14 of the
141 complaints about the 1998 Nissan Altima are about the
braking system — 10% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
148,884 miles.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN ALTIMA. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT FAILED TO ENGAGE AS IT TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONCE IT CRASHED INTO THE NEIGHBOR'S PARKED VEHICLE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CUT TO THE LEFT HAND THAT WAS BLEEDING, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO PINE BELT NISSAN OF TOMS RIVER (229-245 NJ-37, TOMS RIVER, NJ 08753 (732) 349-3030) FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD SEND A FIELD INSPECTOR TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #11051050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 147,769 milesGulfport, MSCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
IT WAS A RAINY DAY AND I WAS FOLLOWING TRAFFIC, I WAS GOING ABOUT 30MPH WHEN I HAD TO TAKE A CURVE. I 'GENTLY' HIT BRAKES TO SLOW FOR THE CURVE WHEN MY BRAKES LOCKED UP SENDING ME STRAIGHT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHERE I HIT A HUMMER H3. LUCKILY NEITHER OF US WERE GOING THAT FAST THROUGH THE CURVE SO LITTLE DAMAGE WAS DONE. BUT THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME THE BREAKS HAD LOCKED UP ON A SLIPPERY SURFACE, YET IT DOESN'T OCCUR VERY OFTEN, INFACT THE ABS HAD CHECK OUT OK A MONTH PRIOR. BUT STILL I THOUGHT ABS WAS INVENTED TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING AND YET I KNOW THE BREAKS LOCK UP WHEN THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE.
NHTSA complaint #10294954 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 150,000 milesMorgan Hill, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1. WAS DRIVING SOUTH ON HWY 101 IN CALIFORNIA AT 60 MPH. 2. BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW CAR DOWN, ONLY RELEASED AN ODOR AS THE PADS APPEARED TO BE SMOLDERING. ACCELERATOR APPEARED TO BE FROZEN AND FOR A COUPLE MINUTES ACTUALLY ACCELERATED. 3. APPLIED BRAKES REPEATEDLY, PULLED ON HAND BRAKE, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL ON OFF SWITCH, PRESSED ON CRUISE CONTROL CANCEL AND SET SWITCHES. UP UNTIL THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL ANYWAY. BUT, IT APPEARED THAT CRUISE CONTROL WAS ON AND NON-RESPONDING TO THE BRAKES. WENT PAST EXIT AND CONTINUED DOWN HIGHWAY TOWARD GILROY, CA WITH NO ABILITY TO STOP VEHICLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES, CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN BY ITSELF AND I EXITED. WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, ON THE SAME DAY, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND STOP IN THE RIGHT LANE OF TRAFFIC BY PULLING FORCEFULLY ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. AT THE AUTO SHOP, I WAS SHOWN COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED BRAKEPAD ON THE LEFT AND A PAPER THIN BRAKEPAD ON THE RIGHT. BOTH ROTORS WERE 80% COVERED WITH LARGE BLACK BLOTCHES. BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED ONE WEEK LATER.
NHTSA complaint #10292115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 43,000 milesLouisville, KY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
POWER LOCKS GO ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, MAKING ALL KINDS OF RACKET AND BUZZING SOUNDS, EVEN WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF!! HAVE TO PLAY WITH KEY AND LOCKS TO GET INTO THE CAR... FUEL DOOR OPENS ON OWN REPEATEDLY, WON'T STAY SHUT. BRAKES MAKE A DEEP GROWLING SOUND WHEN GENTLY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. CAR HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT...I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON 11/4/03 TO GET THIS REPAIRED..I SHUDDER AT WHAT THIS WILL COST...ANY ADVICE PLEASE EMAIL ME MYSTICNATURE@AOL.COM.
NHTSA complaint #10043471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marble Head, MA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
VEHICLE VIBRATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED DUE TO ROTORS BEING DEFECTIVE. HAD THEM RE URFACED 3 TIMES, PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK.
NHTSA complaint #8013974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wamick, OR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS CEASE UP AND PULLS SEVERELY HARD TO THE LEFT INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. THE CALIPERS LOCK UP WITHOUT APPLYING BRAKES AND EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT TURNED ON. THE CONSUMER CAN SMELL THE BRAKES DUE TO BEING SO HOT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #8006464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hauppauge, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM
BRAKES HAVE ALWAYS MADE LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. DEALER "CLEANED" FOR A FEE AND NOISE BECAME WORSE. NOW AFTER COMPLAINING MULTIPLE TIMES, THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE REAR DRUMS. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 23,000 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #746041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Jose, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN BRAKING HARD CONSUMER FEELS VIBRATIONS THROUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL. NLM
NHTSA complaint #553929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hollywood, FL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
SQUEAKING SOUND IN BRAKES EACH TIME APPLIED. TRIED SERVICING VEHICLE TWICE AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSIST.
NHTSA complaint #723578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Montgomery, ALCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
A CAR RAN A RED LIGHT AND TURNED IN FRONT OF ME I TRIED TO STOP BUT THE CAR BRAKES LOCKED AND THE CAR STARTED SKIDDING. I COULDN'T CONTROL THE CAR AND IT SKID INTO THE REAR OF THE CAR THAT PULLED IN FRONT OF ME. THE COLLISION WAS HARD ENOUGH TO FOLD MY HOOD IN HALF BUT THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED. I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WITH CHEST PAIN AND A NUMB LEFT ARM AND HAND. THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #720848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Havertown, PACrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES LOCKED UP CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND CONSUMER CRASHED INTO CEMENT MEDIAN STRIP CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #551553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverside, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING BRAKE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #609384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bakersfield, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
SQUEAKING SOUND IN BRAKES EACH TIME APPLIED.
NHTSA complaint #609812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mount Prospect, ILCrash1 injured
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
CONSUMER WAS PULLING OUT A PARKING LOT WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK HIS VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT CORNER. THEN WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO DRIVE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE, HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO STOP, BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. VEHICLE WENT OVER THE SIDEWALK.
NHTSA complaint #826759 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.