Alright, I just got a call from my father who took his 04 Maxima with ~78,000 miles on it out of town earlier today. He called and said that he thinks the transmission is out in his car.

He went to Seattle from here, about a 130 mile trip over a mountain pass. He pulled in about 30 miles outside of Seattle, and when he went to get back on the freeway, he said it kind of slipped, then shifted hard, but then was fine until he got to off to his hotel. The car had no power and he suspected it was stuck in a higher gear. So he switched it to the sport mode and noticed only 5th gear was working.

Thankfully, he is where he needs to be for now. However, he is 130 miles from home and was expecting to come back tomorrow.

Now I am in the process of searching for some more info about the tranny, but was just wondering how common a failure like this is. The car is 100% stock, well maintained, and driven pretty easy.

Also if anyone from the Seattle area, has any comments on local dealers that would be great. He is at SeaTac so the closer the better. I may end up towing it back home tomorrow as either I can fix it or work out a great deal, as my cousin is the service manager at the local Nissan dealer.

So any insight? I'm guessing the thing is junk, but could it possibly be something simple?

 

Yea, the 04' Max are notoriously known for bad trannies, your dad isn't the only one who has this problem.

 

Anyone have any luck with a Nissan DSPM approving a goodwill repair on the transmission - whole or part?

I am a Honda technician. I really don't like Honda's personally, but I do know they are really good to their customers and my DSPM would probably step up 80-100% in a similar situation.

I wonder with my cousin going to bat for us if it is possible Nissan might authorize the repair under warranty. Anyone have any luck with goodwill repair?

 

I just traded mine in because the transmission was on its last legs. It was sticking in a high gear then dropping and it would take off way too fast because I was trying to get out of my own way. It also would just rev at red lights some times, so I had put it to auto-stick and it didnt help. It's a very bad transmission in the cars, almost as bad as the 4 spd (see: SL) I was like the fourth person to leave the .org last month because of tranny issues, and i was not putting $3100 into it and have it go again within a year.

 

I have actually had the goodwill repair just recently. At 59k my tranny was slipping so they replaced the valve body, but then it started slipping again @ 61k. About 2 months later and a few dozen calls to 1-800-nissan-1 i finally got it replaced under warranty

 

He is really close to Burien nissan 1-800-540-5278 who replaced my tranny but i had a hard time getting to admit anything was wrong he can call them and ask for Adam.

But in my opinion Nissan of the Eastside in Bellevue 1-866-564-7726 is a lot better ask for Damon.

 

i have a 04 maxima, production date is april 03. the dealer told me theres two transmissions for the 6th gen maxima, one from 03 - aug 04 and from aug 04 to 06, i have had a lot of trouble with my transmission one place tried to put a 06 transmission on my car and it didnt fit, do you guys know if any other year transmissions will fit my 04 model or do i have to find a tranny from 03 - aug 04. One mechanic insists that a 05 will fit but i have my doubts for obvious reasons, please help me im really fed up with this whole thing ive had my car worked on by like 3 mechanics with no luck and cant afford the dealer price. please reply to this, message me or call me 909 534 5856, thanks