2004 Nissan Maxima: won't start

Filed Mar 17, 2018 · Engine · CT

On sunday, march 4, 2018, in the morning around a 11 am, I was driving my 2004 maxima and it started to loose power and turned off. I tried several times to start it, but it wouldn't hold the idle and turned off again. No nissan dealership or repair shop was open so I called the nearest pep boys shop to my home and they towed my car to their repair shop. They said my car was totally dead and needed a new battery even though my battery wasn't that old. I purchased a battery, still wouldn't start. Pep boys then said I needed a new alternator, so that was installed, still wouldn't start. They then said it must be the engine, so the next day, monday, march 4, 2018, it was towed to the fairfield, ct nissan dealership where it is currently until I can figure out what to do. After 3 days, of calling the nissan dealership to find out what was wrong with my car, bet, in the nissan service department told me that they had taken off the side of my engine and tried to manually turn the drive shaft, but it wouldn't turn and that it was the timing chain and that it would cost anywhere from $2,600.00 to $3,600.00 to repair my car. Please help with start a case, I can't afford this. I'm in school for paralegal studies and a ct licensed tax preparer

Filed Jun 2, 2017 · Engine · 140,383 miles · DE

My 2004 nissan maxima shuts down while running, causing the transmission to default into 5th gear, (2-4 gears effectively disappear) and the all electricity , radio, A/C, and power steering to shut down. On straight highways one can keep driving by shifting into neutral immediately, and trying to restart the engine with the key. Usually it restarts and runs but in a deficient power mode. The vdc light appears, letting you know that the transmission will be stuck in 5th gear, with the option of manually starting in 1st gear. Either shifting from 1st to automatic or manually to another gear, defaults the car into gear 5. The car is drive-able in this condition, but one has at stoplights, to immediately shift into neutral, and manually with foot pedal, keep the rpms above 1100. Fortunately I was driving straight. If turning a corner, and not very strong, I'd have no control over my car. Without power steering working the wheel is very hard to turn. Finally one day, the car would not start on cold start. It would occasionally almost fire, make some revolutions,but then would only turn on power of the starter. The first mechanic gave an estimate of $3600 to replace the timing chain the problem originally did not exist when engine was cold, but after engine warms up, at the first time the RPM's fall below 1000, the engine shuts off... Usually waiting for a cold engine again, causes the car to start up in original form.

Filed May 13, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · CA

I have a 2004 nissan maxima. When I was driving, the steering locked up and there was no way to steer. I don?t know how I did it, being petite and not so strong, but I managed to make the car move to the side, then it turned off automatically. I tried to turn on the car and it didn't start. I had to wait a few minutes and turn the key for a few seconds until the engine restarted. It becomes extremely difficult to pull over to the side, and I was saved the 5-7 times this happened to me. Luck was on my side! I didn't drive my car on the freeway, because I was terrified my car would stall and my son and I would die in a terrible car accident. I finally had to go to my shop and replace the two camshaft sensors with the following codes p3040 and p0345. With some searching, I found out that I?m not the only one with this issue. I stand by the former complaint: ?I found out that nissan has a recall on altima?s with this same issue, but will not cover and recall my vehicle. This is very dangerous and I do not understand why they would only recall certain makes when it is the same exact error code on both vehicles. It is a p3040 and p0345 cam sensor/cam shaft recall through nissan. However, they say my make and model does not fall under this recall. Shouldn't they recall all vehicles with this same problem?? Thank you for your help in this safety issue.

Filed Jul 24, 2010 · Transmission · 74,420 miles · GA

My car died out in the middle of the street while in reverse. When I was able to restart it back up, I dismissed it. A few days later, it would not start at the grocer. It restarted only after jumping. I drove it to auto zone for a new battery which seemed to help. Yesterday while backing out of a parallel park it died again mid aisle. I restarted it and slowly pressed forward by flooring the accelerator. I backed out again and after changing gear, it dragged forward without torque. Finally, it lurched into torque only to drag down at each red light. I'm appalled at all the online complaints of consumers experiencing the same problems with no relief.

Filed Jan 4, 2010 · Engine · 75 miles · NY

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 nissan maxima. The contact stated that whenever it was cold, snowing and approximately thirty degrees the vehicle would not start. The failure has occurred since 2004 immediately after the vehicle was purchased. The dealer has made several unsuccessful attempts to diagnose the failure. The contact is only able to drive the vehicle when someone jump starts it during the winter months. The failure never occurs during the summer months. The contact wrote a letter to the vehicle manufacturer and has not received a response. The contact has repeatedly taken the vehicle to the dealer to diagnose the failure. The failure mileage was 75 and the current mileage was 44,000.

Filed Apr 24, 2009 · Engine · CA

I was in the freeway with my baby on 405, car suddenly started feeling weird, 3 warning light came on, my car shut down in middle of freeway , I have to put my car on park and put emergency lights on. Almost caused and accident with my baby. Car will not start. I was told by mechanic this is a fault camshaft. This same problem was on a recall for 2003 nissan maxima, nissan refuses to take responsibility.

Filed Mar 31, 2008 · Electrical, Tires · 27,000 miles · NJ

I purchased a 2004 nissan maxima, on february 27 2007 with only 24,000 miles. Three months later, the vehicle started to fail. I notice some jerking when I slowed down and then hit the gas, as well as a metal rattling noise (when I give it gas). I took it to the dealer which they stated that they didn't feel it jerk and they didn't hear the rattling noise. The noise has become worse. Now a year later the engine light came on and my car wouldn't start. I took the car to the shop where they diagnose that my ignition coil went bad. (had to replace all six) cost $1000. To this point the car still remains in the shop due to ignition coil. Finally, the rotor went bad which had to be replaced for the amt $380. I have done some research on this vehicle where there have been numerous complaints. I highly believe that an investigation should be place to get this on the recall list.

Filed Aug 25, 2006 · Electrical · 27,000 miles · CA

Car won't start.

Filed Aug 13, 2006 · Electrical · 27,300 miles · NY

Prob #4 on august 9, 2006, I went to leave for work and my car would not start at all. When I turned the key it sounded as if it would start, but it would not turn over. It is an alternator problem. I had enough with this car. After reading and printing all the complaints on this website, I ended up with 42 pages of complaints, 3 to a page. A number of the complaints had alternator problems and the maxima dying on them while driving around the same mileage that my car is at right now, 27,300. My car is only 3 years old and it would not start!!! When my husband came home from work it started right up for him. I refuse to drive this car now. I am pregnant and cannot risk being stuck on the side of the road somewhere. My husband called the nissan dealership and spoke the man who sold us the car, we are going to try to get out of the lease. I have a complete lemon. On top of all this, I received two recall notices on this car. The first one is for corrosion in the back bumper for "salty" states. Since ny is considered a salty state, I am suppose to get this taken car of by their "caring" dealerships. I called nissan in smithtown, ny and made an appointment for 7/20/06 who lost my appt. I made this appointment a month and half before this. She put the service manager on the phone who told me he cant make an appointment for me until nov! I told him I would call corp and he said go ahead. Another complaint to corp, nothing done. Received another recall notice that the coils in the head rest can go on fire! Not only is the car terrible, but the dealerships are no better. All this money customers spend on this car and the service workers and managers at both habberstad and smithtown are rude & obnoxious. Corp told me to try another dealership! I told her I will not drive all over long island to find a dealership who will actually help their customers, and that the amount of money I paid for this car, no one should be treated this way. Nissan should be investigated.

Filed Feb 22, 2005 · Suspension · IL

I will include all of my problems I have had with my 04 maxima se. The first major probem I had was my front right strut went out and had to be replaced. Problem fixed. Next, problem was on occasoion my car wouldnt start first dealer trip they told me their was no problem and the next time leave the car dead and have the car towed. So, it happend again had the car towed and then they replaced the battery which I had to pay for the pro-rated battery. So, it happend again had the car towed and now they replaced the electrial module that controls the headlights. Problem has been fine for 2 weeks +. Now the left front strut went out and wondering when I should bring the car in again. I have 25000 mile and not yet 2yrs old and the car has been in for repair atleast 7 times. I hate my 35k dollar car.