I purchased my 2013 Maxima SV Premium in January (traded in a 2006 Acura TL 6MT with 90K miles and no major issues). This is our fifth Max and ninth Nissan overall. We've never had a single problem with any of our previous Maximas, Altimas, a Pathfinder or a 200SX. I've had nothing but great things to say about my new Max until this past weekend. On an overnight roadtrip to celebrate our anniversary, my wife and I pulled away from a stop sign in Drive sport and the CVT wouldn't shift from first to second. I backed off the accelerator and then there was nothing. The engine died causing a loss of power steering and the dash lit up like a Christmas tree. Luckily I was able to coast to the side of the two-lane highway and avoid getting hit. My wife called Nissan and they sent a tow truck to get us, though the driver was 90 minutes from us and the closest dealership was another 90 minutes away. I was able to talk with the service manager one hour before they closed on Saturday and arrange for a loaner car. The car has 5,343 miles on it. As I type this (on Monday), I'm waiting to hear the diagnosis from the service manager. But, I feel 99 percent sure the CVT failed. I read this board more than I post, but I want to make sure fellow Maxima enthusiasts are aware of the problem I'm having. Especially since most of the posts I have read indicate there have been only a few instances of CVT failure over the last several years. Stay tuned to my saga ... I'll provide updates.

 

Just curious, did the engine attempt to turn over when you tried to restart the car or does it just not attempt at all since it knows there's a problem with the transmission?

 

Yes, it attempts to crank, although it's a higher pitched sound than usual.

 

Wow. Sorry to hear that. We're waiting alongside ya for the diagnosis.

 

Wow, that blows. Sorry to hear that...interesting to hear what they say the issue is...since the CVT on the 13 is supposed to be an improved one over earlier models

 

Sorry that this happened to you. It's too bad that it happened on your anniversary. I'm interested to see what the issue is.

 

Not good.

 

After calling the dealership's service department three times today (rather than them calling me), at 5:15 p.m. the service adviser told me the technician believes the timing chain came off. They won't know for sure until they get the "front tore off" (I think he meant "torn down"). I hope to have more details tomorrow. This is so disappointing. Once this is all settled, I think I'll be going back to an Acura or possibly looking at a Lexus.

 

I'll never understand that attitude. One issue and you run for another brand. Its a numbers game man. Everyone gets burned by every brand and every model. Your turn on the Max. It sucks, but it happens.

I had the timing chain replaced on my 04. It was at 140k miles though and I didn't toss it like that.

If the chain was tossed there might be other damage to the engine. Probably a replacement since these are interference engines if I remember right. That also explains the high pitched noise you heard when trying to start it. Not spinning much if the chain has been tossed.

Sounds like a fluke accident. Somehow that one snuck past QC. Bad chain? Bad gears? Misaligned? Hopefully Nissan takes a look at that and makes sure it doesn't happen to anyone else. I've never heard of this happening.

 

I've never heard of that happening either. There are problems with every make, that's how it goes. It is just unfortunate when it's you it happens to.

 

There is always a risk of some idiot not installing something properly at the factory. Failures due to those usually come early in a car's life (while it's still under warranty). Definitely an inconvenience at the least though. Sorry to hear about your experience.

 

I understand completely that it is most likely a fluke or freak issue and a numbers game across all auto manufacturers. But when I spend $35-40K for a brand new car, I expect safety and reliability in addition to performance and comfort. The time, place and nature of this mechanical fluke put my wife and me in a position where we could have been injured, caused injury to someone else or worse. Once the car is repaired, who knows whether or not it will truly meet factory specifications. Maybe I will be inconvenienced by constantly having to make follow-up service visits because the repairs are just never quite right. And as long as I have the car I'll always worry about myself, my wife and our children taking road trips in it or traveling at highway speeds. Will it break down again and leave our whole family stranded ... cause an accident? Maybe? That's not a risk we'll be willing to tolerate. This is really unfortunate because I've loved and bragged about Nissans for years. Unfortunately, though, all it takes is one bad experience to turn consumers against any brand -- it happens all the time.

 

Very true. But luck sometimes plays a part in the saga. That is, when you acquire that brand-new Acura let's hope it's not the case of "some idiot not installing something properly at the factory." Good luck.

 

Change if you must. But my son would VERY STRONGLY advise that you stay completely away from Acura. He loves Acuras, but has had running battles with Honda Corp for nine years over one Acura problem after another. He is on his third Acura, all with problems. He had to have three trannies in one TL Type 'S'.

I would also be a little leary of Lexus, as those have been implicated in the Toyota 'runaway' problem which has killed so many people.

My son said his next car will be a Maxima, because I have owned nothing but Maximas since October 1984, and have had very few problems with any of my many Maximas. Even if I did have problems with my 7th gen Maxima, I would not even consider heading for another brand. I have been driving since the late 1940s, and never again want to go through what I went through with cars before I began buying Maximas.

Put another way, I would never dream of abandoning a good wife because she burned one meal.

 

As someone that works for a Cadillac dealer (I'm an accessories installer) I don't care how much $$$ you claim you spend on a "brand new" car they still have problems. I've been at this dealer for only 6 months and you would be surprised how many times I would see the same escalades in that are 2012's and 13's for stupid little issues that I've never had in my 10 years of owning 3 nissans. Another example is my 3 neighbors I kick it with in my condo complex. One has a Range Rover, and 535i and a H3 and those have been in the shop more than my max has in the year and a half I've had mine. And I see a loaner for the 2012 535i at least every 2 weeks (faulty tires, and a battery issue etc). So every car has there issues. But I think I will stand behind my max and nissan before I switch to another make.

PS I had a Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V for 9 years and 107k miles on it. Never had a major issue with it. And I piad $18k for it. It's not about the $$ you spend.

 

I was just talking to a fellow Max owner about not worrying about the timing chain! This would have to be a real freak breakdown. Are they going to replace the engine? If Nissan is on the ball it will want that engine back to see how this happened. Not something you want to have breaking on cars that are under full warranty!

 

The dealer repairing my car placed the order for a new long block (engine) today. Should arrive in two to three days, then it will take another three days to install. According to the service manager, it's a $12,000 replacement. I called the dealer I purchased the car from and asked what they could do for me. They called back and were so kind to offer us $28K to buy the car back. Nice ... $7K depreciation in three months. Bob Howard Nissan in Oklahoma City and Nissan North America can shove this car sideways up their **** orifices.

 

Holy crap... so the CVT was OK then, it was actually the timing chain or some other internal engine failure?

 

That's correct. The timing chain failed. I'll confirm tomorrow what other components were damaged as a result of this, but long story short ... they're installing a new engine.

 

Might not be a bad idea to try and get the dealer to bump the offer up to like 30 or 31k and then go with another new one?

 

I feel your pain, and I would probably feel the same way.

 

You should call nissan. Why would the dealer care to help you they're about profit they don't really have to worry about their reputation. They're just a bunch of sales people. Call nissan mention BBB etc. This is rare probably a handful out of ~250,000 7th gens.

 

My wife just said she would shoot me if I bought another Nissan.

 

And its probably pointless for them to buy the car they will probably be getting ur old engine/timing chain anyway. might just remanu it an sale it back.

 

Man that is horrible... I sure hope that you get some decent satisfaction with this through either a new engine, or a new vehicle (Nissan or otherwise). Might be worth checking around at places like CarMax too in order to see what they would give you for it after it is fixed.

Best of luck and keep us posted for sure man!

 

most likely just a odd mishap when the engine was built, ive seen engines and transmissions fail under 50,000km in Mazdas, Fords, you name it. no manufacturer is perfect, i remember Mazda had a terrible batch of Renesis rotaries in 2004 and Ford had a terrible batch of F150 engines a couple years ago that blew early. Acura had a bunch of glass transmissions in the early 00's as well

at least you get a new engine for free and the odds of something major failing again in a freak accident is 1%

 

I realize your upset but just calm down and realize that new engine will most likely go 150K miles worry free. **** happens with any model car.

I'm sure you can get Nissan to throw in a extended bumper to bumper warranty if you nag them

As far as the dealer goes do they sell any other make car you are interested in ? If so say fine I'll take $28 K but I want xxx car at cost including dealer hold back. If they do that ( which they might) it will take the sting out of the $7K depreciation by about 50% depending on what you buy. When I lived in CT my Nissan Dealer also owned Infiniti

 

I'm confused, are you having to pay the $12,000? Or is that work covered under the warranty?

 

Warranty of course

 

I definitely agree w this.

Maxse4me - Even though wifey doesn't want you to grab another Nissan, what are your options really? You gonna eat the $7k? That'd be crazy on a car that's not even 5 months old.

B!tch, complain, and nag both Nissan and the dealer. You clearly got a lemon and there are likely laws in your state that'll protect you. Use that as leverage.

Ps. Thanks for posting this btw. I'm sure that others will find your unfortunate experience useful.

 

Only one failure in 5 months (though it was a big one) does not mean it will be tagged as a lemon under state laws. I believe you have to have reacurring problems that do not ever get fixed completly.

To the OP: If you eat the 7K depreciation to get another car wouldn't be the smartest move. A new engine in an otherwise new problem free car is a pretty good deal. Your inconvienience can be midigated by free services if the dealership has any class and believes in customer loyality.

 

When you get your Max back, inspect it to make sure it is clean and everything is like you want it, and drive it for another 150,000 miles. Your problem was a fluke, Nissans are super reliable and they should not be looked down upon because of one issue.

Things happen, just ask Boeing. Their new Dreamliners were grounded because of a lithium-ion battery.

 

Whoops ... I think you're right about this. Clearly wasn't thinking straight at 2 in the morning.

 

What a drama queen.

 

^^^ part of the grieving process. Lol. Give him a break, I'd be irritated too. What do you want to bet he gets the car back, cools down, and finds that it drives great. And then finds himself saying "well, Nissan took care of the problem just right, and I couldn't ask for more, sure am happy that they took care of it properly, looking forward to many nissans in the future...".

 

I can understand how an issue like this would really set you off, but instances of things like this are pretty rare in the scheme of things. Hope when you get the car back you have a better experience going forward!

 

Yup its an interference engine. Total engine replacement because when the timing chain was tossed the valves started smacking into the pistons. I wonder what those cylinders look like now.

 

Sorry to hear about the demise of your Max, Maxse4me.

I just had replaced a timing belt on our SUV, but it has a few more miles than your Max (as in 140k more).

Keep us posted on what you end up doing.

 

I'm guessing you already did the Timing BELT before it hit ~140k miles and this is the 2nd time you replaced it

If not that'd REALLY rolling the dice

 

yeah im hoping it was replaced once before 140k as well even the newer timing belts are only good to 80,000 miles