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?

 

Yes, the 6th gen does have transmission problems, but ford has transmission problems, Chevy has transmission problems, Dodge has transmission problems, Mitsubishi has transmission problems, Civic has transmission problems, Hyundai has transmission problems, Lexus has transmission problems, ect.. get the point? out of all the maximas made and sold, roughly 3% of those have transmission problems. yes this is higher than its supposed to be, but what car out there is made perfectly and not prone to any problems? The other 97% of us, including me, have had no problems nor any signs of it. What happens is the squeaky wheel get the grease. This is not an issue worth making a decision upon. Odds are you will never have this problem. And if you notice, its mostly the 5.5 gen max guys that advocate the 5at trans is such a huge deal.

I have 125k on my 04 5at trans, and haven't had even a blip of a problem

 

I have a 08 Maxima with 80,000 miles and not have any issues what so ever.

 

Try looking for a SL, it has a 4sp AT and are less prone to transmission issues. Or a 07-08 with the CVT and they are also better looking.

 

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.

 

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.

 

if you dont mind me asking how much is the 05 you're looking at?

 

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.

 

Well look at Ms. Negative Nancy over here...

 

How about you do some research on what a recall is? It has nothing to do with negativity as you say. It is what it is.

 

there is nothing more reliable with a 5.5 than a 6th gen lol...

 

4th gen *cough*

 

Crusher *cough*

 

Or dek...

 

My dek purrs like a kitten...

 

Get a catback so it can roar like a............... Baby lion lol

 

at this thread...GL

 

LOL! Well... that declined rather quickly. The 05 maxima is costing a little over $9k.

 

if you want my honest opinion...i wouldnt...that's my opinion. keep your 4th and call it a day.

 

I dont see how this thread couldve accended?? .... Plus if you wanna pay $9K for a 6th gen, id definately have to look into n altima SER.... Looks better IMO

 

^what the hoe said

 

BLAME TAMMY BISH

 

I blamed Keisha

 

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...

 

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

 

you think he wants truth or dreams. be real

 

Dreams man.... Dreams

 

6th gen reliable transmission dreams

 

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.

 

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...

 

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.

 

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...

 

Never heard of a timing chain issue ever... U sure about that one bro?

 

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.

 

And that's your opinion if you believe that I was being negative. I however don't see it that way at all. All I was doing was providing real world information. Take that however you wish.

 

lol yea those dont go out... almost every car manufacture can even tell you that lmao...

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

 

dont listen to that hoe...dont get a 6th gen...you'll have less problems w/ a 5/5.5..but i'd get a 4th...BUT!!!!!!!!!!!! it's all on you

 

lol 6th gen and 5.5 gens have same oil consumption issues.... 4th ot 5th fo reliability you how azz bish .... *** the 6h gen... get a SER Altima

 

lol i'm talking trans, not engine...ion care about 'oil consumption' my 5th had a little oil consumption +

 

blah... the autos suck however u slice the cake lol