Nissan Maxima whining noise problems

Filed Jul 8, 2025 · Transmission · WA

Component Failure: CVT transmission completely failed, requires full replacement. Failed unit available for inspection. Consistent with known manufacturing defect affecting multiple Nissan models, evidenced by $400+ million in class action settlements in the USA alone. Safety Risks: Sudden acceleration loss while driving, unpredictable lurching/jerking, complete loss of forward propulsion, risk of rear-end collisions, inability to safely merge or maintain highway speeds. CVT failures occur suddenly without adequate warning. Dealer Confirmation: Younker Nissan in Renton, WA confirmed complete CVT failure requiring replacement, estimated cost $8800. Manufacturer Inspection: None. Nissan declined inspection citing mileage over 84,000-mile limit, despite known manufacturing defect and my vehicle falling within [XXX] v. Nissan settlement model years (2016-2018 Maxima). Warning Symptoms: Initial: Shuddering and jerking while on highway. Within 1 hour: Intermittent hesitation, jerking during acceleration, transmission shuddering, whining noises, slipping, intermittent check engine light Within 2 days: More of the same, but worse. Completely stopped driving it. These match documented CVT failure patterns in Nissan settlements: hesitating, stalling, jerking, lurching, shaking, juddering, premature failure. Context: This systematic manufacturing defect acknowledged through multiple Nissan settlements totaling $400+ million in trhe USA alone. Failure at 106k miles well within expected transmission lifespan for properly maintained flagship sedan. Arbitrary 84k-mile settlement limits exclude well-maintained vehicles experiencing same inherent defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jul 4, 2025 · Engine, Transmission · NC

I purchased my 2019 Nissan Maxima [XXX] from Hyundai of Pineville I'm Charlotte NC. Over the past months including after purchase which I made Hyundai aware. The vehicle has an ongoing noise coming from I side the front hood of the vehicle. It sounds as of a pan etc... is hitting something, at times in slow motion there is a whining noise coming from the car, when just sitting in driver seat and pressing gas pedal when the car idle down after pressing the gas pedal there is a thump noise. The original owner of the vehicle traded the vehicle at Hyundai and appears they were from out of state is where the vehicle is from. So I have not received no recall etc... info also the prior owner, I keep getting stuff with there name. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 8, 2023 · Transmission · 157,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2010 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle decelerated while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact then stated that the RPM’s failed to increase. Additionally, the contact stated that while shifted into reverse, he heard a whining sound then the vehicle half shifted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer and had not yet been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the Extended Warranty had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 157,000.

Filed Dec 28, 2021 · Engine, Fuel system · VA

When I first purchased this car I had immediate problems with the power steering fluid. The check engine light has remained on the entire time. But the car was hemorrhaging fluid, groaning, whining, and my steering was becoming extremely loose. I call the dealer that sold me the car, because I dropped 4 grand on what seemed like a nice vehicle with under 100k on it. Well, I bought the car right off the lot and they refused to repair it. Cool, I respect that. IF the inspection reports and other papers are clearly falsified. It couldn't have passed inspection under normal situations. But since the dealer owns their own shop, they could slap stickers on busted vehicles and send them off to be sold. Eventually they do me " A favor" by replacing the power steering actuator/pump hoses & did work on towards a DTC code P0550. They give me that favor by charging me only for the parts, no labor. Totally cool, if work was done. It still has the same electrical tape in areas that was "fixed". They clear my codes and off I go. Engine light cuts on again and I'm having the same issues. My power steering fluid looks like it's boiling or bubbling as well. Still getting the P0550 code as my main DTC. Except now, I'm having major problems and my car has been sitting for a month. Not sure if the leaky fluid corroded components from before. As of now I'm throwing DTCs for P0171, P0305, P0550 (twice), believe I have a vacuum leak, my exhaust system is damaged internally from the misfire codes and has also broken apart near the rear muffler, among other pending codes. Lastly, I was coming home from work and my car completely loses power and bogs waaaay down. Engine light is flashing and I have no control or power. I limp home, park the car, and haven't drove it since other than for test drives. After countless repairs for the same issues, among new repairs and issues I'm broke. Issues started on 3/24 through 12/21 Not had this car for a year and it's been a constant pain ever since.

Filed Oct 21, 2021 · Transmission · LA

The vehicle does not accelerate and it jerks, whines and cuts off. the repair shop mechanic said he would not touch it without new transmission. the engine light is on, sometimes it blinks but not 100% of the time. It also won't get any power and cuts off on incline.

Filed Jul 27, 2020 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · LA

While driving my son and I to the store the car stopped accelerating on a major highway with cars coming. We we almost hit by a truck. When I applied the accelerator the car stayed on 0 MPH but the RPM moved. After about 5 seconds the car began accelerating again. It also made a loud whining noise afterward. The nissan dealer said the CVT transmission needs to be replaced. The car just hit 80,000 miles.

Filed Apr 2, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 114,000 miles · TX

My transmission messed up on me with 114,000 miles! Brand new almost and when it would go over 45 it won't catch my gears the RPM would go stay put and make a loud whining noise!!

Filed Mar 30, 2019 · Engine · 70,000 miles · TN

The timing chain tensioners prematurely wear, causing a whining noise as the chain rubs against the tensioner while the vehicle is turned on. This wear eventually grinds through the tensioner resulting in complete engine failure which can lead to a crash or injury. This began to happen for me just outside of the manufacturer warranty, and is a costly repair for a part of the engine that should not have to be maintained within the engines expected lifetime.

Filed Sep 12, 2018 · Transmission · 85,000 miles · TX

I had to replace my transmission jan 2018 with no assistance from nissan. Not even a break on replacement pricing. 2007 maxima with 78000 not driven hard or on the highway for very long until 2 years ago. Now the replacement transmission is whining and fluctuation in RPM's. Last month I was pulling into a shopping center across 3 lanes and my car accelerated to 2-3 miles and hour and no faster. I was thankful I left a lot of room otherwise this would have been a nasty accident. I only have 7000 mile on the replacement transmission and it needs to be replaced again. Nissan consumer affairs was not helpful at all, the lady I spoke with seems quite indifferent in our conversation. I'm sure she gets a lot of angry calls. I spoke with a transmission repair shop that told me these transmissions fail all of the time even the replacement transmission. Price gouging and selling bad parts just to increase their profit margins knowing no intervention will happen.

Filed Aug 14, 2018 · Transmission · 109,000 miles · DE

My car began to make a whining sound at acceleration over 60 miles per hours intermittently. The car was sold to me as certified pre-owned car at 54k miles in 2015. I have only driven it a little over 50k miles personally. The check engine light came on and I took it to my mechanic who pulled the code p01778 step motor function from the system. I notified nissan who told me I had to have their mechanic assess the car. I dropped it off and they pulled the same code. The CVT transmission has failed. There is a 7th generation maxima facebook page that is full of owners that discuss this very issue all of the time. It is referred to as a CVT boom! Youtube is full of videos that discuss the fact that nissan knew this was an issue so much so that the european version of this car came with a cooler and the american version did not! There is a class action for some models why not this one??