trying to turn over as I was pumping the gas pedal like a jack hammer, I finally floored it & it started not without whiplash to my neck, my chest hit the steering wheel because it jerked sooooo hard into gear !!!. I put it in drive and was so nervous because cars were honking & swearing at me...I was totally shocked and greatly disappointed that I almost caused multiple car collision. I called mgr at dealership when I got home & he said " just call service and make an appt. I said I just left your lot w/new plates and told him what had just happened, he said " I have nothing to do w/service, so call them in the a.m. & make an appt." didn't even apologize. I got anxiety because I'm 47 yrs old and had quite a few cars and I know when a car jerks, goes from drive to 5th gear with powerful jerking motion all the time, skipping & stalling while in drive, most likely a bad transmission, its obviously not safe to drive, I just bought it 9/18/14 & I cant drive it, it won't pass inspection in 7 days. Check engine light still on, looks like 7 days is not happening my appt is 9/25/14 supposed to be under warranty. Instead of being excited about car I'm so angry & I feel like once they had my money, they could care less about me or my family or drivers on road. Thankfully no-one got hurt, its been parked since 9/21/14, they said they did 21 pt insp, yaa right !! Sure they did, how can they knowingly let me drive off lot..with no regard for public safety. Is this legal ??

Filed Sep 20, 2014 · Engine, Suspension · 100,038 miles · MA

[xxx] starting it up takes 2-3x with putting the gas pedal all the way to the floor, then it jerks into gear. While driving it just stalls out which is very scary & dangerous and it goes from drive to 5th gear no 1-4, and it hesitates & when driving up to a red light for example, then it starts to conk out. Also no pick up from an idle position, I just bought it 9/17/14 and called dealer and he told him it wont pass inspection "check engine light on" constant. It feels like transmission isn't in proper gear (5th) just stalls while driving. Everyone behind me leans on the horn and yells at me when it stalls out in drive. Im afraid to drive it. The dealer (north shore auto mall, lynn ma 01905, mgr name [xxx], real jerk !!) said they did a 21 point inspection, but that's bs, they would have caught that seeing that they are in the business and knew they sold me a car w/bad transmission/alternator. Now they don't want to know me. Please give me some resources that you know of to remedy the problem. I could go on & on about the treatment I had to endure but that wont help hopefully you can regards [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jul 17, 2014 · Engine · 67,000 miles · OH

Engine light continues to come on> thumping sound under hood when started. Timing chain issues!!!!!! This is known according to extensive research to nissan. Why in the world is there nothing done about it?! We are hard working people and spend hard earned money to purchase a car and there is no recourse for a messed up part!!!!

Filed Jul 10, 2014 · Transmission · 115,000 miles · IN

When shifting from park-reverse or reverse-drive, the transmission has a short delay before "jumping" into gear. This problem was intermittent and seemed to only occur during extremely cold temperatures. I had a transmission flush performed ($65) that seemed to remedy the problem but it returned within 5k miles. Several months later, the transmission randomly became unresponsive at speeds of 20-30mph at which time the rpms would increase rapidly with loss of acceleration. Another transmission flush was performed and the problem seemed worse. Finally while driving on the interstate at 70mph the vehicles transmission suddenly "slammed" then the service engine light was activated with a noticeable power loss. Upon slowing down to exit the highway the vehicle stalled and died. It restarted but the throttle was restricted. The vehicles gear was changed to manual mode and it was discovered that the transmission was stuck in 5th gear. At that point the vehicle got stuck in 5th gear after 15-20 min of driving and the low speed power loss became almost constant. The vehicle was no longer driven until it was put on diagnostics by a transmission specialist ($60) and the code indicated the failure of 3 sensors: cam position sensor, electronic acceleration position sensor and transmission speed sensor. The nissan dealership was contacted to inquire about the issue and the error codes and they acknowledged this as a common problem with no suggestions other than replacing the sensors. The electronic acceleration position sensor required a new throttle body which was then replaced ($115). The 2 cam sensors ($120) and transmission speed sensor, aka transmission revolution output sensor, were then purchased ($125). I had to take the car to a nissan dealer and pay another $365 to get the new sensors flashed. The problem still remains. I'm now looking at getting the tranny replaced.

Filed Jun 19, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 65,000 miles · CA

Driving on the freeway at about 60 MPH I noticed the engine light turned on and the cars power was gone. I continued to step on the gas but still no power at all. The transmission was stuck on 5th gear. Once I came to a complete stop and I press on the gas the engine just revs up with very little power. I take it to the dealership for them to confirm I needed a new transmission. I didn't want to pay $3,000 at a nissan dealership so I decided to take it to my local mechanic in which he said he's worked on maximas before with the same problem. He said the issue is in the valve body (part of the transmission) so he replaced it. I got the car back after a $1,500 bill and everything was working just fine. Until today 6-18-14, approximately two years from the first incident. Once again my transmission is stuck on 5th gear. Prior to this there was some jerking from 3-4 gear and a hard jerk from p to r. Here I am now facing another bill. This could of easily caused an accident and after numerous reports from other drivers nissan needs to address this issue!

Filed May 14, 2013 · Transmission · 101,000 miles · CA

2004 maxima with a check engine light. Looks like it needs a transmission valve body replacement. The code is p0745. Looks like lot of customers are having the same issue. Is nissan going to recall this?

Filed Mar 28, 2013 · Transmission · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 to 25 MPH the contact experienced extreme jerking when going into second gear. Immediately after, the service engine light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. After diagnosis, they advised him that the 5 speed automatic transmission needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown. The current mileage was approximately 114,587. The VIN was unavailable.