Nissan North America, Inc. 03' Maxima Transmission Failure at only 90K! Do not buy a Nissan car...ever!!!!! Franklin Tennessee

Contacted Carlos (service manager at Sheehy Nissan in Waldorf, MD) regarding my 2003 Maxima GLE, whose transmission died at just over 91,000 miles!! I had just had the transmission fluid changed by AAMCO 37,000 miles ago, and no abnormalities were noted regarding the flushed fluid or how the car shifts.

Carlos stated that "these transmissions are bulletproof" (I have heard otherwise from Herb Gordon Nissan) and that the wrong fluid must have been used. I have since confirmed that AAMCO uses the recommended Nissan Matic D fluid. He said that this was not covered under warranty, and he worked up a quote of $2989.00. I asked him if he could offer a lifetime warranty like AAMCO and others, and he stated that it only has a 12,000 mile/one year warranty (ridiculous)! I stated that this is unacceptable, especially for almost $3000 and a car as unreliable as this. Anyone who has driven one will tell you that my last vehicle was a piece of crap '92 Mitsubishi Galant (4-cylinder), which had over 140,000 miles before the transmission needed work. Now I'm wishing I had bought another Mitsubishi (after all, my dream car used to be the 3000GT).

AAMCO had done a computer diagnosis showing no problems with the computer system. I had AAMCO disassemble the transmission, and they also found that the speed sensor was cracked and should be replaced. AAMCO's final bill came to $3253, but they included the lifetime warranty.

When I contacted Nissan regarding their piece of crap, they said that because the dealer did not perform the work, there is nothing that they can do! I told them that is complete bull!@#t, and the only reason I did not take it there is because they told me I was out of luck and they could not provide anything resembling a substantial warranty.

I urge the public and anyone reading this to not buy Nissan, even if it means buying American. You will be sorry!

Eric
Port Tobacco, Maryland
U.S.A.