I feel sorry for the people that have this issue and no longer have a warranty... This should be a recal if you ask me.

I will be asking for extended warenty but I do not expect much. Seriously considering getting rid of this thing before the warenty is up. I just do not trust the quality of this car.

 

And the Consumers Report states Maxima of these years has perfect engine reliability record!

 

Ridiculous right? I wonder though, how many more people with 7th gen maximas are having this same problem. I bet most of "non-enthusiast" folks don't even know they have the bearing knock.

 

It used to be a great engine - when assembled in Japan. Now assembled in USA... + transmission assembled in Mexico - is this car any more reliable than an average American car?

 

Mr. Ghosh cuts too many corners in pursuit of a profit...

 

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/n...ties/index.htm

 

I have it too, drives me crazy. I want to bring it in but can't afford to be without a car for a weak

 

They would provide you with a rental, no?

 

i doubt it, i didn't buy it new, I would have to call once i am ready. Right now its in the body shop from being hit, no luck,

 

So it turns out that we, or at least some of us, might be dealing with a broken flex plate and not the main bearing. I've had a 2010 maxima owner comment on my video about having to replace/fix the broken flex plate in his max. He said that he replaced the bearing but it turned out that the real issue was the damn flex plate.

I dunno wtf anymore

 

He also said that, if the noise is coming frome the driver's side wheel well then it is the flex plate causing the knocking/tapping noise

 

Just dropped off my 2014 for bearing noise. It has 59700 miles on it.. got it in just under the warranty! They gave me a free 2016 rogue as a loaner. I'll update when I hear back from the dealership.

 

I haven't logged into this forum in a long time.

I'm not surprised that this thread that I started ~ 3 years ago is still going , I am surprised that it's not a sticky.

Good luck guys,

 

Hi All,
Newbie here. 2012 Maxima SV Premium/Tech, 43K mi. Thanks to this thread, I now know what the knocking noise I'm hearing is, and have an appointment with the dealer to have it diagnosed. BTW, they're usually great, and have already arranged for a loaner, even tho they haven't diagnosed.

My question: since this is a problem with the originally installed part, how likely is it that the crank/rod bearings, pistons/#2 main bearing etc. have been compromised, so that the repair may fix the noise, but may not find excessive wear on related parts? If the crank has been moving out of round, so to speak, even just a little, wouldn't that probably cause some undue wear? When I talk to them on Tues. after they diagnose (and it sounds just like the videos on this thread), I plan to ask them, but I wonder what the gurus from this forum think? I know these engines are built to some seriously close tolerances.

Thanks in advance; appreciate all of your input!

 

Some pictures of the crank and bearings have shown irregular wear.But they are only changing the bearing. No plastiguage check, honing or machining nothing.

 

Thanks, Bificus99. I'm going to take it a step at a time, let them diagnose it and see what they say. If they propose only to replace the bearing, I'll ask them what assurance I have that 43K on a bad main bearing won't compromise other parts. Then, if necessary, I'll take it up the chain. No use borrowing trouble, I guess. So, I'll keep the forum posted. Have to say I haven't noticed any performance problems, just the noise.

 

This noise is only an issue at idle, typically in park or neutral. The potential of damage to other rotational elements at the cylinder involved is very unlikely.

If you want some extra insurance, peace of mind, have an oil analysis done before the work is done and do another in 15k miles and compare the copper, tin, lead, iron levels. I recommend the wait of 15k (2-3 oil & filter changes) to remove any 'wear-in' bearing materials that will spike right after the bearing is replaced.

Blackstone labs (my personal oil analysis lab recommendation) should be told of the work done on the engine so they know what you are trying to catch = higher than normal engine wear from bearing work.

And finally, as I have said many times in this same thread, the noise is annoying, but it was never going to stop your engine from lasting for at least 200k miles with standard maintenance.

 

Thanks, KGM. What you say makes sense. You are right about the noise. And I have been meticulous about maintenance, including synthetic oil and all interval services. I'll post about what the dealer says.

 

I would like to buy a 2014 or 2015 but I was wondering if this has been fixed on either of hose years?

 

There is no 2015 Maxima only late 2014 models, it has to do with the new 8th generation models not being ready in time for the 2015 model year so they skipped it. Yes, there are still 2014's that have the knock but many, if not most, do not. Just make sure the car is warm and listen carefully at idle and you will here the knocking noise. If the car has 20 to 30k miles on it and still does not have the knock it probably will never develop it. Powertrain warranty covers is if it does occur. I would not let the fear of this keep you from buying the car if it is what you want.

My 2012 developed the knock and was repaired under warranty a couple of years ago and has run fine ever since. I think the vast majority of Maxima's will not develop this problem but it is out there and many may not even know what the noise is if the have it. It can only be heard at warm idle.

 

08/07/2018, Took my 2010 Maxima SV into Gandrud Nissan Green Bay, WI to get an oil change, front brake pads and clean the rotors. After 3 hours I paid my bill and started my car and immediately had a tapping noise coming form the motor. Been driving this car for 2 1/2 years so I know what it should sound like Car was great since I bought it in 2015, including the ride up to Green Bay. Unbelievable coincidence that as soon as I have the oil changed this pops up. Jumped through all the hoops. Looking like I am on the hook for $1400 bearing replacement or option 2 was $2800 to have a used motor put in with a 1 year warranty.Will make 1 more attempt with Nissan. Thinking I should go with the repair not knowing what shape the used motor is in. Hopefully they have someone there qualified, not to confident since I didnt see any mechanic that seemed to be over 25. Car was purchased used from a non Nissan dealer 12/2015 with 72,000 now has 85586.


Edit: On a positive note, I made them go next door and get me the keys to a 2018 Chevy Silverado LT so I have been driving that for almost 2 weeks while I try to fight/ decide

 

is this issue a problem on the 2014 maximas,,,did nissan correct this problem with different
upgraded parts to resolve the knocking,,,

 

I have the Technical Service Bulletin all 50 pages and on top it says 2009-2014 Maxima. There "Fix" is to put a new main bearing in that is 1 grade thicker than the one coming out.

 

Guys,
you need to report this "Factory Bearing" problem at Carcomplaints.com (https://www.carcomplaints.com/ ).
Carcomplaints.com is an excellent site with a ton of information about problems like this.
Amazingly, the 2012-2015 Maxima models are listed as "Awesome", with no knowledge and not a single comment about this "Factory Bearing" problem.
For example, see the 2013 eval here: https://www.carcomplaints.com/Nissan/Maxima/2013/

BTW, I am a 5-th gen owner. Came across this when doing my research about possible upgrade to a 7-Gen Maxima.

 

I very recently found/bought a 2014 Maxima SV CPO, 22K, with 7 yr/100,000 powertrain warranty - early Aug 2018. Thought I was in right place at right time. Now I find I have the knock. I know it's (all) already been said but come on, really? Everyone at the dealership is playing dumb now that I have the TSB in hand. After all the time that Nissan techs put in to get this car CPO and nobody picked up on the knock? Or were they ever advised to check for it since it's been going on for 5 model years??

Further - the TSB cracks me up -- (what a setup for the unsuspecting new owner) ---

" Knock noise from No.1 main bearing is confirmed if all of the following symptoms exist:
• Not heard at cold start • Can be heard at warm idle (not a cold start condition). • Heard best from under the engine with the vehicle lifted. • Cannot be heard driving at highway speeds. • Cannot be heard sitting in the vehicle with the radio on. "
I have a perfect match.
I am on record with Nissan Consumer Affairs and will be pushing for a new short block (verified in person, with numbers if that's possible).
Was wondering why they were so eager to sell/give me the car. No other problems but the bearing noise.
Does it help to go to multiple dealers to get more than one solution proposal? Or do they all call back to the mother ship - Nissan Corp?

1992 Maxima SE - sold for parts at 235K
2002 Maxima SE - 140K - strong
2009 Altima - 130K - strong
2014 Maxima SV - 23K

 

Let them change out the bearing instead, a short block may just have the same problem after a time. That's what has happened to others. I had the bearing changed several years ago and the car has been running great ever since.

 

I picked up a 2013 Sv a couple months ago that may have had this issue out of the factory as I have a receipt with the service records for a new short block when the car was about a year old and had 7,000 miles.The odd part is the car has 37,000 ( 30,000 or so on new short block ) now and I think I hear the knock as after reading this thread I walked outside to listen and the noise sounds the same as the video I saw. The Car runs fine and the average person wouldn't even hear it so I'm not going to worry about it.

EDIT, I just read the entire receipt as it's about 8 pages and lists all the parts , fluids, labor,etc etc. The technician notes say it was replaced after calling Nissan tech support for a # 1 bearing knock per TSB.

 

We had this problem on our 2012 max at about 50K miles. The dealer replaced the #1 main bearing under warrantee. The car has close to 90K miles currently and the knock is back. I am not impressed with Nissan quality.