Transmission died 3 days after it was replaced

[BD2003]

I've had the absolute worst experience with this car. Bought it 2 months ago, a 05 Maxima with 57k.

At 58k, it became obvious that the transmission was going bad - delayed shifts, really rough 2-3 shift, jerks and loud bangs when the car warmed up. Took a little pushing, but got nissan to supposedly replace the transmission. Was willing to put up with it because I'd be getting a new transmission for a used car...or so I thought.

Got the car back after about a month, and checked the transmission fluid - nice and pink instead of brown. And it drove better, but I could swear that it was the same transmission, because I noticed that same jerk between 2-3, even if it wasnt as bad.

Last night the transmission slips once when going up a hill. Check engine light comes on, but still seems to be running well for the time being. I'm still a good 50 miles from home. On the highway back, I step on it to pass, and the revs fly up to redline, stay there a few seconds, then it finally bangs into gear. After the pass and it upshifts up to 5, it stays there. I had to hobble home in 5th gear.

Wtf? I'm starting to think they just dropped the pan, replaced all the fluid to make it seem new, and that was what finally killed it for good? Is there any surefire way to tell they actually replaced the transmission?

 

[Vette73]

What does the reciept say? Was this warranty work? Also how long did they have it?

 

[bruceb]

Sure sounds like all they did was a fluid / filter change. If your receipt or work order says they were supposed to replace it, then talk to the service manager, as either they did not do what they said, or the unit they put in was used and is a piece of junk. The trans should have a id plate with a model / serial on it somewhere.

 

[BassBomb]

Doesnt sound like it was replaced or rebuilt

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've had the absolute worst experience with this car. Bought it 2 months ago, a 05 Maxima with 57k.

At 58k, it became obvious that the transmission was going bad - delayed shifts, really rough 2-3 shift, jerks and loud bangs when the car warmed up. Took a little pushing, but got nissan to supposedly replace the transmission. Was willing to put up with it because I'd be getting a new transmission for a used car...or so I thought.

Got the car back after about a month, and checked the transmission fluid - nice and pink instead of brown. And it drove better, but I could swear that it was the same transmission, because I noticed that same jerk between 2-3, even if it wasnt as bad.

Last night the transmission slips once when going up a hill. Check engine light comes on, but still seems to be running well for the time being. I'm still a good 50 miles from home. On the highway back, I step on it to pass, and the revs fly up to redline, stay there a few seconds, then it finally bangs into gear. After the pass and it upshifts up to 5, it stays there. I had to hobble home in 5th gear.

Wtf? I'm starting to think they just dropped the pan, replaced all the fluid to make it seem new, and that was what finally killed it for good? Is there any surefire way to tell they actually replaced the transmission?

It's an American car. What do you expect? 😛

Did they say they replaced it or rebuilt it? Take it back to Nissan and tell them to fix it right this time. Wow, a month to replace the transmission? That job should only take a few hours.

 

[BD2003]

This has been a situation theres so many people involved that its been really tough coordinating everything. The dealership I bought it from was a smaller place thats affiliated with an independent mechanic shop to service their cars. So whenever something was wrong, Id bring it to the dealer, he'd give me a loaner, and theyd give it to the mechanics (who I got to know pretty well over the past weeks 😛). They then took it to nissan because it was still under factory powertrain warranty. Theyre the ones who really did the pushing for me, and even though its been an inconvenience not having the car I paid for, stuff is getting done.

These mechanics have always said from the start that it wasnt the mechanical transmission itself, but something wrong electronically. It looks like at least theres nothing sinister going on at nissan - they definitely replaced the transmission, and showed me that casing is nice and shiny new - it really stands out from the engine bay. They're pretty much positive that I basically got a free replacement transmission when I didn't really need one. So thats good, I suppose.

When they originally picked it up early this week, they said they had to bring it back because the transmission wasnt programmed right, it was shifting too hard, and they went and got the software updated to the proper version. It was fine for a few days, but I always had a suspicion something was still up because it still seemed like it had the personality of the old transmission when the funky shifting, especially between 2-3.

Now that there was a CEL, the mechanics came out to my place to scan it. The code was p0717 - Turbine revolution sensor circuit. Apparently when this sensor fails, the transmission goes into fail safe mode, and will say its in 5th gear when you put it in manual mode, even if it's not. From the nissan repair manual:

The turbine revolution sensor detects forward clutch drum rpm (revolutions per minute). It is located on the input side of the automatic transaxle. The revolution sensor is located on the out-put side of the automatic transaxle. With the two sensors, input and output rpms are accurately detected. The result is optimal shift timing during deceleration and improved shifting.

So hopefully that explains why it was shifting funny even with the new transmission. I just hope its actually the sensor thats dead and thats not just a symptom of the entire TCM being dead.

Anyone else have experience with this same issue, on another car maybe?

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've had the absolute worst experience with this car. Bought it 2 months ago, a 05 Maxima with 57k.

At 58k, it became obvious that the transmission was going bad - delayed shifts, really rough 2-3 shift, jerks and loud bangs when the car warmed up. Took a little pushing, but got nissan to supposedly replace the transmission. Was willing to put up with it because I'd be getting a new transmission for a used car...or so I thought.

Got the car back after about a month, and checked the transmission fluid - nice and pink instead of brown. And it drove better, but I could swear that it was the same transmission, because I noticed that same jerk between 2-3, even if it wasnt as bad.

Last night the transmission slips once when going up a hill. Check engine light comes on, but still seems to be running well for the time being. I'm still a good 50 miles from home. On the highway back, I step on it to pass, and the revs fly up to redline, stay there a few seconds, then it finally bangs into gear. After the pass and it upshifts up to 5, it stays there. I had to hobble home in 5th gear.

Wtf? I'm starting to think they just dropped the pan, replaced all the fluid to make it seem new, and that was what finally killed it for good? Is there any surefire way to tell they actually replaced the transmission?

It's an American car. What do you expect? 😛

Did they say they replaced it or rebuilt it? Take it back to Nissan and tell them to fix it right this time. Wow, a month to replace the transmission? That job should only take a few hours.

I hear ya. 😛 I've always been a little wary of buying it since I know it was built over here. I dunno wtf it is about american made cars, but they seem to break down so much quicker. I've had a japanese built celica before this, and that car drove magnificently till I traded it in. Same with my GFs prius - built in japan, never the slightest issue.

The loaner they always gave me was a 05 taurus. You'd swear this thing was built in the mid 90s from the inside and outside. And people wonder why our auto manufacturers need a bailout. Anyways....

The reason it took so long is that I brought it in on xmas eve, so nothing really happened till the next monday. Took about a week for the dealer to convince nissan to replace it, since nissan didnt really seem willing to drive it the good 20-30 mins it needed for the problem to show itself at first. Took another week or two to get the replacement transmission in, and a day or two for the car to go from nissan to the mechanic to my dealer and then back to me.

The silver lining is that I havent had to pay a cent, or really do much fighting on my end to get things done since the dealer has had my back, but at this point, I just want the damn thing to work 100% already.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Sounds like you got a bad transmission. It happens. Take it back and it should be under warranty. Other than the inconvenience, it's really not that big a deal.

 

[StageLeft]

A month, lmao, and for warranty work? Next time you get this done--And BTW did you thank God yet that it didn't happen 2k later?--get nissan warranty involved from the get-go. A month is ABSURD.

It is cool that you got a new tranny. It sure could be electrical if it's doing that crazy stuff, too.

The good news is that the 05 Taurus was a golden year for that car. They badly underestimated the HP and the things are damn rockets at the lights and on the highway handle like a middle of the pack AMD mercedes. I assume you've found the same.

 

[f1r3s1d3]

Originally posted by: Skoorb.

The good news is that the 05 Taurus was a golden year for that car. They badly underestimated the HP and the things are damn rockets at the lights and on the highway handle like a middle of the pack AMD mercedes. I assume you've found the same.

Huh, lol. Aren't the 05's the same as the rest, and even then, I thought they stopped production before MY2005 and started the Five Hundred piece of crap? Maybe not but wtf? lol

 

[Kelvrick]

Transmission safe mode huh? Sounds like it probably is electronic.

I've seen a BMW have to limp home in first gear (transmission light on the dash on) with everything else working. Reason? Battery not putting out enough juice. The radio, speakers, HID's, everything else got power, the computer decided the transmission would be the one that gets shortchanged. Moonroof stuck open and won't close. Not a bad button or loose wire, the computer needed reprogramming.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
A month, lmao, and for warranty work? Next time you get this done--And BTW did you thank God yet that it didn't happen 2k later?--get nissan warranty involved from the get-go. A month is ABSURD.

It is cool that you got a new tranny. It sure could be electrical if it's doing that crazy stuff, too.

Well, I've got warranties coming out of my ass here, the nissan warranty, the dealer warranty, and an extended warranty. The problem was that if I brought it in on my own, they wouldnt have done jack shit, and I'd be stuck with a diagnostic fee on top of that. I asked nissan what they would if I brought it in, they said drive it around the block and hook it up to the scanner. I told them it needed to be driven for 20 mins at the very least, and it's not throwing any codes, so the scanner isnt going to help, and they said to wait until it got worse then...which I obviously couldnt do.

So I brought it to my dealer, the mechanics there agreed something was off with the shifting, but without a code or a total breakdown, they couldnt be positive what it was. I'm sure my dealer knew if it completely died after the 60k expired, it'd be on his ass for the next 2 months, so he just gave me a car, and told me it'd get taken care of, and not to worry about it cause he was close with the service manager.

If anyone's the weak link here, it's the nissan dealership. They originally claimed they couldnt find anything wrong with it when they first brought it, and werent going to do anything about the transmission. They were prob trying to deny it since it was in running condition, not throwing any codes, and it would easily have lasted another 2000 miles. My dealer called in a favor, using pet names with the service manager and all right in front of me, and they somehow found the problem after that. But they didnt fight the RIGHT problem....

It's not been a fun experience by any means, but I've yet to detect anything shady so I'm being patient. I know enough about cars and from fixing PCs that the real problem isnt always obvious until you've fixed the wrong thing enough times that you finally find out whats really causing it. So I've been cutting some slack here - my GF thinks if I just go in yelling that a magic diagnostic genie is going to appear, and new transmission parts are going to magically appear out of thin air, install themselves, and deliver a perfect car to my door.

I had considered returning the car now, but other than this, it's in such beautiful shape. Every other little thing I had taken care of, and now it's mostly a known quantity - I really dont feel like rolling the dice on another used car.

If anything, it's karma for me trading in a car with a dead clutch. It's absolutely shocking how little every dealer I went to inspected it before they accepted it for a trade, so I can only assume used car lots are filled with other people's problems.

The good news is that the 05 Taurus was a golden year for that car. They badly underestimated the HP and the things are damn rockets at the lights and on the highway handle like a middle of the pack AMD mercedes. I assume you've found the same.

Eh, not the one I had. It was decent, but the maxima is faster. The interior was like a taxi though. Unbelievably bland.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Transmission safe mode huh? Sounds like it probably is electronic.

I've seen a BMW have to limp home in first gear (transmission light on the dash on) with everything else working. Reason? Battery not putting out enough juice. The radio, speakers, HID's, everything else got power, the computer decided the transmission would be the one that gets shortchanged. Moonroof stuck open and won't close. Not a bad button or loose wire, the computer needed reprogramming.

Hmm...the only other problem I'm having with the car is that the fog lights blow about 20 minutes after they replace the bulbs...theyve done it twice already. The mechanics think theyre getting too much voltage, and that it might be the voltage regulator or something else electrical.

Perhaps that's the root cause of it all then? It'd be insane if it all came down to the battery or alternator.

Are you saying that the ECU needed reprogramming after the battery was replaced? Or that it needed reprogramming because it gave the radio priority over the transmission electronics?

 

[Q]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've had the absolute worst experience with this car. Bought it 2 months ago, a 05 Maxima with 57k.

At 58k, it became obvious that the transmission was going bad - delayed shifts, really rough 2-3 shift, jerks and loud bangs when the car warmed up. Took a little pushing, but got nissan to supposedly replace the transmission. Was willing to put up with it because I'd be getting a new transmission for a used car...or so I thought.

Got the car back after about a month, and checked the transmission fluid - nice and pink instead of brown. And it drove better, but I could swear that it was the same transmission, because I noticed that same jerk between 2-3, even if it wasnt as bad.

Last night the transmission slips once when going up a hill. Check engine light comes on, but still seems to be running well for the time being. I'm still a good 50 miles from home. On the highway back, I step on it to pass, and the revs fly up to redline, stay there a few seconds, then it finally bangs into gear. After the pass and it upshifts up to 5, it stays there. I had to hobble home in 5th gear.

Wtf? I'm starting to think they just dropped the pan, replaced all the fluid to make it seem new, and that was what finally killed it for good? Is there any surefire way to tell they actually replaced the transmission?

It's an American car. What do you expect? 😛

Did they say they replaced it or rebuilt it? Take it back to Nissan and tell them to fix it right this time. Wow, a month to replace the transmission? That job should only take a few hours.

Nissan isn't American

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Transmission safe mode huh? Sounds like it probably is electronic.

I've seen a BMW have to limp home in first gear (transmission light on the dash on) with everything else working. Reason? Battery not putting out enough juice. The radio, speakers, HID's, everything else got power, the computer decided the transmission would be the one that gets shortchanged. Moonroof stuck open and won't close. Not a bad button or loose wire, the computer needed reprogramming.

Hmm...the only other problem I'm having with the car is that the fog lights blow about 20 minutes after they replace the bulbs...theyve done it twice already. The mechanics think theyre getting too much voltage, and that it might be the voltage regulator or something else electrical.

Perhaps that's the root cause of it all then? It'd be insane if it all came down to the battery or alternator.

Are you saying that the ECU needed reprogramming after the battery was replaced? Or that it needed reprogramming because it gave the radio priority over the transmission electronics?

Sorry, I should have been clearer. Those were just some examples I could think of where the problem wasn't what was actually going wrong. Kind of support for that shop saying it wasn't the actual transmission that was going bad.

The moonroof and the transmission were two separate cases on two separate bmw's.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: Kelvrick

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Transmission safe mode huh? Sounds like it probably is electronic.

I've seen a BMW have to limp home in first gear (transmission light on the dash on) with everything else working. Reason? Battery not putting out enough juice. The radio, speakers, HID's, everything else got power, the computer decided the transmission would be the one that gets shortchanged. Moonroof stuck open and won't close. Not a bad button or loose wire, the computer needed reprogramming.

Hmm...the only other problem I'm having with the car is that the fog lights blow about 20 minutes after they replace the bulbs...theyve done it twice already. The mechanics think theyre getting too much voltage, and that it might be the voltage regulator or something else electrical.

Perhaps that's the root cause of it all then? It'd be insane if it all came down to the battery or alternator.

Are you saying that the ECU needed reprogramming after the battery was replaced? Or that it needed reprogramming because it gave the radio priority over the transmission electronics?

Sorry, I should have been clearer. Those were just some examples I could think of where the problem wasn't what was actually going wrong. Kind of support for that shop saying it wasn't the actual transmission that was going bad.

The moonroof and the transmission were two separate cases on two separate bmw's.

Ah. Well the mechanics say its most likely the speed sensor really is bad, and that the fog lights are just a separate problem, most likely a grounding issue. Of course, it can always be something else thats causing the ECU to think the speed sensor is bad, so I've got to be prepared for this not completely solving it after they change it out.

Arent modern cars with all this fancy-shmancy technology great? 😛

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've had the absolute worst experience with this car. Bought it 2 months ago, a 05 Maxima with 57k.

At 58k, it became obvious that the transmission was going bad - delayed shifts, really rough 2-3 shift, jerks and loud bangs when the car warmed up. Took a little pushing, but got nissan to supposedly replace the transmission. Was willing to put up with it because I'd be getting a new transmission for a used car...or so I thought.

Got the car back after about a month, and checked the transmission fluid - nice and pink instead of brown. And it drove better, but I could swear that it was the same transmission, because I noticed that same jerk between 2-3, even if it wasnt as bad.

Last night the transmission slips once when going up a hill. Check engine light comes on, but still seems to be running well for the time being. I'm still a good 50 miles from home. On the highway back, I step on it to pass, and the revs fly up to redline, stay there a few seconds, then it finally bangs into gear. After the pass and it upshifts up to 5, it stays there. I had to hobble home in 5th gear.

Wtf? I'm starting to think they just dropped the pan, replaced all the fluid to make it seem new, and that was what finally killed it for good? Is there any surefire way to tell they actually replaced the transmission?

It's an American car. What do you expect? 😛

Did they say they replaced it or rebuilt it? Take it back to Nissan and tell them to fix it right this time. Wow, a month to replace the transmission? That job should only take a few hours.

Nissan isn't American

It was assembled at an American plant, though a bad part is a bad part, doesn't matter if it was installed here or in Japan.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've had the absolute worst experience with this car. Bought it 2 months ago, a 05 Maxima with 57k.

At 58k, it became obvious that the transmission was going bad - delayed shifts, really rough 2-3 shift, jerks and loud bangs when the car warmed up. Took a little pushing, but got nissan to supposedly replace the transmission. Was willing to put up with it because I'd be getting a new transmission for a used car...or so I thought.

Got the car back after about a month, and checked the transmission fluid - nice and pink instead of brown. And it drove better, but I could swear that it was the same transmission, because I noticed that same jerk between 2-3, even if it wasnt as bad.

Last night the transmission slips once when going up a hill. Check engine light comes on, but still seems to be running well for the time being. I'm still a good 50 miles from home. On the highway back, I step on it to pass, and the revs fly up to redline, stay there a few seconds, then it finally bangs into gear. After the pass and it upshifts up to 5, it stays there. I had to hobble home in 5th gear.

Wtf? I'm starting to think they just dropped the pan, replaced all the fluid to make it seem new, and that was what finally killed it for good? Is there any surefire way to tell they actually replaced the transmission?

It's an American car. What do you expect? 😛

Did they say they replaced it or rebuilt it? Take it back to Nissan and tell them to fix it right this time. Wow, a month to replace the transmission? That job should only take a few hours.

Nissan isn't American

The Nissan Maxima was manufactured in Japan until model year 2003. 2004 and on are assembled in the United States by American workers. The 2004 Maximas were fraught with problems right from the beginning too.

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've had the absolute worst experience with this car. Bought it 2 months ago, a 05 Maxima with 57k.

At 58k, it became obvious that the transmission was going bad - delayed shifts, really rough 2-3 shift, jerks and loud bangs when the car warmed up. Took a little pushing, but got nissan to supposedly replace the transmission. Was willing to put up with it because I'd be getting a new transmission for a used car...or so I thought.

Got the car back after about a month, and checked the transmission fluid - nice and pink instead of brown. And it drove better, but I could swear that it was the same transmission, because I noticed that same jerk between 2-3, even if it wasnt as bad.

Last night the transmission slips once when going up a hill. Check engine light comes on, but still seems to be running well for the time being. I'm still a good 50 miles from home. On the highway back, I step on it to pass, and the revs fly up to redline, stay there a few seconds, then it finally bangs into gear. After the pass and it upshifts up to 5, it stays there. I had to hobble home in 5th gear.

Wtf? I'm starting to think they just dropped the pan, replaced all the fluid to make it seem new, and that was what finally killed it for good? Is there any surefire way to tell they actually replaced the transmission?

It's an American car. What do you expect? 😛

Did they say they replaced it or rebuilt it? Take it back to Nissan and tell them to fix it right this time. Wow, a month to replace the transmission? That job should only take a few hours.

Nissan isn't American

The Nissan Maxima was manufactured in Japan until model year 2003. 2004 and on are assembled in the United States by American workers. The 2004 Maximas were fraught with problems right from the beginning too.

Could have been a new design for that year, or parts suppliers let quality slip. Japanese manufactures have invested billions to make cars here, I don't think they are so stupid to let build quality problems bring down the brand. Honda has a plant in Alabama, is an Alabama Honda not as good as an Osaka Honda??.

 

[BD2003]

Originally posted by: BUTCH1

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've had the absolute worst experience with this car. Bought it 2 months ago, a 05 Maxima with 57k.

At 58k, it became obvious that the transmission was going bad - delayed shifts, really rough 2-3 shift, jerks and loud bangs when the car warmed up. Took a little pushing, but got nissan to supposedly replace the transmission. Was willing to put up with it because I'd be getting a new transmission for a used car...or so I thought.

Got the car back after about a month, and checked the transmission fluid - nice and pink instead of brown. And it drove better, but I could swear that it was the same transmission, because I noticed that same jerk between 2-3, even if it wasnt as bad.

Last night the transmission slips once when going up a hill. Check engine light comes on, but still seems to be running well for the time being. I'm still a good 50 miles from home. On the highway back, I step on it to pass, and the revs fly up to redline, stay there a few seconds, then it finally bangs into gear. After the pass and it upshifts up to 5, it stays there. I had to hobble home in 5th gear.

Wtf? I'm starting to think they just dropped the pan, replaced all the fluid to make it seem new, and that was what finally killed it for good? Is there any surefire way to tell they actually replaced the transmission?

It's an American car. What do you expect? 😛

Did they say they replaced it or rebuilt it? Take it back to Nissan and tell them to fix it right this time. Wow, a month to replace the transmission? That job should only take a few hours.

Nissan isn't American

The Nissan Maxima was manufactured in Japan until model year 2003. 2004 and on are assembled in the United States by American workers. The 2004 Maximas were fraught with problems right from the beginning too.

Could have been a new design for that year, or parts suppliers let quality slip. Japanese manufactures have invested billions to make cars here, I don't think they are so stupid to let build quality problems bring down the brand. Honda has a plant in Alabama, is an Alabama Honda not as good as an Osaka Honda??.

2004 was a new model year, so naturally there would be some issues, but it's been overall a less reliable model that it should be. I really dont know what it is about the american plants, or whether it's just a coincidence that japanese quality seems to be slipping as they move more production over here.

 

[BUTCH1]

Originally posted by: BD2003

Originally posted by: BUTCH1

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've had the absolute worst experience with this car. Bought it 2 months ago, a 05 Maxima with 57k.

At 58k, it became obvious that the transmission was going bad - delayed shifts, really rough 2-3 shift, jerks and loud bangs when the car warmed up. Took a little pushing, but got nissan to supposedly replace the transmission. Was willing to put up with it because I'd be getting a new transmission for a used car...or so I thought.

Got the car back after about a month, and checked the transmission fluid - nice and pink instead of brown. And it drove better, but I could swear that it was the same transmission, because I noticed that same jerk between 2-3, even if it wasnt as bad.

Last night the transmission slips once when going up a hill. Check engine light comes on, but still seems to be running well for the time being. I'm still a good 50 miles from home. On the highway back, I step on it to pass, and the revs fly up to redline, stay there a few seconds, then it finally bangs into gear. After the pass and it upshifts up to 5, it stays there. I had to hobble home in 5th gear.

Wtf? I'm starting to think they just dropped the pan, replaced all the fluid to make it seem new, and that was what finally killed it for good? Is there any surefire way to tell they actually replaced the transmission?

It's an American car. What do you expect? 😛

Did they say they replaced it or rebuilt it? Take it back to Nissan and tell them to fix it right this time. Wow, a month to replace the transmission? That job should only take a few hours.

Nissan isn't American

The Nissan Maxima was manufactured in Japan until model year 2003. 2004 and on are assembled in the United States by American workers. The 2004 Maximas were fraught with problems right from the beginning too.

Could have been a new design for that year, or parts suppliers let quality slip. Japanese manufactures have invested billions to make cars here, I don't think they are so stupid to let build quality problems bring down the brand. Honda has a plant in Alabama, is an Alabama Honda not as good as an Osaka Honda??.

2004 was a new model year, so naturally there would be some issues, but it's been overall a less reliable model that it should be. I really dont know what it is about the american plants, or whether it's just a coincidence that japanese quality seems to be slipping as they move more production over here.

Hard to say, depends on the kind of problems that are happening I would guess. Individual parts failure would occur wherever it's assembled but other problems (wiring issues, rattles, ect.) are easily identifiable as poor build quality.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: Quintox

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: BD2003
I've had the absolute worst experience with this car. Bought it 2 months ago, a 05 Maxima with 57k.

At 58k, it became obvious that the transmission was going bad - delayed shifts, really rough 2-3 shift, jerks and loud bangs when the car warmed up. Took a little pushing, but got nissan to supposedly replace the transmission. Was willing to put up with it because I'd be getting a new transmission for a used car...or so I thought.

Got the car back after about a month, and checked the transmission fluid - nice and pink instead of brown. And it drove better, but I could swear that it was the same transmission, because I noticed that same jerk between 2-3, even if it wasnt as bad.

Last night the transmission slips once when going up a hill. Check engine light comes on, but still seems to be running well for the time being. I'm still a good 50 miles from home. On the highway back, I step on it to pass, and the revs fly up to redline, stay there a few seconds, then it finally bangs into gear. After the pass and it upshifts up to 5, it stays there. I had to hobble home in 5th gear.

Wtf? I'm starting to think they just dropped the pan, replaced all the fluid to make it seem new, and that was what finally killed it for good? Is there any surefire way to tell they actually replaced the transmission?

It's an American car. What do you expect? 😛

Did they say they replaced it or rebuilt it? Take it back to Nissan and tell them to fix it right this time. Wow, a month to replace the transmission? That job should only take a few hours.

Nissan isn't American

The Nissan Maxima was manufactured in Japan until model year 2003. 2004 and on are assembled in the United States by American workers. The 2004 Maximas were fraught with problems right from the beginning too.

The assembly is not the problem. The components are not made in America, for the most part. Just assembled here.
So any trans problems are design flaws, not the fault of the assembly workers.