Bet that got your attention :-)

Well its final, my 2004 Maxima SE vibration problem is completely "gone". Had Nissan/dealership buy it back from me. Lost a grand or so but thats a drop in the bucket considering the enormous hassle and disappointment this car has been and would have been for the months/years ahead trying to pursue Lemon Law proceeding etc. - and who knows if they would have done any good. Thanks to a "good person" type of Dealer-owner this problem is history for me and I won't look back.

This isn't a "total" slam on Nissan but prior to taking this route the dealer allowed me to test drive other Max's on the lot in an attempt to swap mine for one that didn't vibrate (last week, cars with Oct build dates). The fist 04 Max I tried was near twice as bad as mine - same speeds too, about 65-70 and 75-80. I went no further.... I can't even begin to fathom how anyone would be satisfied with this car and the ride it has, given the "normal characteristic vibration problem" (according to Nissan).

I can only wish you all the best of luck with the 04 Max. May your ride be smooth and rattle free. You will probably find me lurking around the G35, TL, and Audi forums looking for "lesser issue" vehicles. Currently I am hitch-hiking to and from work (not really thank God for friends) and need a replacement car fast, but can only pray I don't get this type of new car blues again.

God bless you all - Have an outstanding Holiday

Thanks all for the help along the way.

Smitty

 

I can't believe you called an Audi a lesser issue car.... They look and drive nice, but are FAR from problem free

 

I can't believe that this problem is wide, yet I've never ran into it. In any of the 3 04's I've driven, including mine.

It is awesome that the dealer did buy it back from you. I have problems with my dealer doing TSB's, so I'm sure I'd be **** out of luck if I had a problem like this.

 

Your "old" car will probably end up on the used car lot. There were two in my area. I drove both. One was a silver SE with Elite package that had 88 miles on it. 24,900. Vibrated like crazy, the other was a hail damaged car that someone had already gotten rid of.....a google search shows 87 "used" 04 Max's within 200 miles of me.....I wonder if I'll find one that dosen't have a problem.

 

I agree. I had a 98 Audi A4 before switching to the Maxima. I didn't have that many problems with the Audi, but any problem that occurred cost a fortune...nothing below $500

 

KJSmitty...glad and sad for you at the same time. Hope you find a "trouble free" vehicle soon. Just one question...Although I can say that I definetly do not have the "shimmy" problem (steering wheel oscillating left to right noticeably) I can't say for sure that I don't have a vibration problem. I've noticed that when accelerating and just prior to changing gears (auto trans) I feel a very slight vibration in the steering wheel. If you watch the wheel while it is doing this you can't detect a motion but you can sure feel it.

Is this the 'vibration you've experienced?

I have an Elite SE. I have the rattling rear deck (going in for second fix), and a few pops and clicks from the headliner as well.

Please let me know your experience.

Thanks

 

Take your cars to Tire discounters and put Michelins on. Then make sure they are balanced.

 

KJSmitty-

Could you provide a little more info on the buyback process? how many miles were on your car?

I am curious b/c I just had my transmission replaced (no kidding) with less than 7,000 miles and have a feeling this won't be the end of my problems. I've had the shimmy problems, dirty screen, rattling, you name it.

 

nukecat, I also have an 04 Max SE "Elite" and like you as I get on the gas the vibration builds until the shift of the trany and then it goes away after the shift due to the rpm drop. So it's an inline vibration somewhere but I have drove other 04 max's and they also share this problem. So I think it's the nature of the car or a design flaw. Someone said they went to a lockup converter on the trany so it might be that but I a not for sure. All we can do is hope that there might be a TSB on this down the road. My steering wheel doesn't move either when it does this but I do have an shimmy sometimes but no constant so it might be feedback from the 18"rims and road. I am going to have my dealership check the rotors to make sure they are true and not out of balance on my next visit. As far as the headliner mine has a little noise from time to time also. jdc1203

 

KJSmitty,
Thanks for keeping us up to date on your problems. I was hoping you found the root cause to the problem. You certainly found a solution!

I need a new car and the Max would be perfect, except for it's problems. I have owned three Maxima's. Believe I'll confine my looking to Toyota and Honda products.

 

Nukecat,
The day I drove my SE off the dealership lot I noticed the steering wheel osculation/shimmy around 50-60mph but,,, that was completely a separate issue from the bad vibrations felt in the entire car at speeds over 65mph. the shimmy in the steering wheel miraculously disappeared one day after being at the dealership.... Even though they denied it, I believe they torqued the rack/steering as others have mentioned. From then on the vibration was my main complaint. Sure I had the rear deck rattle, fingerprinted/streaked info screen, and numerous rattles in the dash, but they could eventually be taken care of. The vibration I could not and would not accept. Not to regurgitate my past rantings etc. but I went through all of the tire balancing acts with the Hunter RFV system, both on the factory tires 3 or 4 times then on the $1200 worth of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S's that the dealer installed. Nothing we did with the tires/rims made a dent in the vibration. Even though I didn't get to try another set of rotors I still feel they could have been either all or part of the issue. Both of my fronts were "off center" with the hub. You could easily see the wobble with the naked eye and definitely see it on the brake lathe. Their was no signs of machine balancing so I can only feel due to their 20+ lbs weight each and near 13 inch diameter, that the off center action would definitely cause vibration at higher speeds. My vibration along with several of the other 5 04 Max's I drove was harmonic and cyclic. It would come and go, kind of surge if you will at given speeds. This caused me to believe that hydraulic forces within the rack or even transmission were also part of the problem. I really couldn't say. I do know that when you spin just the drive-train minus the wheels and tires the vibration is still present. The concerning issue for any Max owner is the fact that Nissan, during my first buy-back arbitration hearing, stated: "We know the 04 Max's have a vibration problem but feel its a normal characteristic of the vehicle at this time". I'm not sure what their use to driving but this degree of vibration is far from normal on any vehicle short of a tractor. I would say it feels as if all four tires were at least 2 ounces out of balance - our bent rims....

As for the Dealer buying/taking the car back,, this had nothing to do with the BBB, Nissan, or State Lemon Law folks or any other "buy-back process". This was all due to the owner being somewhat of a friend, ie kids play on the same T-ball/soccer teams, run into him at church etc. not to mention an all around man with integrity. He has known from day one that this car has been a total disappointment. He decided on his own to "take it off my hands". He gave me a deal I couldn't refuse. Now it wasn't like he gave all my money back or anything, but he basically paid off my loan and let me walk away. I had financed the entire amount and due to my "official state of residence" paid no sales tax and only about $50 total in title and license. When it was all said and done it wasn't much different than making four lease payments and giving the car back with 3000 miles on it. I mentioned a little over a $grand in my first post above, thats what I figure my cost was if you factor in what it would have cost me to go the distance with the Lemon Law process. For me it was a no brainer to take the deal and run before he changed his mind :-) After reading the post with the used $24,900 Elite SE (88 miles) above, I only hope my dealer doesn't take that amount of a "bath" on reselling mine.

As for finding another car without problems.... I won't, but I'm sure I can find one (a manufacturer) that will at least attempt to fix a known problem - unlike Nissan and this vibration issue.

I hate to be airing Nissan's dirty laundry(vs slamming), this would have been my second Maxima and 6th Nissan/Datsun since 1983. We have always liked their cars/trucks, but the last four months has near ruined a 21 year "relationship".

Thanks Maxima.org for letting me gain knowledge, post information, and all out whine and bit%$ about my 04 purchase. Like previous generations, the Max is a great car. I just feel some serious "bugs" need to be worked out of the 04.

Happy Holidays all

Smitty

 

I'm sorry to hear about all of this. You're lucky your dealer was nice enough to help you out of your situation. I can only imagine that all of the problems you have had with your max have been totally upsetting. I know that buying my 2k3 brand new was an exciting and scary experience. Any time you spend that much money, you don't want to have any problems, especially mechanical problems like you have mentioned. Is this really a widespread problem? I really like the 6th gen and all of these problems are disapointing to hear.

 

Geez, thank goodness I have my 5th gen cuz if I waited out what the 6th gen, I would have regretted not buying the 5th gen brand new. I can't believe it's that bad, damn French car company, Renault shoudn't bought stake in Nissan shares.

 

Thank goodness I have a 2003.

 

C'mon guys...don't bring up other gens into this-- we don't want wars between 6th gens and us like the 4th genners do with 3rd gens

Also, thank goodness they have a 2004 and they don't have to worry about HID Thefts

 

Even though I owned a 2002 and I am looking at a 2003, I am shocked at the number of problems that the '04 has had.

I was floored when I saw the same spirited bronze '04 SE I test drove with the bumper off due to an exhaust/bumper issue.

 

I for one don't think the '04's have as many problems as you're suggesting. I believe there's just a small but very vocal group of people with something wrong.

I can tell you that my '04 Max - after 6,300 miles - doesn't shimmy, doesn't rattle or squeak, doesn't have weird things going on with the sunroof, or the brakes or any of the other things I've read about. And it never has. It's been back to the dealer only twice - once to pick up the plates and once for an oil change.

The ones you're gonna hear about are the ones with problems ... you won't hear the rest of us compaining because we're out driving the snot out of our trouble-free Maximas.

Mike

 

Yes, a certain percent of any new car will have problems including the 04' MAX. For those of us that having issues we are trying to find answers so we can as you enjoy the car more. So if your car is not shimmying or broken in some other way quit complaining about people who are working towards resolving their issues. Why do you have time to complain about us anyway if your so busy "driving the snot out of your car...., have fun and quit whinning"

I can tell you that my '04 Max - after 6,300 miles - doesn't shimmy, doesn't rattle or squeak, doesn't have weird things going on with the sunroof, or the brakes or any of the other things I've read about. And it never has. It's been back to the dealer only twice - once to pick up the plates and once for an oil change.

The ones you're gonna hear about are the ones with problems ... you won't hear the rest of us compaining because we're out driving the snot out of our trouble-free Maximas.

Mike[/QUOTE]

 

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Well it's all relative. I you're floored by Nissan new car issues lately, then I guess you would be flabbergasted at the number of new car issues that Hondas are having these days. The list is much longer on the Honda side of things.

 

All cars have Issues. PERIOD! I sell them, hell they are all Junk! Mercedes Benz, Audi, Jaguar, Saab not to mention BMW have serious durability and electrical issues. Toyota has a oil gelling problem in the 4 cyl camry engines dating back to 98''. The new 6cyl one only had a bad head gasket in the test car for motor trend. Honda's have issues, ford and chrysler can't make a 60,000 mile tranny. GM cars have problems everywhere in the trim department. VW, good luck! Every VW we've had at the lot has had a $2000 repair bill, our latest Jetta likes to roll the windows down when you turn on the car. Not to mention the SUV of the year Toureg has had numerous issues regarding the 4WD and Air Ride systems. SO whats left? NOTHING! And please don't let price be an argument on how reliable a car is, (Like my $30,000 car is built like a 3,000 car). Because remember this one piece of advice, the more stuff you put in the car, the more problems you will get with a car. If you want perfection buy a bicycle.

 

Car forums can definitely make things look really bad. Can you imagine if car forums existed in the 1980s when cars were much more trouble-prone? But forums are good about giving owners the heads up on problems to watch out for.

 

These wont be the only problems on the 6th Gens either- wait until they start pilling up miles and they have rotor problem (as us 5th gens) due to those huge factory wheels- plus they are not assembled in Japan anymore.....

The 6th gen may be perfect by 2006- maybe a 25th AE

 

I totally agree. I have purchased several vehicles over the last 25 years (foreign and American) and almost all have had issues. No car is perfect. When you purchase a vehicle, you must also consider the dealer (service). They have a significant outcome in your vehicle pleasure.

 

Bingblank69 makes the best points I've seen. I guess 30 grand for a car is just business as usual and everyone paying high dollars for new cars can only "hope" that the car justifies the cost. What's that old saying.....you can hope in one hand and something in the other? I'll bet there's a bigger problem here. Work ethic, etc. ?

 

Perfection is relative... all cars have problems, and if you like your car enough you put up with it. My '92 Q45 is perfect, but does suck my wallet dry now and then.

BMW owners seem to take pride in getting their car fixed, like it's a yuppie ritual or something. No different than getting your hair cut or your back waxed. Just something you have to do.

The nice thing about Japanese cars is that most problems are diagnosable and fixable. Can't say that for German and American cars....