2004 Nissan Maxima Engine Problems

TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. TIMING CHAIN WAS BAD FROM DAY ONE. SPENT NEARLY 4000 DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. THEN TO LOOK UP ONLINE AND FIND OUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAD PROBLEM. NOW A FEW YEARS LATER. SAME PROBLEM

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AND IT CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

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.

AFTER 100,000 MILES TRANSMISSION STARTED SHOES OF FAILURE. SHIFTING PAST SECOND GRAR WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO STALLL, THEN BUCK. CAR WOULD ALSO BUCK WHEN ACCELERATING AT HIGH SPEEDS. ALSO THE CAR WOULD STALL AND THE ACCELERATOR WOULD BECOME UNRESPONSIVE WHEN SHIFTING AT HIGH SPEEDS. FORCED TO RELEASE THE ACCELORATOT AND THE PRESS IT AGAIN, UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT CORRECTLY AND "CATCH" THE GEAR. MASSIVE GAS CONSUMPTION CAUSED BY FAULTY TRANSMISSION. MOST ERRORS CAUSED WHEN SHIFTING IN HIGH SPEED OR UPHILL. SPECIFICALLY WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. CAR WOULD SLOW DOWN AND WORK HARDER TO ACCELERATE AFTER DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS WOULD CAUSE BUCKING AND THE BODY OF THE CAR TO JERK AND SHAKE.

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER THAT IS MADE FROM PLASTIC CAME APART AND HAS CAUSED MY CARS ENGINE TO FAIL.THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGNED PART . IT WILL COST AROUND $2000.00 PARTS AND LABOR FOR THE REPAIR FROM THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP.NISSAN SHOULD STEP UP AND CORRECT THIS DESIGN FLAW FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM .

MY TIMING CHAIN PRIMARY GUIDE HAS BROKE ! THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN ASSEMBLY PART! IT'S MADE OF PLASTIC AND THE PLASTIC BREAKS AND THE CHAIN LOOSES TENSION! IT COST 2000$ TO REPAIR. I'M DRIVING THE CAR. I CAN'T GO ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE IF THE CHAIN FAILS THE CAR WILL JUST STOP!'DANGEROUS NISSAN HAS KNOWN OF THE DEFECTIVE PART ! THEY NOTIFIED ALL DEALERSHIPS IN 2004 TSB. BUYERS AVOID NISSAN MAXI AS 04-08 MODELS.

MY CAR IS JERKING AND BUCKING REALLY BADLY WHILE INTO GEAR ALSO WHILE COMING TO STOPS AND DRIVING ALONG. THE TAKE OFF IS SLOW AND HESITANT AND IT LOSES POWER AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING. WHILE PUTTING IT IN GEAR IT JERKS REALLY HARD AS WELL. PLEASE HELP! I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND I NEED MY TRANSPORTATION FOR WORK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER RESTARTING, THERE WAS A SLIGHT REDUCTION IN THE ENGINE POWER. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED A VOLUNTARY RECALL UNDER REFERENCE NUMBER: R2022 (CAM SHAFT) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

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.

I WAS INSPECTING UNDER THE HOOD AND THE RADIATOR SPLIT AT THE TOP, SPRAYING COOLANT EVERYWHERE. THE CAP WAS FUNCTIONING. NO INJURY BUT VERY DANGEROUS. THE RADIATOR LOOKS LIKE IT IS MADE OF SOME TYPE OF PLASTIC. I HAVE A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE RADIATOR. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER. I DIDN'T ASK FOR COMPENSATION. I ASKED THAT THE NISSAN ENGINEERING DEPT REVIEW THE DEFECT FOR SAFETY REASONS AND RECEIVED NO REPLY. I REPLACED THE RADIATOR MYSELF. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE THE RADIATOR IN MY GARAGE. THANKS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY 2004 MAXIMA WAS 'MISSING' DURING FREEWAY DRIVING AND 'DIED' AS I TURNED IN MY DRIVEWAY. NISSAN DID SOME MISCELLANEOUS REPAIRS BUT TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS 'SECONDARY TIMING CHAIN NOISE DUE TO WORN GUIDES.' I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE THAT IF THIS ISN'T FIXED THE ENGINE COULD BE DESTROYED. THE ESTIMATED COST IS $1,700. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IF THIS BREAKS ON THE FREEWAY I AND OTHERS COULD BE IN JEOPARDY. THERE ARE CLASS ACTION SUITS AGAINST NISSAN REGARDING A DESIGN FLAW IN THE 'TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER AND GUIDE' ASSEMBLY. I FEEL IT INCUMBENT ON NISSAN TO ISSUE A RECALL BUT I AM UNAWARE THAT ONE HAS BEEN ISSUED. I FEEL BETRAYED THAT I WAS SOLD A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AUTOMOBILE WITH NO REMEDY OTHER THAN AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR

DROVE MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA OFF THE LOT ON 3/3/14 AND NOTICED A JERK ONCE I GOT TO 30MPH, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME AFTER I PURCHASED IT THAT WHAT EVER PROBLEMS I HAVE I NEED TO FIX MYSELF BECAUSE I BOUGHT THE CAR "AS IS". *TR

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!!!! *TR

ON SATURDAY JANUARY 5TH 2013, MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED CARMAX ON MONDAY JANUARY 7TH 2013 TO GET MY EXTENDED WARRANTY INFORMATION. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH PASSPORT NISSAN LOCATED IN OXON HILL, MD. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD ME. I NEED TO HAVE MY TIMING CHAIN, GEARS, GUIDES AND TENSIONS REPLACE FOR $2,619.00 WITH REPLACING THE OIL COOLER (IT HAS LEAKAGE) $698.00. WELL MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED WHEN MY CAR HIT 100,000. IF I HAD KNOWN THIS BEFORE I PURCHASE THE CAR FROM CARMAX, I WOULD HAVE NEVER TOOK IT OFF THE LOT. BY THE WAY I ONLY HAD THE CAR SINCE APRIL 2011. I NEED HELP!!!!! I NEED TO EXPRESS TO YOU THE IMPORTANCE FOR ME TO HAVE RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE A YOUNG CHILD WHO I NEED TO TAKE TO SCHOOL EACH DAY. WITHOUT MY TRANSPORTATION, MY SON WOULD HAVE TO WALK A FULL MILE TO THE BUS STOP BY HIMSELF ALONE AT 7AM. BY THE WAY IT'S DARK AT THAT TIME AND IT'S CLOSE TO AN OPEN STREET. I MYSELF WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION, I WOULD HAVE TO WALK A MILE PLUS TO A BUS STOP TO CATCH A BUS TO THE TRAIN STATION. FROM THE TRAIN STATION I HAVE TO TAKE A TRAIN TO WORK AND WALK ADDITIONAL MILE PLUS TO WORK. THIS IS VERY OVER WHELMING BECAUSE I'M STILL PAYING A CAR NOTE AND CAR INSURANCE FOR A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE. I'M BEING PUT IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET MY CAR FIXED. *TR

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FOR NISSAN MAXIMA 04 MY NISSAN MAXIMA 04 JERKS WHEN DOWN SHIFTING FROM 2 TO 3RD, SLIPS ONLY AFTER WARMED UP AND IM GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE FROM 3RD TO 2ND AFTER A LONG TRIP. IT ALSO SOMETIMES SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR BUT NOT ALWAYS. THANKS, *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, 1ST TO 2ND OR 2ND TO 3RD - ENGINE REVS, TRANSMISSION JERKS AFTER SHORT DELAY. WHEN GOING ON DOWNHILL BENDS THIS MEANS THAT THE CAR WANTS TO JERK OFF THE ROAD, SOMEWHAT. APPARENTLY DUE TO IMPROPER COOLING ON THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, IT GETS GUMMY, AND THEN THE SOLENOIDS CLOG UP AND GET STUCK. THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF WEAR ON THE GEARS. FOR THE FIRST REPAIR, A FLUSH AND REPLACING THE SOLENOIDS WILL USUALLY GIVE ANOTHER 20K MILES, BUT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T GET FIXED UNLESS A CUSTOM COOLING SYSTEM IS PUT ON THE TRANSMISSION LINES. IT'S A CRAPPY DESIGN. INSTEAD OF RUNNING THE COOLING LINES TO THE ENGINE AND PUTTING A THERMOSTAT ON A SWITCH, THERE SHOULD BE A DEDICATED COOLER ON THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO, IT'S RIDICULOUSLY HARD TO GET TO THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FILTER, WHICH IS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION CASE. HOW HARD WOULD IT HAVE BEEN TO PUT AN EXTERNAL FILTER DOWN IN THE PAN? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON FIFTH GEAR AS THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.