2004 Nissan Maxima Engine

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 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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO MY CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT GEARS. SINCE IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY STILL I BROUGHT IT SO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED A SENSOR. ABOUT A YEAR AGONY CAR STARTED 'BANGING' INTO GEAR AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR A FEW MINUTES. I DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO MY MECHANIC SINCE MY WARRANTY WAS UP AND NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WAS NOT VERY HELPFUL. I WAS TOLD TODAY THE TRANSMISSION VALVE MAYBE THE PROBLEM AND ITS $1200 TO FIX. IF THIS DOESN'T SOLVE THE ISSUE THEN I HAVE TO HAVE THE TRANNY REBUILT.

I OWN A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AND WHEN I BOUGHT IT I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A GREAT CAR THAT WAS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AGO ALTHOUGH I STILL LIKE THE CAR IT IS STARTING TO MAKE THIS TICKING NOISE THE TICKING NOISE IS COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AND IS DOING THAT BECAUSE OF A PIECE OF PLASTIC HAS GOTTEN LOOSE ON THE TIMING CHAIN GUIDES SO NOW THAT THIS PIECE OF PLASTIC IS LOOSE MY TIMING CHAIN COULD POSSIBLY SNAP AND DAMAGE MY ENTIRE MOTOR SO I DECIDE OK ILL JUST FIX IT BUT OH NO ITS 1500 DOLLARS TO FIX BECAUSE OF ALL THE LABOR THAT IS NEEDED TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED BECAUSE OF THE LABOR INVOLVED IN GETTING TO THE TIMING CHAIN SO MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHY DO YOU HAVE A STUPID PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT IS NOW FAILING FOR ALMOST ALL VQ 35 ENGINES IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE WHY AS A COMPANY YOU ARE SO CHEAP THAT YOU CANT DESIGN SOMETHING MORE DURABLE THAN A PIECE OF PLASTIC TO HOLD TOGETHER THE ENGINE OF MY CAR THAT WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT IN 2004 WAS GOING FOR LIKE 26000 DOLLARS HOW CHEAP CAN YOU GET UNBELIEVABLE YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY CAR DYING BECAUSE OF THIS ONE STUPID PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT IS BASICALLY DEFECTIVE AND WAS NOT MEANT TO HOLD TOGETHER A TIMING CHAIN WHAT A CRAP COMPANY NOW IM ON THE HOOK FOR 3 YEARS AND I HAVE TO PRAY THAT MY CHAIN DOESN'T SNAP BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD TO PAY 1500 DOLLARS TO FIX MY CAR BECAUSE OF A STUPID PIECE OF PLASTIC. *TR

I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN JULY OF 2003 WITH LESS THAN 14 MILES ON IT. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR MYSELF (WHEN I CAN) SINCE A NAPA REPAIR SHOP PUT THE WRONG TRANSMISSION FLUID IN IT AND COMPLETELY RUINED MY TRANNY. I CHANGE MY OIL REGULARLY AND KEEP UP TO DATE WITH OTHER SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I NOW HAVE APPROXIMATELY 144K MILES ON MY CAR AND I HAVE A OBD CODE OF P0420. IN ADDITION TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, MY BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN AFTER RELEASING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. ONE THING I HAVE NOTICE IS THAT I HAVE TO ADD OIL EVERY SO OFTEN BECAUSE IT GOES LOW. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THE CAR IS APPROACHING 9 YEARS, BUT NOW WITH THE OBD CODE, I KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH ONE OR BOTH OF THE FRONT CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. PLEASE CORRECT THESE ISSUES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIOLENTLY JERK. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED AND PERFORMED THE REPAIRS HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO JERK AFTER REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

CAR BEGAN MAKING A CHATTERING SOUND AND I HAD OIL CHECKED IMMEDIATELY. FULL, BUT IT WAS SUGGESTED TO ME AT GAS STATION THAT I MIGHT HAVE A STICKING VALVE. I HAD AN APPOINTMENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7TH BUT ON SUNDAY, 11/6/11 AS I WAS GOING UP A SLIGHT HILL CHATTERING GOT LOUDER AND ENGINE STOPPED. I'M TOLD THE CAR "JUMPED TIMING" DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE TENSIONER WHICH HOLDS THE TIMING CHAIN. IT'S LIKELY THE HEADS WERE DAMAGED IN THE PROCESS BUT I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE ENGINE PULLED APART. FROM ON LINE RESEARCH THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE MAXIMA MODELS 2004-08. CALLED NISSAN BUT THEY INSIST THAT I HAVE IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND PAY A LARGE SUM OF MONEY TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THEN THEY "MIGHT" PAY FOR THE PARTS (JOB IS LABOR INTENSIVE!) FOR THEIR "FLAGSHIP" ENGINE, IT WAS PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA TO USE A PLASTIC PART IN IT! I WILL BE CONTACTING NISSAN AGAIN SOON. THANK YOU. *TR

TIMING CHAIN WHINE. ALTIMA, QUEST, MAXIMA, AND OTHER NISSAN VEHICLES WITH THE VQ35DE ENGINE. *TT

ANOTHER MOTOR MOUNT BROKE, HAD IT FIXED. ONE WEEK LATER I STARTED EXPERIENCING JERKING AND GEAR CHANGING AS I DROVE. WAS ON FREEWAY AND VEHICLE WENT INTO THIRD AND JOLTED MY UPPER BODY (HAD SORE NECK FOR ONE WEEK). ALSO EXPERIENCING 2-3, AND 3-2. PUTTING VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE, THE VEHICLE JERKS BADLY, REVERSE BEING THE WORST. WHEN I COME TO A STOP THE VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD VERY SHARPLY. NISSAN PAID FOR THE DIAGNOSTICS TEST $234.00 AND BUENA PARK NISSAN'S REPORT STATED THE VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS IS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS AND WILL LET ME KNOW IF I GET A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THERE EXPENSE, I HOPE SO, I'M UNEMPLOYED SINCE 10/2010.

IAC VALVE WENT BAD AND CAR SOMETIMES DON'T START AND WHEN IT DOES IT IDEALS ROUGH CANT ORDER THE PART FROM ANYWHERE BUT THE DEALER AND THEY ARE VERY EXPENSIVE I CAN'T EVEN PULL ANYTHING UP ON IT NOWHERE OTHER THAN OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS EVERYWHERE THIS IDEM SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR