Transmission Gear Indicator problems of the 2005 Nissan Maxima

While driving in first gear on light throttle, the transmission shifted from 1st gear into 2nd gear violently. Nearly every time under light throttle (under normal engine operating temperature) since the first occurrence, the transmission either upshifts (1st to 2nd gear) or downshifts (3rd to 2nd gear) violently.

For the past several months, I have been experiencing the same transmission problems that just about every other 2004-2005 Nissan Maxima owner has experienced. Mine is a Maxima se with 5 speed auto (with manual shift mode). Once the car warms up, the transmission shifts very hard and rough from 1st to 2nd gear. It also downshifts hard from 3rd to 2nd gear. At this point, if I put the car in park or reverse, and then back into drive, there's about a 3-5 second delay, then it makes a banging noise as it kicks into gear. The transmission problems get worse: when shifting from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd gears it slips into neutral (causing rpm's to freely shoot up nearly to the redline) and then jerks and slams back into gear very rough & hard. This really affects the cars performance. The transmission problems go from worse to more worse: eventually somewhere between 3rd and 4th gear, I'll hear and feel the transmission make a banging sound and lock up. . . No up or down shifting. This causes the "service engine soon" light to light up. At this point, the car accelerates very slowly from a stop since it's locked in gear and at highway speeds, the rpm's are very high. When switching the transmission to manual mode, the gear indicator always stays at "5". I have to turn the car off for a few seconds and re-start the car to get the transmission to shift again, but unless it's had several hours to cool off, the same problems start again immediately in sequence. This is obviously a manufacturer's defect and how Nissan is not being held responsible for this blows my mind and is completely unacceptable for a $30,000+ car that's under 5 years old!!!.