I couldn't talk my husband into a Toyota so we settled on a very nice 2018 Nissan Maxima with less than 14k miles. We were aware of the CVT plight but it seems that the Maxima is not typically one of the models mentioned (conflicting information though).

The manufacturer warranty ended two months ago so we still have until June 2024 for the Power Train, but I have a sinking feeling that I had better bite the Extended Warranty this time and buy one. My last two cars didn't need a single thing so it would an extended warranty would have been a total waste of $ (2006 Solara and 2015 Lexus RC), but I figured I would get some opinions from a forum of folks that have first hand experience with the 2018 Maxima's.

Also, I am in California so of course we have specific regulations surrounding extended warranties. I heard PRCO was awesome but they only work directly with the dealers and we did not buy one from the dealer.

We are very happy with the car....but I read about things going sideways on these cars quickly--and not just the transmission (which SHOCKS me that even today the Nissan's are plagued with issues that have been around for years with these transmissions).

2018 Nissan Maxima Platinum

Any advise would be most appreciated.

Thank you!

Dawn

 

I'm in a similar situation so I'll just tell you what I'm doing.

I traded in my 16 Max S w 102k. Never had an issue. It had started feeling a little slow going into gear from R to D. In any case I had an extended 100k warranty. Basically worthless. Maybe the CVT goes out at 115k and it sucks cause the warranty is done.

I replaced it with a 19 Max SL with 18k. I actually am just going to ride it out without an extended warranty. The only thing I'm going to do different is change my CVT fluid at every 30k interval.

That's just based on my experience. I am not a hard driver, I'm not an old man but mainly this thing is straight highway back and forth to work and very rarely do I ever push it. My pedal to the floor days are few and far between.

So that's just what I plan to do. After my time with my 16 I'm just not that worried about it especially if I add in the CVT fluid changes which I never did on the 16.

I will add this is not a car I'm keeping for 10 years and taking to 160k.
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Maybe I take it to 100k tops. That may influence your decision as well. In general I'm just not a big fan of extended warranties but we can't predict the future so you know maybe one day you're really happy you've got it... Maybe

 

Yes! I have a 2016 Platinum that I purchased with ~24k miles and added the extended warranty. I've used it a few times now. Sadly it expires in November so seriously questioning if I'll keep the car past that or see about another warranty. (Only around 55k now).

 

Dawn, couple factors with the warranty:

The YES’s
(always) jack rabbit’n at lights, and don’t changes Tran oil about every 30k miles = yes
no DIY on some simple, and or intermedia repairs = yes
car Records not available, or is, but poorly kept, and still not a home DIY = yes
have them $$$$ to drop on warantee, and won’t hurt the budget = yes


the NO’s
able to keep up with overall maintenance intervals
tool box in garage and ready to crawl up and make repairs
love YouTube and checking the forum on DIY

…..am certain others can add.

here’s my point! My 2011 had a tran change at 257k miles. Didn’t drive like Ms Daisey, but also used pinky toes when in the tank. I have tools, and ready to change and replace things.

the 2011, I did all repairs, except for dropping engine and Tran, plus replacing the firewall engine mount. But I kept up with the repairs and save a ton.

weight up these and other factors. If the history record is weak, knowing me, I would not get one, but ready for the DIY.

the Tran:::::Change about 30k miles, and use pinky toes = preserved Tran!!

 

I bought my '16 SV brand new. I now have 122,000 miles. Not one issue with the CVT. I change the CVT fluid every 60,000 miles. I am a mechanical engineer, so I do everything "by the book" (when the book is right)

 

I drove my 16 Max S from 30k to 102k and never had an issue. I didn't do the CVT fluid change either, at the time I was still under the impression you never change transmission fluid. Had a 100k warranty and never used it, not on a single thing.

I just traded it in for a 19 Max SL(hurray moon roof!) at 18k miles and declined the extended warranty. I'm just going to get my CVT fluid changed at every 30k. I'm mostly commuting to work and the hardest I push it on average is to overtake someone on the highway or when I'm merging.

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And at 14k miles new, pppppffffffffffff…. Car Is like a 2 yo infant and have 90 years to go…..

line up your Tran oil change at 30k intervals….

But, still your call

 

I added the extended warranty to mine when I got it last year, even with it being a CPO ( 17SR with 30k at time of purchase) , the extended warranty is set up to run the length of the loan term.

 

What did you end up paying?

 

We have no maintenance records other than the oil has been changed about three times already from the CarFax report. The car wasn't sold until June 2019 and we believe it was likely on a 3 year lease. There are no maintenance records period but where those oil changes took place have been at various dealers.

We will not be doing anything DIY to our vehicle. We use a very reputable auto repair shop and they will maintain our Nissan as well. We, of course, will keep meticulous records here on out. My husband just sold his 1998 Mark VIII and had every receipt we have had for the past 18 years of owning it. I don't have the maintenance schedule (not in the car) but I am sure with a few clicks here or there, I will be able to find out what is required. I am not worried for a few thousand miles because the oil was just changed a few hundred miles before we bought it.

I did go ahead and buy a warranty. I couldn't talk my husband into a Toyota/Lexus so I think the extended warranty was a good compromise. Of course, there have already been a dozen people we know that warned us about Nissan's and how they will NEVER buy another Nissan again as long as they live (after reading all the CVT issues, I expected nothing less). So I bought an extended warranty from Olive and it was so reasonable that there was no reason not to. I asked her how they were so reasonable (basically, cheap) and she told me that the car has so little miles that it just fell in the "new" column. In three years (the only downside is the policy is a 3 year policy), I will be offered another 3 year warranty and we'll have to see how much and what issues we've had. I asked her if any service issues we've had with the curent policy effect being offered an additional policy once the 3 years is up and she assured me that it did not affect it one bit. It willbe based on the age and mileage of the car. I have since shared the Olive policy with my friend that has a 2017 Nissan Murano Platinum, and she too purchased a 3 year extended warranty from Olive. Her rate was super low as well because she has lower miles.

Time will tell. We just love the car. The ride is fabulous, and we've never had a car give gas mileage like this one so that is a bonus. In fact, every single one of our cars takes Premium Unleaded so this is the first one that does not require it.

Thank you!

Dawn

 

😁👍😃✌️

 

Thank you for the update. The company you purchased from was "Olive " is that correct. I may look them up. Mine still has only maybe 55k but don't like the idea of not having a warranty with that car. ( Since I can't convince my husband to get rid of it.)

 

I bought a new 2020 Maxima Platinum two years ago.

Love the car. I knew I was going to keep the car for many years.

So, I decided to purchase a “Nissan Extended Warranty”.

After searching the Nissan Forums, I decided to purchase the warranty this year.

I went with Jim Bone Nissan of Santa Rosa, in California.

I live in Florida & the dealers in this state could not come close to the price at Jim Bone.

I purchased the Gold Preferred Package with $0.00 deductible.

75 months & 75,000 mile term.

The price was $1,261.00 !

Here is the website: https://nissansrextendedservicecontracts.com


Hope this helps you.

 

Unless you live in CA, you likely have way more options than we do for MBI. It is a very niche market with too many rules (regulated by the Dept of Insurance). But my friend just got a policy from Olive for her 2017 Murano Platinum with just over 55k miles and it was $35 a month (they bill you monthly with no interest and you can cancel at any time).

The caveat is the policy is only 3 years.

Dawn