13 of the
334 complaints about the 2004 Nissan Altima are about the
braking system — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
40,000 miles.
EVERY WINTER OR WHEN THE WEATHER GETS COLD THERE IS A STRONG SMELL OF RAW GAS COMING IN THROUGH THE AIR VENTS, WHEN CAR WARMS UP IN MORNING EVEN WITH ALL WINDOWS OPEN SMELL IS CHOKING AND UNBEARABLE. ALSO BRAKES SQUEAK TERRIBLY LIKE A BIG TRUCK WHEN TURNING TO LEFT AND BRAKING, EVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS, SUCH AS IN A DRIVE THRU OR PARKING. EVEN BRAND NEW BRAKES. LASTLY AND MOST SCARY IS THE DRIVER SEAT SHIFTS, ROCKS, FORWARD AND BACK WHEN BRAKING HARD OR DURING A SUDDEN STOP. PURCHASED CAR IN 2007 AS A LEASE RETURN.
NHTSA complaint #10486381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesBolingbrook, IL
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN CAR SITS IN COLD WEATHER CLIMATE BRAKE PEDAL GETS HARD AND LOCKS UP. LOOSING THE ABILITY TO COME TO A STOP. IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHEN CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A FEW HOURS IN WEATHER BELOW 20 DEGREES. IT'S A COMMON ISSUE WITH NISSAN OWNERS HAVING PROBLEM WITH NISSANS FAULTY BRAKE VACUUM VALVE.
NHTSA complaint #10451606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,000 milesLancaster, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW 32 DEGREES,WHEN CARE IS FIRST STARTED POWER BRAKES DO NOT WORK UNTIL CARE WARMS UP, TAKING CARE TO DEALER THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL AND YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR CAR TO WARM UP BECAUSE OF A CHECK VALVE ON BRAKE BOOSTER HAVING MOISTURE INSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10363617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 74,000 milesCheesapeak, VACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES WOULD SCREECH AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY RESET THE BRAKE SENSORS, WHICH SHOULD HAVE CORRECTED THE FAILURE. LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT APPROACHED A STOP SIGN. HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND, INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE LOSING SPEED AND EVENTUALLY COMING TO A STOP, IT JUST MADE A SCREECHING NOISE AND CONTINUED TO MOVE. THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED A PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DROVE TO THE NISSAN DEALER, WHERE IT IS CURRENTLY LOCATED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING SERVICED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.
NHTSA complaint #10233002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 69,000 milesReidsville, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OR LOWER, THE VEHICLE ACTS AS IF IT WILL SHUT OFF. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT EVEN START. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PICK UP SPEED. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT EXCEED 30 MPH. ALSO, WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE JERKS BACK AS IF IT WILL SHUT OFF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS REPLACED LAST YEAR. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE SPEED SENSOR FAILED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V242000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
NHTSA complaint #10229476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canonsburg, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
I OWN A 2004 ALTIMA WITH 97,000 MILES. CAR VIBRATES AT SPEEDS OF 60 AND GREATER. THE CAR HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT SATISFACTION. THIS VIBRATION WAS DUE TO INFERIOR ROTORS. AFTER I REPLACED THE ROTORS WITH ANOTHER NON-NISSAN BRAND AT 50,000 MILES, THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. ALL THIS FRUSTRATION WAS DUE TO THE POOR QUALITY OF NISSAN ROTORS. I WENT TO THE WEBSITE TIRERACK.COM AND BOUGHT BETTER QUALITY ROTORS.
NHTSA complaint #10214866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 59,800 milesClinton, MS
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE VDC AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. APPROXIMATELY FIVE DAYS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. AS OF OCTOBER 4, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 59,800.
NHTSA complaint #10204826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,761 milesHouston, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES FROM 55-60 MPH IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AND/OR VIBRATE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT DEALER TURNED OR RESURFACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AT 9,761 MILES; SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 13,930, IN WHICH THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS, AND CURRENTLY AT 23,000 MILES DEALER NEEDS TO RESURFACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT PADS AGAIN. CONSUMER ANTICIPATES THIS PROBLEM WOULD KEEP RECURRING.
NHTSA complaint #10119245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,761 milesHouston, TX
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES FROM 55-60 MPH IT CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY AND/OR VIBRATE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON THE FIRST INCIDENT DEALER TURNED OR RESURFACED BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS AT 9,761 MILES; SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED AT 13,930, IN WHICH THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND BOTH FRONT BRAKE PADS, AND CURRENTLY AT 23,000 MILES DEALER NEEDS TO RESURFACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND REPLACED BOTH FRONT PADS AGAIN. CONSUMER ANTICIPATES THIS PROBLEM WOULD KEEP RECURRING.
NHTSA complaint #10119245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesSAN Ramon, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT 3,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED A BOLT, AND RESURFACED THE FRONT ROTORS. AT 11,000 MILES THE VEHICLE COMMENCED TO VIBRATE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS, PADS, AND BRAKES ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #10113673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesSAN Ramon, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT 3,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED A BOLT, AND RESURFACED THE FRONT ROTORS. AT 11,000 MILES THE VEHICLE COMMENCED TO VIBRATE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS, PADS, AND BRAKES ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #10113673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesSAN Ramon, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE VIBRATED SEVERELY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT 3,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED A BOLT, AND RESURFACED THE FRONT ROTORS. AT 11,000 MILES THE VEHICLE COMMENCED TO VIBRATE AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED BACK TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED BRAKE ROTORS, PADS, AND BRAKES ASSEMBLY.
NHTSA complaint #10113673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Henderson, NV
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
ON A 2 MONTH OLD ARMADA WITCH HAS LESS THAN 5000 MILES ON IT,THE ROTORS BECAME VERRY WARPED . MY GUESS IS THAT THE BRAKE COMPONENTS WERE FROM THE SMALLER,LIGHTER NISSAN'S. DEALER SAID THAT THE PARTS WOULD TAKE FOUR WEEKS TO GET HERE. SOUNDS LIKE A LONG ROUGH RIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10104250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.