Good Day.

http://www.edmunds.com/used/2003/nis...nks..0.Nissan*

www.jdpower.com

JD Power is supposed to be a valid and respected source of auto rating. But it seems as if they consistently give Maximas low scores. In my opinion unfairly low scores. For example;

The 2000 maxima receives a 2/5 for long term (2-3 years) mechanical dependability. Based on my experience with this car, this rating is unfairly low. especially since 99-03 Acura TL received a 4/5 or 5/5 in the same category. We all know that this is the TL with an extreme amount of transmission failures. Also the 99 daewoo leganza got higher marks than the maxima(3/5) in this category. isnt something wrong with this picture?

then the 2004 Maxima receives a 2/5 in just about every statistical category. I admit that I dont like it as much as the 5th gen but the 04 Max is still up there with the others in the class. Passat, camry, tsx, accord. but it seems like it gets the worse ratings in its class.

Someone please shine some light. do I think too highly of Maximas? or is something wrong with the jdpower ratings?

 

JDPower doesnt just make up the ratings. They are compiled form surveys filled out by actual owners of the vehicles.

If a car gets bad ratings, it's because the owners didnt like it.

 

Consumer Report's long-term reliability is much better in that they actually break it down in each category for you so you can see exactly where the trouble areas are. Example: CR rates my 99 as having an "average" trouble rate on ignition, which was the car's worst trouble spot for that year. Sure enough I had to replace an ignition coil and a knock sensor and nothing else. JD Power (at least data that they give to consumers) is not nearly as detailed. Subscribe to Consumer Reports. For the price it's definitely worth it even if you just read the car stuff.

 

Of course it's unfair to you - you drive a Maxima.
Then again it could be a conspiracy - Honda & Toyota paid them off.

btw, 1997 Maxima won the 5-yr reliability test for cars of its class..don't remember if it was CR or JD.

 

2003, when it came out was already obsolete mind you. A lot of new models came in 2002 that kicked it out. But i can list a few things right now.

2003/2:

Dead transmissions
MAF sensors
The whole hid crapola story (yes some dumb people attribute this to the manufacturer as a reliability issue of all the nerve. and the lack of projectors don't help either on the light quality itself..)
Chipping paint
Wind noise
lack of lit wheel controls
thin leather
bose issues



and some more.

As you can obviously see when the 2000 came out it was a great car. Sadly the platform really failed to compete with the upcoming models. I see a handfull of 00-01 and really a few 02+ on the roads. I have seen 3 '04 in 2 states so far. bad eh..

 

The expression "toot your own horn" comes to mind sometimes when thinking about my Maxima purchase. Hey, if you're happy with your Maxima, who cares what anyone else thinks? But to believe that it's better in initial quality than an Accord, Camry, Lexus, BMW, etc. is just not realistic. Just look through threads on this forum. How many Nissans were reviewed with surprisingly cheap-looking interior for a car that price? Let me name 3--Altima, Maxima, 350Z. A 4th is G35. But maybe the Nissan owner doesn't care, that's what's important. But like it was said, JD Power does not simply make up the results. If you can't beat them, hate them, eh?

 

Frank, when was the last time you visited the Accord forums? Initial quality on the 03 Accords was dismal and the lowest of any model year Accord ever. Nissan is not alone in intial quality issues.

 

Dude, have you ever been in a TL? And I dont know what everyone rambles on about TL trannies when it only affected less than 10 percent of the TLs... So I dont know how that translates into Extream amounts... Second, they put a fat warranty on their trannies because of that.. I dont see nissan doing things like that. But I agree with you that Us maxima owners have been screwed many times over the years.. but the new cars nissan is making lacks in quality....I love my 5th gen, but Ill tell you that the TL is way better.. Just my .02

 

You're right, it's not Accord and Camry specifically, it's more Honda and Toyota in general. Toyo got 6 of 10 of the top spots on JD Power for reliability. Even Hyundai smoked Nissan for reliability.

I simply don't understand the denial--there are plenty of threads with quality related issues on Maximas. The thing is, if you genuinely don't care, then disregard JD Power & Associates, because what's it to you? But don't try to minimalize their ratings, say that they make things up or were paid-off, that's what they do for a living. They found the utilities in DC, B'more, Rochester, Maine, and P'Burgh top in the nations. Where's Philly? Chicago? NYC? They don't make the data and findings up. Just because we participate on the forum, own a Maxima, doesn't mean we have to feel it's the greatest car ever made by humans. It is beneficial to keep an open mind, imho.

Problems per 100 vehicles according to JD Power

Honda 99
Hyundai 102
Kia 153
Nissan 154
Mazda 157