2011 Nissan Maxima: Premature transmission failure
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2011 Maxima report: premature transmission failure. CarComplaints.com lists 17 owner complaints, average mileage 100,650 miles.
NHTSA has 22 owner complaints for the 2011 Maxima in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11597730 (filed 06/29/2024): “The transmission is slipping it’s a cvt and they’re known for being the worst transmissions. i was entering the highway on a on ramp and i could no longer accelerate past 55 i was near flooring it and you can hear the engine working but the rpm’s are all over …”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11520699 (filed 05/05/2023): “Cvt transmission jerking , engine is always idling hard sometimes wants to even shut off , accelerating sometimes takes a lil while to respond , rack and pinion assembly faulty i would like for nissan to fix my car or get a lump sum check for all faulty errors…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace transmission (15 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Diagnosis needs a scan tool; repair or replacement needs a lift, transmission jack and the manufacturer's fluid fill/relearn procedure. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $3,590 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .