Nissan Maxima Complaints

6,958 consumer complaints on file.

#10135103September 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1997 MAXIMA SE. I PULLED INTO MY GARAGE AND COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. I LIFTED THE HOOD OF THE CAR AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. IT DRAINED THE BATTERY. AS I REPLACED THE BATTERY, THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130772August 30, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES HAD CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALLS. THE TIRES WERE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF OLD. THE TIRES CAME ON THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CAR WAS BOUGHT. A GOODYEAR DEALER CHECKED THE TIRES AND THE CONSUMER WOULD REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES. THE TIRES WERE GOODYEAR EAGLES RSA. CONSUMER NOTICED THE CRACKS YESTERDAY. THE FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE WAS WILL CHECK THE TIRES. *AK *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134606August 29, 2005
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DT: 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT HAS CONTINENTAL, CONTITOURING , TIRE, SIZE P225/55/R17 LEAKED AIR ALMOST TO THE POINT OF BEING FLAT. THIS HAPPENS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, SUCH AS TWO WEEKS, THESE LEAKS WERE SLOW, AND OCCURRED FOUR TIRES. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH IN A SCHOOL ZONE AND HEARD A POP, PULLED OVE,R AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS COMPLETELY FLAT ON THE RIM. THIS OCCURRED NEAR A GAS STATION ,AND CONSUMER DROVE THERE TO GAS STATION TO PUT AIR IN THE TIRE, BUT THE AIR SYSTEM AT THE GAS STATION WOULD NOT WORK. CALLED FAMILY MEMBER TO BRING AN AIR PIGGY AND THE TIRE WOULD NOT INFLATE. WAITED FOR TIRE DEALER TO OPEN BECAUSE THIS WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING AND THEY COULD NOT INFLATE THE TIRE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THEY NOTE THA T INSIDE OF THE TIRE RUNNING VERTICALLY FROM THE RIM TO THE TOP OF THE TIRE HAD A SPLIT. DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION THIS COULD NOT BE REPAIRED , AND A NEW TIRE WOULD HAVE TO BE PURCHASED. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO SUGGESTED DISCUSSING THIS MATTER WITH TIRE MANUFACTURER. CONTACTED CONTINENTAL, WHO SAID CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO TAKETIRE TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER WHICH WAS A CONSIDERABLE DRIVE FOR INSPECTION OF THE TIRE. CALLED A SECOND TIME, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND OUT A CALL TAG AND REQUEST TIRES BACK. CONSUMER HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND AND PAID FOR THIS OUT OF POCKET. HAVE NOT SENT THOSE TIRES TO CONTINENTAL AT THIS TIME. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134400August 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SUSPENSION:REAR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
I PURCHASED A USED 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT HAD 28,000 MILES ON IT ALMOST 3 YEARS AGO. I HAVE ONLY PUT 6,000 MILES ON THE CAR, BUT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC WHEN IT HAD TO PASS SMOG INSPECTION. HE TEMPORARILY FIXED THE ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM, BUT SOON AS I ACCELERATED OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES, WHICH HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED TWICE, THE IGNITION (CAR WOULDN'T START), AND, A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR WHEN DOWNSHIFTING (ENGINE SEIZES UP VIOLENTLY). THERE IS ALSO A SUSPENSION PROBLEM, AS CAR MAKES LOUD NOISE EVERY TIME I HAVE TO GO OVER SPEED BUMPS. MY SON IS READY TO GET HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE, AND I WILL HAVE TO GET RID OF THIS CAR AT A LOSS, AS I DO NOT FEEL THE CAR IS SAFE FOR HIM TO DRIVE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10134146August 25, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CAR STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. IT MAY RUN FINE FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, THEN SUDDENLY STALL. THIS HAS CAUSED NEAR-ACCIDENTS, AS ENGINE SUDDENLY FAILS TO RESPOND IN SITUATIONS WHERE ACCELERATION IS REQUIRED; PASSING, MERGING, CROSSING INTERSECTIONS. DEALER DIAGNOSED AS SHORT IN EGI HARNESS. BREAKAGE INSIDE THE HARNESS APPEARS TO BE A FREQUENTLY OCCURING PROBLEM IN THIS VEHICLE, BASED ON OTHER REPORTS ON WEB DISCUSSION BOARDS. ALSO, MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, SO THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS HAPPENS, AND HAVE PUBLISHED A FIX THAT WORKS ONLY IN SOME CASES (I.E., AN UNSHIELDED WIRE SHORT). MANUFACTURER, IN SPITE OF THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM, REFUSES TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING, AND ASCRIBES IT TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THE ONLY SOLUTION FOR THE CONSUMER IS TO PAY NEARLY $3,000 TO HAVE THE ENTIRE HARNESS REPLACED, WHEN AS I EXPERIENCED, THE SHORT IS IN A SHIELDED WIRE (PER TSB).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133132August 17, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
FRONT STRUTS REPLACED ON MY BRAND NEW 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AFTER 9 MONTHS. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE MY ROTORS TURNED AFTER 18K MILES. I KNOW OF OTHERS THAT HAD/HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133203August 17, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG LSENSON LIGHT BLINKS IN FRON PANEL. DEALER NOTE AFTER CHECK: RAN ECC TEST WITH CONSULT FOUND DTC RIGHT FRONT SEAT AIRBAG MODULE OPEN.CHECK NISSAN ASSIST FOUND TSB TNB00-043.IT WILL NEED TO REPLACE RH SIDE AIRBAG.ALSO LONG HARNESS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133004August 16, 2005
TIRES
MAXIMA 2004 HAS EAGLE RS-A 245-45 TIRES WHICH BECAME CRACKED IN A CIRCULAR PATTERN AT 32,000. GOODYEAR REPLACED TIRES AND OFFERED PRORATE, BUT COST WAS STILL $555.00. INTERNET MAXIMA OWNERS HAVE FOUND CRACKS ON INSIDE OF TIRE AS WELL AS EARLY AS 16,000 MILES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS DANGEROUS. THE NOISE WAS GREATER, THE GRIP OF THE TIRE SEEMED TO BE LESS, THE BUMPS ON THE ROAD WERE MORE NOTICEABLE, AND THE TIRES FELT "WISHY-WASHY" AT TIMES. ONCE I PUT ON THE NEW TIRES AGAIN WITH EAGLE RS-A THE CAR FELT TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND BETTER, ALTHOUGH IT WAS BITTER SWEET TO HAVE THE SAME TIRES AGAIN. CAN YOU HELP IN THIS MATTER PLEASE? *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133107August 16, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SUSPENSION, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA. NHTSA RECALL 03V455000 WAS ISSUED. AND THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO NISSAN FOR RECALL REPAIRS. HOWEVER, NISSAN REFUSED TO DO THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE RECALL WENT OUT IN DECEMBER 2003, BUT THE CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2003. SHE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WORK MUST HAVE BEEN DONE. THEY DID NOT HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION TO PROVE THAT IT WAS DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY IN THE REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE REAR BRAKES FAILED, AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED S TO REPAIR THE BRAKES. THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, SUCH AS THE STEREO, SUSPENSION, AND OTHER THINGS THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132761August 14, 2005
STEERING, WHEELS
VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL & SEATS - HAVE HAD BACK TO DEALER FOUR TIMES IN THREE WEEKS - THEY'VE REPLACED WHEEL (OUT OF ROUND/BENT), ROTORS/BRAKES AND ARE NOW INVESTIGATING TIRES - VIBRATION OCCURS IN & OUT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS-LOOKING AT LEMON LAW. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132805August 14, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
BOTH FRONT STRUTS MAKE NOISE WHEN GOING OVER ALL BUMPS IN ROAD. FRONT OF CAR IS BECOMING BOUNCY WHEN DRIVING OVER TIME DUE TO STRUTS FAILING AND EXCESSIVE NOISE.. WILL BECOME DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SOON. DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT STRUTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133418August 12, 2005
VISIBILITY
2004 NISSAN MAXIMA DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDSHIELD CRACKING.*MR WHEN THE DEFROSTER WAS ON THE WINDSHIED WOULD MAKE A PINGING NOISE. PREVIOUSLY THE MOONROOF WAS REPLACED DUE TO POSSIBLE CRACKING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132104August 9, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
DT: CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT STRUT PROBLEMS. THEY KEPT WEARING OUT. FIRST HAPPENED ON 8-23-04, AND DEALER REPAIRED IT. THE LAST TIME THE STRUTS WERE REPAIRED WAS ON 8-8-05. ALSO, HAD FRONT END VIBRATION . THEY SANDED DOWN THE BRAKE PADS AND THAT FIXED THE VIBRATION PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131037August 2, 2005
STEERING, SUSPENSION
BOUGHT THE NISSAN MAXIMA ON AUGUST 10, 2004 FROM VOB NISSAN IN ROCKVILLE, MD. UNDER 100 MILES, TOOK BACK TO DEALER DUE TO UNACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF VIBRATION IN THE FRONT WHEELS FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL GENERALLY BETWEEN 40 AND 70 MPH ON SMOOTH SURFACED HIGHWAY DRIVING. INITIALLY I WAS TOLD THIS IS PROBABLY DUE TO FLAT SPOTS ON THE TIRES PER CAR SITTING IN THE LOT FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. BUT THE VIBRATION CONTINUED. WHEN CRUISING MORE PRONOUNCED. DEALER INITIALLY PERFORMED WHEEL BALANCING WHICH DIDN'T WORK. THEN THEY REPLACED THE FRONT TWO CONTINENTAL TIRES WHICH STILL DIDN'T WORK. THEY PERFORMED ??ROAD FORCE BALANCING?? CHECK. THE TIRES HAD READINGS OF CLOSE TO 40 WHERE THE ACCEPTABLE READING SHOULD BE BELOW 10. THERE WAS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. WHEN DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE STEERING WAS VISIBLY VIBRATING. VOB ALSO NOTICED THE WARPED ROTORS IN FRONT AND RE-SURFACED THEM. DEALER REPLACED THE CONTINENTAL TIRES WITH MICHELIN MXV4. NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT IN HANDLING BUT NOT QUITE. DEALER DID EVERYTHING POSSIBLE PER WRITTEN TSBS, ETC. AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE HE COULD DO, THEREFORE CALL THE MANUFACTURER. 3/22/05 I CONTACTED DARCARS OF ROCKVILLE. THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS WHICH WERE UNEVENLY WORN AND ALSO RE-SURFACED THE ROTORS IN A SPECIAL MACHINE WHILE THEY WERE ATTACHED TO THE CAR AS RECOMMENDED BY NISSAN. VIBRATION PROBLEM WAS MARKEDLY BETTER AFTER THAT. HOWEVER, I STILL FEEL THE PROBLEMS WHEN PRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL LIGHTLY GOING AT SPEED. ALSO WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 60 MPH ON STRAIGHT ROADS. I AM DEBATING WHETHER TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER NOW OR WAIT FOR IT TO GET WORSE. IT HAS BEEN A CONSTANT FRUSTRATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130897August 1, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
I HAVE A 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA OF WHICH I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY FOR THE LAST YEAR. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO A NUMBER OF SERVICE PROVIDERS INCLUDING A DEALERSHIP AND BEEN TOLD THAT THE CODES GENERATED ARE NOT CONCLUSIVE BUT, DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECT, THE RECOMMENDATION HAS BEEN THAT I REPLACE ALL OF THE IGNITION COILS AT A COST OF NEARLY $1500. SEEMS TO ME IF ITS A "KNOWN DEFECT" THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING THIS PROBLEM I UNDERSTAND IT TO BE VERY WIDE SPREAD. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130534July 29, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT TIMES, DOORS LOCKS BY THEMSELVES. CHILD WAS TRAPPED IN CAR. 1993 NISSAN QUEST. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130577July 29, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE INSIDE SIDEWALLS OF ALL 4 TIRES WERE SHOWING CRACKS, AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE HAD CRACKS AND A BULGE COMING OUT. THIS WAS WHEN THE CAR HAD ONLY ABOUT 26,000 MILES. HE SAID THE COST TO REPLACE THE TIRES IS $245 EACH TIRE, PLUS INSTALLATION COSTS. HE STRONGLY RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE AT LEAST THE TWO FRONT TIRES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I THEN TOOK THE MAXIMA TO A DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALER FOR THEIR OPINION AS WELL. THAT DEALERSHIP AGREED THAT ALL 4 TIRES HAD CRACKS ON THE INSIDE SIDEWALLS, AND THE BULGE WAS THERE ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE ALL 4 TIRES. I TOLD THEM IT SEEMS ABSURD THAT TIRES THAT ARE SO NEW WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT, AND THEY SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE TIRES AND I SHOULD GO TO GOODYEAR TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER ALL OR PART OF THE REPLACEMENT COST. I CALLED NISSAN HEADQUARTERS (1-800-NISSAN-1) AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING, IT IS NOT NISSAN'S RESPONSIBILITY, BUT GOODYEARS'. GOING TO GOODYEAR THIS AFTERNOON TO HAVE THEM CHECKED -- AND IF SAFETY RISK EXISTS I WILL OF COURSE HAVE TO BUY NEW TIRES. I HAVE A WIFE AND A 21-MONTH OLD BABY, AND CANNOT RISK A BLOWOUT OR SOME OTHER CATASTROPHE THAT MAY CAUSE INJURY TO MY FAMILY. NO TIRES SHOULD FAIL LIKE THIS SO QUICKLY. GENERAL RULE IS IF SOME OBJECT OR THING GOES INTO A TIRE, THAT IS JUST A RISK THAT THE OWNER MUST BEAR. BUT IF THE TIRES SHOW PROBLEMS COMING FROM THE INSIDE OUT, THAT INDICATES A TIRE DEFECT. I WILL UPDATE THIS AFTER MEETING WITH GOODYEAR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130166July 27, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT HAS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUTS FROM DAY ONE. ALSO THE CAR HAS A SHIMMY AT A CERTAIN SPEED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130332July 27, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY NISSAN MAXIMA (2001) BEGAN TO HARD SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AT APPROX. 55,000 MILES. WHEN I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER (TIM DAHLE NISSAN IN SANDY, UT) AT THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE SHIFTING PROBLEM GOT STEADILY WORSE. THE CAR BEGAN DOING IT RANDOMLY AT ANY GEAR. AT 74,000 MILES I FINALLY HAD TIME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM (AFTER I MADE THEM TEST DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN) AND REPLACED THE CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY IN THE TRANSMISSION. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DROVE OFF THE DEALER'S LOT AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY HARD SHIFTED FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THREE WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN. THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK. APPARENTLY, NISSAN RELEASED A BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, EXPLAINING THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE MAXIMA 2000 TO 2003 (AND OTHER MODELS AS WELL). THE BULLETIN INSTRUCTS THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY, BUT NOT THE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY. I AM LEFT WITH A CAR THAT SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND, RESULTING IN A "CLUNK" SOUND. I BOUGHT NISSAN FOR PERFORMANCE BUT TO AVOID THIS HARD SHIFT I HAVE TO DRIVE SLOWLY, BABYING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT QUIETLY BETWEEN 1ST AND
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130115July 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ONGOING IGNITION COIL FAILURE IN 2000 MAXIMA GLE. DEALER INSISTS THAT ALL SIX COILS BE REPLACED SINCE THE COMPUTER CANNOT ASCERTAIN WHICH COIL(S) IS DEFECTIVE. VERY EXPENSIVE, AND APPARENTLY A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. VEHICLE REPAIR SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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