Buying 05 Maxima - Reliable Trans Stories?
08-10-2012, 03:05 PM
#1
Buying 05 Maxima - Reliable Trans Stories?
I'm looking at an 05 Maxima AT (he can't drive manual) w/ 115k miles for my brother in law. I've read so much about the common transmission problems. I'm trying to convince him to get an older yet more reliable 03 but he likes the 6th gens.
Question for 6th gen owners... Please post if you HAVE NOT replaced the trans on your maxima and how many miles you have gone without any this trans issue.
Or if you have replaced your trans. Did you upgrade and how long did/has it lasted?
Question for 6th gen owners... Please post if you HAVE NOT replaced the trans on your maxima and how many miles you have gone without any this trans issue.
Or if you have replaced your trans. Did you upgrade and how long did/has it lasted?
08-10-2012, 03:33 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,625
I'm looking at an 05 Maxima AT (he can't drive manual) w/ 115k miles for my brother in law. I've read so much about the common transmission problems. I'm trying to convince him to get an older yet more reliable 03 but he likes the 6th gens.
Question for 6th gen owners... Please post if you HAVE NOT replaced the trans on your maxima and how many miles you have gone without any this trans issue.
Or if you have replaced your trans. Did you upgrade and how long did/has it lasted?
Question for 6th gen owners... Please post if you HAVE NOT replaced the trans on your maxima and how many miles you have gone without any this trans issue.
Or if you have replaced your trans. Did you upgrade and how long did/has it lasted?
I have 125k on my 04 5at trans, and haven't had even a blip of a problem
Last edited by twentyeggs; 08-10-2012 at 03:41 PM.
08-10-2012, 05:33 PM
#5
I have not replaced my transmission.
I have a 5AT 06 SE.
However, I was starting to get the classic symptoms of hard / delayed shifting especially when it was hot and when I had been sitting in D and not moving (think stop and go traffic). This was around 90,000 miles.
I began to drain and fill every 5,000 miles and added an extra transmission cooler. The problems declined considerably although every once in a while I can still get a hard shift or a delay going from R-D or D-R. I'm at 188,000 miles today.
Bottom line - all makes and models have their issues. Stay on top of drain and fills and add an additional cooler and you can prolong the life of the transmission.
I have a 5AT 06 SE.
However, I was starting to get the classic symptoms of hard / delayed shifting especially when it was hot and when I had been sitting in D and not moving (think stop and go traffic). This was around 90,000 miles.
I began to drain and fill every 5,000 miles and added an extra transmission cooler. The problems declined considerably although every once in a while I can still get a hard shift or a delay going from R-D or D-R. I'm at 188,000 miles today.
Bottom line - all makes and models have their issues. Stay on top of drain and fills and add an additional cooler and you can prolong the life of the transmission.
08-11-2012, 08:52 AM
#6
Okay. Some very helpful posts here. I was pretty sure that there had to be good experiences out there too - especially because if it was an extremely large issue Nissan would have to recall it by now. I was leaning on the thought that the majority of problems reported are just a small percentage of all 6th gen owners. It's not like the people with good experiences are going to come on and post about how they have no problems... Thanks all. I'll make sure to give it a good drive and check the trans fluid to see how often it's been maintained.
08-12-2012, 07:20 PM
#8
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 10,349
Recalls are carefully researched over a period of time. It's a big process... Preliminary evaluations, in depth engineering analysis to solve the problem and eventually the recall.
Oh, one more thing... If a vehicle is 8 years old or older, it's not eligible for recalls. So 2004 is the cutoff for a recall, since it's 2012. And the 2013 models are already coming out, so that time will be cut short soon.
08-12-2012, 07:33 PM
#9
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Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 1,625
Recalls don't exactly work that way when it comes to mechanical reliability. Recalls are mostly due to a defect in safety, such as airbags, seat belts, braking systems, or any other risk that for those driving and riding in the car. Any other problem, such as prematurely failing automatic transmissions, or air conditioners, etc will not fall under a recall.
Recalls are carefully researched over a period of time. It's a big process... Preliminary evaluations, in depth engineering analysis to solve the problem and eventually the recall.
Oh, one more thing... If a vehicle is 8 years old or older, it's not eligible for recalls. So 2004 is the cutoff for a recall, since it's 2012. And the 2013 models are already coming out, so that time will be cut short soon.
Recalls are carefully researched over a period of time. It's a big process... Preliminary evaluations, in depth engineering analysis to solve the problem and eventually the recall.
Oh, one more thing... If a vehicle is 8 years old or older, it's not eligible for recalls. So 2004 is the cutoff for a recall, since it's 2012. And the 2013 models are already coming out, so that time will be cut short soon.
08-12-2012, 07:49 PM
#10
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Location: Jacksonville, FL
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there is nothing more reliable with a 5.5 than a 6th gen lol...
.... Plus if you wanna pay $9K for a 6th gen, id definately have to look into n altima SER.... Looks better IMO
08-13-2012, 06:01 AM
#24
Most of the response will be the same. Stay away from the 5spd. Can't drive manual or won't drive manual? Teach him and I'm sure once he gets a taste of that controlled power he'll never go back to automatic. I was once like that but getting beaten in a mini sprint by a female who's driving a stick while you're driving an automatic definitely changed the mentality someone who won't learn...
08-13-2012, 09:42 AM
#25
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Posts: 1,625
lol I know what a recall is and how they work.. I didn't say you were wrong. I said you are being negative. This guy obviously has his heart set on buying a 6th gen (like tens of thousands of others on this website have... This IS MAXIMA.org btw) and he is looking for reassurance from other 6th gen owners about his desision/purchase. The thread was titled SUCCESSFUL trans stories not UNsuccessful stories or people bashing the transmission. If he wanted that he would have gone on the other countess transmission threads on the .org and in fact he probably did!! promting him to post a new thread to try and see the other side of things. Thus the title "successful" not unsuccessful not tell me about bad things, but positive things. You were being negative, and I made a joke at Nancy's expense lol
08-13-2012, 03:54 PM
#29
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NYC_WASHINGTON HEIGHTS
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just go look at the classifieds i am selling mine with levelten valve body for 6.5k, that's the nissan dream! lol I went thru all the hassel and finally have a smooth shifting transmission for you.
08-13-2012, 04:11 PM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: NJ
Posts: 734
i agree on you on that one about the price and altima se-r i saw a 05 white max with 130k but it was a 6spd for 5k after i nego but i didnt buy it...
08-13-2012, 05:07 PM
#31
Banned
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 85
Theres a reason 6 gens have horrible resale value. If its not the trans, the cats will get you, or the timing chain issue, if not the interior rattles, or the engine mounts. its almost a POS. Your brother in law is expecting japanese fit and finish. He will be disappointed.Its american built. Dont buy it.
08-13-2012, 05:21 PM
#32
WOW!!! Well if his brother-in-law was here and read that response definitely would not get it. Lets put into consideration that the 6thgens came out about 6-8 years ago, how is it possible for a car to go that long without any issues
A lot of time you see all those things happening one after the other just means they need to be changed, the owner neglects the signs of defective parts, and is lazy on their service appointments. Just like everything else nothing was designed to last forever. You probably had a really bad experience with the 6thgen but for me as much as the car gives problems I love mine and can't see myself getting rid of it anytime soon. I drive my ish all year around and by the time I'm done with her I would of gotten my moneys worth...
08-13-2012, 05:34 PM
#34
Exactly what I'm saying. I don't even think he's even talking about the timing chain, I think he's referring to the tensioners. And it's obviously that will happen when you allow the oil to go below the level and the chain to runs on it with no lubricant.
08-13-2012, 06:47 PM
#35
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Location: Jacksonville, FL
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lol I know what a recall is and how they work.. I didn't say you were wrong. I said you are being negative. This guy obviously has his heart set on buying a 6th gen (like tens of thousands of others on this website have... This IS MAXIMA.org btw) and he is looking for reassurance from other 6th gen owners about his desision/purchase. The thread was titled SUCCESSFUL trans stories not UNsuccessful stories or people bashing the transmission. If he wanted that he would have gone on the other countess transmission threads on the .org and in fact he probably did!! promting him to post a new thread to try and see the other side of things. Thus the title "successful" not unsuccessful not tell me about bad things, but positive things. You were being negative, and I made a joke at Nancy's expense lol
08-13-2012, 09:01 PM
#36
all in all to the OP, if you or whoever wants the car, maintains and keeps up with maintenance its the same reliability as all VQ35DE motors, they all burn oil and thats just that, im sure there is 1 n 2 random lucky folks who can object but unfortunately the majority makes the reputation... if reliability is his thing then the 3.0 is the better option, or 7th gen, or HR. If the speed means a little but more then go with whichever 3.5 just be more mindful and more hasty maintenance wise... now as far as price goes, i personally aint paying over $7500 for a 6th gen, especially auto, way too common a car that dont really hold their value
08-14-2012, 08:48 AM
#38
.... *** the 6h gen... get a SER Altima
