2006 Nissan Maxima: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Nov 5, 2016 · Transmission · 106,598 miles · NY

Transmission,hesitation between gears, rough shifting, sudden stops or diminished acceleration, in city driving after 1/2 hr of driving.

Filed Sep 18, 2015 · Transmission · 93,230 miles · IL

In a busy shopping mall parking lot vehicle hesitated and jerked when backing out of a parking space. Had to push accelerator down much harder than usual to get the car to back up creating an unsafe condition for any people or vehicles that may have been behind the vehicle, same condition also occurs at times when going from reverse to drive (hesitation and jerking).

Filed Apr 26, 2015 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 91,545 miles · MD

My maxima has been jerking and hesitating at low speeds. It is only when the car has been running for a bit and is warmed up. A few times it has slammed into gear so hard I thought I had been rear ended. It is so bad that I have to drive with my hazard light on. I'm afraid for my life and other drivers on the road. This problem shouldn't be taken lightly and I believe nissan should be held accountable.

Filed May 13, 2014 · Engine, Transmission · 70,000 miles · TX

After car has been driven for about 30 minutes the transmission slips and hesitates when shifting, especially into and out of 3rd gear. Took it to the dealership and I didn't even have to tell them what was wrong, he asked me if my transmission was acting up. When I said yes he rattled off about 5 things people have been experiencing (hard shifting in reverse, hesitation in upshifting, etc) and I said yes to each one. Without even looking at it he said it would be $4,000 for a new transmission because all of them have that problem. I contacted nissan about paying for it and they refused, twice. I've almost gotten into a handful of accidents because of this. Switching lanes to pass someone on the highway and the transmission hesitates and sends the RPM's to 7000 and I almost get rear-ended, then when it does shift it jerks so hard the car swerves all over the road. It shifts so hard my engine mounts are broken and need replaced too.

Filed Feb 5, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 85,000 miles · CA

My initial incident occurred sometime in december, after putting my vehicle in to gear (d) from park position it hesitated and then it felt as if my whole car jumped. I stepped on the gas to slowly accelerate and the cars engine revved up but the car did not move. It kind of scared me. It continued to do so on my drive home. It continues to do so off and on predominately when my car has had the opportunity to warm up. After doing some online research as to what could be causing the issue it seems that there are many complaints with this same matter. It is believed that the transmissions installed in nissan maximas are faulty and nissan refused to do anything about this issue. It is very hazards to be driving like this and it is a very costly fix for a problem that should not be happening this early on or at all with a vehicle.

Filed Nov 18, 2013 · Transmission · 79,000 miles · CA

While in 3rd gear going into 4th, it would hesitate for a good 2 seconds then pop into 4th. It also started doing the same thing while going into reverse from drive and vice versa. I just think it's quite suspicious that these problems I've been having with this car just started happening within a couple thousand miles of my warranty ending.

Filed Aug 16, 2013 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · NC

Transmission on my 2006 maxima is slipping significantly!!! Initially began acting up when putting in reverse from park or going from reverse to 1st. Had the transmission fluid checked--no problem found. Now, however, it slips when accelerating on the highway. The resulting jerk is as bad as having been rear-ended!! Several times the transmission has hesitated so long when accelerating from a stop, that I have been afraid of being hit by the car behind me. Moreover, the slippage seems to be exacerbated when the A/C is running--which makes no sense to me--but the jolt I get when it finally finds the next gear is clearly much worse. At 100,000 miles, I'm going to be out-of-pocket for a new transmission that should have lasted at least twice the mileage!! I take care of my cars--got nearly 250,000 out of each of my previous cars: 2000 accord, 1993 mazda 626 and 1985 camry. This is the first and last nissan I will ever buy!!!!!

Filed Aug 14, 2013 · Transmission · 114,459 miles · FL

The car jerks or hesitates as it switches to drive; gears are getting stuck as they switch in stop and go traffic.

Filed Jul 15, 2013 · Transmission · 64,000 miles · MD

We have a 2006 nissan maxima. We bought it used in jan 2012. By june 2013, we noticed transmission issues. When accelerating, it hesitates and then bangs into gear. When parking it hesitates and bangs into reverse and drive. The radiator is also having issues. I am afraid to drive it more than 10 miles at a time. This seems like a massive issue with several nissan models from 2004-2006. Let's hope nissan accepts their faulty equipment and does what is right to help everyone get it fixed. Many people do not have the money for repairs and/or are upside down in loan.

Filed May 9, 2013 · Transmission · TN

We just purchased this maxima approximately a month ago. Once the car has been driven for about ten minutes straight, there is severe jerking and hesitation as it attempts to shift gears. We even experience this while on the interstate. It almost feels as if the transmission is going to fall out. It is now in the shop due to transmission repair. I see there is a class action lawsuit filed again nissan due to the fact the they have knowledge of the faulty transmission and are not attempting to fix the issue. We are now out of money for an issue that I believe should be made very public. Had we known in the beginning about this incident, we would have chosen a different vehicle. Luckily for us, we were not involved in an accident like many people in the cases. I think that a recall needs to be placed in order due to this defect. I do not want anyone to experience what we are experiencing. No only are we still paying on the vehicle, we are now out of roughly $3,000 for a replacement transmission. Something needs to be done about this.

Filed Mar 9, 2013 · Transmission · 116,000 miles · MO

Transmission hesitation when attempting to enter traffic or advance when moving slowly, like what occurs when a traffic light changes when you are approaching it. The engine will rev (RPM approx 4000-6000) then slam into gear and jerk forward. This causes the danger of being propelled into traffic at the wrong time or simply getting rear-ended. My vehicle also has the problem of hesitating when I place the gear shift lever into reverse. Research has shown this is a common problem with this generation nissan maxima and they have failed to take ownership and correct it.

Filed Feb 6, 2013 · Transmission · 89,000 miles · LA

Within the last month or so my vehicle has begun to display what appears to be a transmission problem. When I put it in reverse, then back into drive it hesitates and then jumps into gear. When I am accelerating (about 30-40 MPH), my vehicle will hesitate or struggle to shift into the next gear. This happens most often at 30-40 MPH but it has happen at faster and slower speeds and has happened with accelerating and decelerating. I have brought my vehicle to a repair shop who replaced the engine mounts at a cost of almost $1000 and that didn't fix the problem. Now they are stating the problem is the valve body. I brought it for a second opinion to the nissan dealer and they state that I need a new transmission at a cost of $3500. I am about to bring it for a third opinion to a transmission shop. This is a safety concern in my opinion because the transmission could completely stall or give out while driving. I have researched this problem extensively online and have found hundreds of other stories of maxima owners with the same or similar problem. I don't understand why nissan hasn't been forced to recall these faulty transmissions. They obviously pose a danger to the public and they are obviously aware of the situation. I have found out about class action lawsuits against nissan and have found out that nissan has extended the warranty on the CVT transmissions (in the altima), but I don't have that type of transmission. I would like to request that the federal safety agency look into this problem further and take a look at the sheer number of owners who are dealing with this problem or who have. I would like to request that you demand nissan to recall these vehicles and correct this problem. There is no reason that a transmission should need to be replaced in a vehicle after 70, 80 or 90 thousand miles. Thank you!