Six problems related to timing tensioner have 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.
The timing chain tensioner that is made from plastic came apart and has caused my cars engine to fail. This is clearly a defective designed part . It will cost around $2000. 00 parts and labor for the repair from the Nissan dealership. Nissan should step up and correct this design flaw for me and many others with this same problem .
My 2004 Maxima was 'missing' during freeway driving and 'died' as I turned in my driveway. Nissan did some miscellaneous repairs but told me that there was 'secondary timing chain noise due to worn guides. ' I was told by the service representative that if this isn't fixed the engine could be destroyed. The estimated cost is $1,700. I am afraid to drive my car because if this breaks on the freeway I and others could be in jeopardy. There are class action suits against Nissan regarding a design flaw in the 'timing chain tensioner and guide' assembly. I feel it incumbent on Nissan to issue a recall but I am unaware that one has been issued. I feel betrayed that I was sold a potentially dangerous automobile with no remedy other than an expensive repair.
Car began making a chattering sound and I had oil checked immediately. Full, but it was suggested to me at gas station that I might have a sticking valve. I had an appointment for an oil change on Monday, November 7th but on Sunday, 11/6/11 as I was going up a slight hill chattering got louder and engine stopped. I'm told the car "jumped timing" due to the failure of the tensioner which holds the timing chain. It's likely the heads were damaged in the process but I have not yet had the engine pulled apart. From on line research this seems to be a common problem with the Maxima models 2004-08. Called Nissan but they insist that I have it towed to dealership and pay a large sum of money to have it diagnosed and then they "might" pay for the parts (job is labor intensive!) for their "flagship" engine, it was probably not a good idea to use a plastic part in it! I will be contacting Nissan again soon. Thank you.
2004 Nissan Maxima se with vq35 3. 5l v6 engine - timing chain tensioners my Maxima timing chain tensioners need to be replaced due to a faulty design in the secondary timing chains wearing the tensioners out faster than they should. Nissan quotes anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 dollars to complete repair which usually consists of removing the engine from the vehicle! many complaints on multiple forums online from many different owners complain of this same issue, normally occuring around 60,000 mile mark. It is only a matter of time before all of these vehicles are affected. The cost for the repair of the vehicle I am still financing is catastrophic! Nissan would have to have the car for 3 days to complete the repair. This is not a problem I should be having with a vehicle that is still being financed for a few more years. Timing chains were designed to allow customers the security of not messing with them for way more than 100k miles, or 60k miles rather! I am so lucky mine has even lasted this long and Nissan refuses customers regularly who ask for assistance. Nissan needs to be held accountable for this repair since they know about the issue, released a technical service bulletin (ntb07-042c) highlighting the issue, and notify their technicians of the faulty secondary timing chain design.
'04 Maxima, maintained regularly, original owner, purchased in summer of '03(first batch of assy. Line); noise coming from right side of engine. Noise was loud when engine was cold and would go away after engine had warmed up. Eventually started to still hear the noise (not as loud) after engine was warm. Local repair shop said the noise was coming from the timing chain and most likely the guide had broken and was rubbing the chain and stated both would need to be replaced. This shop had never done one of these repairs on a Nissan because "this never happens to a Nissan motor". Yet they found many tsbs and internet search results about my particular model car having this same issue. They suggested I have the dealership take a look. I contacted the dealership service center and without telling them what the local repair shop said, only summarizing the explanation of the noise when engine was cold and then goes away after warm up, the service advisor interrupted me and said, "it's the timing chain guide". He barely let me finish the story before he knew exactly what it was. He said that was because he (his service center) has done this repair on 04 Maxima's so many times it's ridiculous. He also stated that it has been recognized by Nissan as a common problem with the 04 model engines but yet will not cover the repairs. Nissan boasts that the timing chains in these engines are maintenance free or at least worth 300k+ miles (since by that time most owners would have got 15 years+ out of the car), but yet the parts to hold the chain on break down way before that. The labor to repair the surrounding parts is the same to replace the chain since the tech has to reach to the same spot of the engine for repairs. I was originally quoted $1500. + for the repairs but was able to strike a small discount and paid $1133. 55 for "2 tensioner chains", "chain guide", "tensioner assembly", and some other seals & gaskets. Labor alone was $787. 50. Which was discounted from $1100. +. Outrageous.
Car started making a whining sound similar to a turbo whine under acceleration, this got progressively worse with time and mileage. Turned out to be upper cam chain tensioners resulting in the engine having to be removed from the car to repair. Replacement parts are redesigned and dealer said most vq35 and vq40 engines are effected. Problem is the symptom's don't show up until 50-75k miles and will not be covered by Nissan.