One problem related to front suspension control arm has been reported for the 2004 Nissan Maxima. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Nissan Maxima based on all problems reported for the 2004 Maxima.
I have a 2004 Nissan Maxima with 61,038 miles on it. As I am driving, my car will jump sometimes lightly & at other times very hard. If I put the car in reverse and then put the gear back into drive, I will have to wait for the car to jump into gear. When I brake, the car will jump before stopping. It feels like the engine is slipping. At times, the car jumps so hard that I see other people look my way. This can happen at any time, day or night, hot or cold. . . The car would have been driven for hrs. , so yes it is warmed up. In June of 2008, I took the car to a transmission shop & I was told I needed 2 transmission mounts and a transmission flush which would cost over $900. 00. I took it to my mechanic and I had it done for a little over $600. 00. A few days later I had the same problem. I took the car back to my mechanic 3 more times & they could not find anything wrong. In September of 2008, I took the car to a Nissan dealer & it passed all of the diagnostic tests. I was very disappointed. On 2/6/2009, I took the car to a Nissan dealer & I was told that I needed a transmission which will cost me $4507. 00,I need a right engine mount which will cost $361. 00, both front struts are making a chucking noise. . . $832. 00, lower control arm bushings are broken. . . $809. 00. All of these repairs because of the car's jerking. The mechanic told me that if I get this done, the car should last about 6 to 7 more yrs. I had to pay $98. 00 for the dealership to trouble shoot, when the amount is usually $65. 00 for inspection at other places. I cannot afford to buy a new transmission, I would be better off trying to by something else (no Nissan) to drive. I still have payments on this car, so that is not even being realistic. I am fed up with this car & there is nothing that I can do about it. I only drive the car to work & places that I must go to, because I am scared to rely on it. I can't enjoy my weekends anymore because I have to depend on this car. Please help.