MY 2013 NISSAN MAXIMA SLOWED DOWN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 60 MPH THEN A SPUTTERING NOISE FOLLOWS WITH A LARGE BOOM AND WINDING NOISE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK MY CAR TO AUTOZONE CODE STATED CVT TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD WHY WOULD I NEED AN TRANSMISSION. I'M SO DISAPPOINTED WITH NISSAN
2013 nissan Maxima powertrain problems
moderate 24 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
a recall and class action lawsuit was issued for the 2013 altima but not the 2013 maxima. they have the same cvt transmission, my cvt transmission on my maxima just went out. Both the maxima and the altima should have been included in these recalls if they have the exact same CVT transmission
DRIVING DOWN THE 680 FREEWAY IN RUSH HOUR MORNING TRAFFIC. IN FAST LANE GOING WITH SPEED OF TRAFFIC (APPROX. 75 MPH) CAR SUDDENLY LOSES POWER. RPM START TO GO CRAZY. CAR DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR. DROPPED FROM 75 MPH TO 0 MPH IN MATTER OF SECONDS. VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE. STUCK ON SIDE OF THE FREEWAY UNTIL TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. HAD A PANIC ATTACK. NO WARNING SIGNS. TOW TO A MECHANIC, MY TRANSMISS…
I WAS STOPPING FOR GAS TO HEAD BACK TO WORK, THEN I REALIZED THAT A CLOUD OF SMOKE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE.
AS I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY FROM ARKANSAS TO TEXAS MY CAR STARTED MAKING THIS REALLY LOUD NOISE AS I WAS ACCELERATING. I WAS ONLY AT 60 MPH AND THE CAR WAS STILL MAKING THE NOISE BUT AS I WAS INCREASING MY SPEED TO PASS AND SWITCH LANES MY CAR SEEM LIKE IT BECAME STUCK AND WOULDN'T LET ME ACCELERATE OR GO ANY FASTER AND MY RPM JUMPED TO 5. I PULLED OVER AND RESTED MY CAR FOR A MINUTE TOOK IT TO O …
I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS AND IT'S ONLY A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. I FIND IT DISTURBING THAT NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THE CVT TRANSMISSION ISSUES ON THESE VEHICLES AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED. THEY PUT MY KIDS AND MYSELF IN DANGER WHEN MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN DIDN'T FUNCTION CORRECTLY. I WAS MAKING A U-TURN AND IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, WE ALMOST GOT HIT BY TWO CARS OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC! I TOOK …
VEHICLE LOST POWER NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY ALMOST HAD A WRECK THEN THE SPEED PICKED UP OUT OF NOW WHERE. THE RPMS WERE CLIMBED TO 4 AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO AN AUTOZONE TO READ THE CODE AND IT GAVE ME A P1778 TELLING ME THAT THE STEPPER MOTOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION I'VE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 1/2 YEARS MY WARRANT…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2013 nissan Maxima?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 24 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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