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Nissan Altima Brake Questions

2

Comments

  • altgirlaltgirl Member Posts: 10
    That's nuts! Read through the thread I posted a lengthy reply as to what I did. Forget about the service dept. Go straight to Nissan call the 1-866 number in your owners manual and file a case. Keep complaining as that is not normal.
  • altgirlaltgirl Member Posts: 10
    I just want to give an update. After having horrible brake noise and no resolution from dealer I went straight to Nissan. They first changed by brakes and that lasted a week. I called Nissan and they sent a tech from another state who had the dealer change my brakes for high powered brakes. It has been almost the months and the brakes are working great. No noise and you feel the brakes have much better traction when braking. My only fear will be the cost to replace the brakes once I need to have them replaced. Cross that bridge when I get to it. Nissan also compensated me with 2 year service plan for my troubles. You must call and complain Nissan not dealer to get resolution.
  • bluealtima08bluealtima08 Member Posts: 6
    I really believe the brakes are bad b/c they kept telling me this and I already had my brakes changed 2x just because I didnt have the time or energy to wast on them. I was told by a BMW mechanic to print these threads and show take it to the dealership and if they dont help call the 1800 number on the manual and they should take care of everything free of charge.
  • altgirlaltgirl Member Posts: 10
    Nissan knows there is a problem. They will change your brakes because they know that the problem exists. That is why they issued a service bulletin. You should call the 800 number not the dealer. You will get faster resolution. The dealer does not have you best interest at heart. They are just making cheap repairs until you are out of warranty.
  • squeakyaltimasqueakyaltima Member Posts: 2
    I just purchased an 08 Altima with 11,000 miles and it took four days before the sqeeking began. Same as all of you with light pressure at a low speed. I am not to concerned with the safety factor but you loose cool points driving around town squeeking away. I agree with many of you who think the brake pads are cheap and need to be replaced with high performance pads. I have researched online and dont think it is to bad to spend 125-150 a set for these pads vice going the Nissan route. Has anyone tried this yet? I am pretty good under the hood but dont plan on doing it for another month. I will let you all know how it goes.
  • smarty666smarty666 Member Posts: 1,503
    Does anyone have or know if this brake problem still occurs with the 2009 altimas? I might be getting one and so far everyone has stated that they had either a 07 or 08 altima with this problem; I was hoping maybe cause of the service bulletin and so many people complaining and opening up a case with Nissan directly that they might have corrected the problem for the 2009 models; any info would be appreciated!!!
  • scoobygeorgescoobygeorge Member Posts: 2
    I went back to the seven pages and did not find the bulletin about this known problem. Would someone kindly paste the link, or email it to me please? We have the same problem described in this thread.

    Thanks George

    george.eberle at hotmail dot com
  • thatladythatlady Member Posts: 1
    WOW! YES YES YES! i have been trying to have anyone thats in my car hear the "thump" noise..no one understands. Did you figure out what that is? is it stiill a problem after they serviced your car? Also, my breaks have been squeaky after a few months of having the 09 Altima. i am almost a year into having car...still squeaks and i should not have this issue..agreed?!?
    what is the Nissan ph# you contacted? Corporate offices? Did they mail you a voucher or what? i am EXTREMLY annoyed by the squeak and thump! Other than that i love the car.
  • victor2k6victor2k6 Member Posts: 6
    :mad: i think the best u can do is to go with after market brakes cuz the dealer brake wont help u if u go to the dealer the only thing they can do is clean your brakes that will help u for couples day only i trade my 2007 nissan altima S b/c the brake noise WONT STOP i have 09 altima SL MODEL NOW 3 MONTH NO NOISE SO FAR
  • smarty666smarty666 Member Posts: 1,503
    this is unbelievable that even the 09 models are still having brake/rotor issues; based on what I've heard on hear and from what I've read on other websites I know the 07 and 08 models had major problems in this area but you would think by the third model year nissan would have addressed these issues

    while I don't have a altima, but I was thinking of getting a 09, I had similar problems with my 2005 FX35; almost every 10k miles the brakes were so bad that the pads were completely gone and would warp the rotors causing terrible grinding and shimmering in the steering wheel whenever I applied the brake; suffice it to say the sounds and vibrations were so bad I knew just based on the steering wheel shimmering when I needed to bring the vehicle in and have the rotors resurfaced and the brake pads replaced

    and this started within the first 10k miles of the vehicle which is totally unacceptable; luckily for me, infiniti covered it all under warranty or it would have been over $300 dollars every time I had to take it in and have the work done- one time when I was at the infiniti dealer having the rotors resurfaced a guy with a G35 was there and his rotors were so warped that he had to have them completely replaced- in about the 3 and a half years I leased the vehicle I had the rotors resurfaced and brake pads replaced about 5 times- suffice it to say this was the main reason why I didn't buy the FX at the end of the lease because I didn't want to put out of pocket 300-400 dollars every year for resurfaced rotors and new brake pads

    these brake and severely warped rotors are a major problem with the majority of nissan and infiniti vehicles- I was told by a mechanic at goodyear one time that unless you get after market brakes and cross-drilled rotors put on the vehicle you'll continue to have pre-mature warping and terribly worn brake pads

    nissan and infiniti better get their act together on this problem becasue too many car companies including nissan and others are becoming to complacent and act like these worn pads and warped rotors under 10k and 15k miles are normal wear and tear on the car but they are not and once the 3yr nissan or 4yr infiniti warranty expires you'll be paying out of pocket to have the problems readdressed since they put on the new brakes/rotors that are no different from the originals and then just wear out again
  • kwmoore4kwmoore4 Member Posts: 5
    Nissan doesn't seem to think they have a problem. When I told them about this thread, they said they don't read "blogs". Any Company that is that out of touch deserves to lose customers. They have a great car with the Altima and obviously they are willing to let it go by the wayside. Don't they understand that savvy customer will go to this website BEFORE buying to a new car because this is where you REALLY find out what's going on with a vehicle? Not by reading Motor Trend. Nissan wants me to take a car that is STILL in warranty and PAY the Nissan dealership to do a diagnosis. They want me to pay for a rental if the car has to be kept overnight. I have owned about 30 cars. This was my first Nissan. I now know how they feel......It will be my last.
  • tom5467tom5467 Member Posts: 3
    Yes....I hear the thumping noise....and it sounds like it comes from more than one place. I also have my car at the dealership right now with 34000 miles on it (2009)..commuter...but not in traffic. 95% of that mileage is on the freeway, not using the brakes. I have noise...squeeking that I have had for awhile now. When you really lay on the brakes, it sounds like the car is "groaning". When I took it in today, they brought up the TSB's, and the tech used the term "groaning". Obviously something is wrong, as there is no way I should have brake probs yet. I had an '03 & '06. Altima. '03 had 99000 miles...i brake job around 75000. '06...75000...no brake job. not even a noise.
    The problem with these brakes is the CVT transmission. IMO, the transmission does nothing to help slow the car down, and therefore the brakes are doing all of the work. That is what I think is causing the problem. I am glad I found this forum...if they try and hose me tomorrow, I will mention this, and then call Nissan and demand they do something.
  • maddypsumaddypsu Member Posts: 1
    I just had my 09 in today...new brake pads and rotor work...appears problem is not fixed although I got all kinds of BS as to why I should not be "concerned". Seriously?
  • tom5467tom5467 Member Posts: 3
    I was wondering if you have ever been told what that "thumping" noise was in the Altima. I have the same noise....only mine did not start until after I had about 20 - 25K miles on it.
    it almost sounds like metal moving from heat expansion. It's not always in the same place either.
  • smarty666smarty666 Member Posts: 1,503
    that is simply and absolutely outrageous that you had to have brake and rotor work done on a 2009 altima; how many miles do you have on her?

    anyway, that kind of BS is getting typical with dealerships and is really poor customer service when you think about it; everything that goes wrong with the car is "oh, there really isn't anything wrong or oh, I wouldn't be concerned" - you think what you had wrong was bad, my 08 TL had a power steering fluid leak and the dealership kept refilling the fluid and sent me on my way and the second time I was in after I lost fluid again the service advisor said the same BS you got, " don't be too concerned because we didn't find a leak!"

    can you believe that BS from him, I'm losing power steering fluid and they can't tell me why and just kept sending me on my way; suffice it to say that after getting Acura HQ involved the leak was finally found and the proper parts replaced and no problems so far but the dealerships whole attitude was piss poor to say the least

    Back to Nissan though, I have a 2010 Maxima right now on a 3 year lease and I'm going to be using it as a test guide for Nissan in regards to seeing if they have gotten their brake and rotor issues solved because if not this will be it with me with Nissan and Infiniti because I had just come off a 2005 FX35 lease before this max and had terrible brake and rotor problems the entire time I had it, every 10k miles the brakes and rotors had to be done and it was the main reason why I didn't keep it when the lease was over

    You would have thought by now that Nissan and Infiniti would have gotten these brake and rotor issues corrected by now since during the early and middle part of this decade they had terrible brake and rotor problems

    If you don't believe me just check consumer reports reliability history for the Nissan's and Infiniti's and you'll see all the worse than avg and much worse than avg for brakes/rotors for the 2000-2007 model years!
  • eyzbleueyzbleu Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2008 Nissan Altima that has been at the dealership 5 times and they "SAY" they can't find anything. They changed my brake pads twice, my calibers, rotated my rotors and there is still a HORRIBLE noise when i brake. It sounds like the brakes on the end of a roller coaster. I was told by another mechanic that this is a recall Nissan is avoiding since it will cost them millions of dollars!! It is sad how money is always the important case here other than peoples safety.

    All i have to say i CAN'T wait for my lease to be over and this is the first time and last time i EVER get a nissan.
  • bluealtima08bluealtima08 Member Posts: 6
    My situation is pretty much the same as yours except sadly enough I own my Nissan-wish I didnt purchase it! Within the first year I had my brakes changed twice. I kept complaining about the noise and they would write me off and say its brake dust. When I showed them these posts, they said they dont pay attention to blogs. The nerve! Nissan has the worst customer service and I would like to make an official complaint and mail these posts to them-hopefully that will get me somewhere. If I hear anything I will be sure to inform you all!
  • gooddeal2gooddeal2 Member Posts: 750
    Well, I rather listen the squeeky brakes than replace the brakes. My friend needs to replace the pad on his '08 Accord w/ only ~16k miles and Honda didn't even cover it under warranty.
  • smarty666smarty666 Member Posts: 1,503
    Honda is just as bad as Nissan when it comes to brake pads and rotors; the 08 and 09 Accord are known for their premature brake wear and rotor resurfacing; there are discussions on the accord forum on edmunds about this issue if you want to check it out

    I remember reading two long term road test updates in motortrend earlier this year on a 2008 accord and they mentioned as well having to have their pads replaced at like 12k miles

    for some reason, Honda, Nissan, Infiniti, Acura, even Toyota etc all seem to think that having to have brake pads replaced and rotors resurfaced at between 8-15k miles the first time is normal wear and tear - they all are sorely mistaken!!

    way back when I had GM vehicles, despite dealing with a whole sort of mechanical problems, I used to not have to have brake pads replaced until 40-50k miles, what the he'll ever happen to getting between 40-60k miles out of your brakes???
  • gooddeal2gooddeal2 Member Posts: 750
    Yeb, I need to resurface the G's rotors at around 12k miles. I had the inspection done on the '07 Altima w/ around 17k miles a couple months back and they said the brake should be good at least another year...except the sqeeky noise.
  • tallerdogtallerdog Member Posts: 5
    I have a 2007 Altima with 45000 miles on it. I bought it from a friend 5000 miles ago, who bought it from a dealership as a used car.

    I was driving 65mph when I saw traffic stopped up ahead. I got one good brake in, which slowed me down to 30-35, then braked again. My foot went to the floor!

    I was able to pump and get slowed down enough not to hit the cars or go off road and have something else stop me.

    No warning whatsoever! Anybody hear of brake failures like this on 2007 models?
  • blaze56blaze56 Member Posts: 1
    My sister-in-law purchased an Altima in 2006 and has been having issues with squeaking brakes for some time. She had the front brakes replaced in October and the mechanic found no problems with the rear. Two weeks ago she was in an accident and hit a medium on the highway. The cause of this accident was due to the fact that she could not stop her car. When she applied the brakes they depressed all the way to the floor and didn't stop the car. It is currently being evaluated by the insurance company to find the actual problem. Luckily she was not hurt, just minor bumps and bruises however, had she not chosen to veer off others would have been hurt and the damage far greater than it is. I think there is a severe problem here and I am calling everyone who owns this vehicle to let them know.
  • tallerdogtallerdog Member Posts: 5
    Turned out my brake failure was due to a leak in the hose. I don't know any more than that, I'm going to pick up my car now. I don't think it was a slow leak, or I would have noticed a change in the feel of the brakes. I think it just blew out. Why, I don't know. I was REALLY lucky. I used the shoulder and the grassy median to stop, along with downshifting- I have an automatic but I put in in high gear. When I was slowed down more I used the emergency brake. The mechanic has left for the holiday, but I'll talk more to them next week. I also have had squeaking brakes but I really don't think it had anything to do with the hydraulics.
  • jkillijkilli Member Posts: 3
    Heat Sensor Shield. I had same problem and they had to contact Nissan and finally figured it out. I haven't had the thumping noise since. So all of you having that problem, try it out! Also, had my car in 3 times (3 months, 8 months and 16 months) for grinding, pulsating, squeeking brakes. Completely unsafe yet they tried telling me everything was perfectly fine. I told them I wasn't taking car back until they did something. Then they finally told me there was a "service bulletin" they didn't know about and they're replacing the whole braking system (calibers, rotors, and pads). Oh and at 8 months, they already cut my rotors. Insane! So if you're having brake problems, bring up the service bulletin to your dealership! They're keeping it silent but they can't deny it if you bring it up.
  • jkillijkilli Member Posts: 3
    Do you have a copy of the link so I can read this service bulletin? Thanks!
  • altgirlaltgirl Member Posts: 10
    I have to look for the service bulletin link. The best thing to do is to go straight to Nissan not to the dealer. The dealer will just give you the run around until your warranty expires.
  • altgirlaltgirl Member Posts: 10
    I can't seem to get a link going but this is the information. Cut and past to your bowser.

    www.nissan-techinfo.com/TSB/TSB_xml/nmsubject.aspx?mseries=%20Altima%20(L32)%200- 7-10&msection=BR+-+BRAKE+SYSTEM
  • tom5467tom5467 Member Posts: 3
    heat sensor shield....thanks for the information. I'll see if I can hammer them about my breaks, and the heat sensor shield, and see where that takes me.
  • nissanman2010nissanman2010 Member Posts: 8
    Guys:
    Saturday 01/09/2010; while going at 35 MPH, I had a catastrophic brake failure on my 09 NAH. The brakes were non responsive, could have been a major potential for a FATAL accident if I was doing 65 MPH on highway. Enough to say I am totally pissed about this and Want ANSWERS from Nissan!.

    The car is with the dealer now and I will update this thread as more information flows in.

    My tow cost $197 to tow me 5 (Yes FIVE) miles to the dealership because the towing company they sent charge commercial rates and because the road side assistance program covers only $100, I am Out 97 dollars! I have another major issue with this and I have asked for the regional specialist of Nissan to contact me, they said it will be within 2 business days and I hope that's true or else I have another thing coming!

    Nissan Case# 6699786

    Tip: Do not buy the roadside assistance and get a AAA Plus membership instead
  • smarty666smarty666 Member Posts: 1,503
    sorry to hear about you incident man, just glad to hear you are okay and hope that if you had any passengers everyone is okay as well!!!

    hopefully Nissan will rectify the problem and give you answers but in all honest Nissan customer service sucks, especially Nissan Regional Product Specialists, because I have had to contact one about problems with my maxima and she was useless in regards to trying to help me or in regards to information about the vehicle; I don't understand how they can be called product specialists when you go to ask them specific technical questions about your Nissan and they either don't know or say "Go ask the stealership"

    your better to just deal with the stealership because the regional specialists take what ever the stealership says as word and won't even listen to the customer or come out and see the problem with your car themselves; the latter is what happened in my case; like I said I would deal with the stealership, see what they say and if your not happy then I would call Nissan Consumer Affairs and speak to someone there directly, don't let them transfer you to a product specialist!

    best of luck to you!!!!
  • nissanman2010nissanman2010 Member Posts: 8
    thank you Smarty666. The Dealship said they will change the "ABS Actuator". Gave me a rental car for 3 days. More to come
  • tallerdogtallerdog Member Posts: 5
    On Dec 23 I was going 65mph and had a complete brake failure. I posted about it already. Turns out the hose blew a hole. No warning, nothing. I'm lucky to be alive. 2007 nissan altima. 45000 miles on it.
  • nissanman2010nissanman2010 Member Posts: 8
    Was this a Hybrid?
  • mikezak1mikezak1 Member Posts: 14
    My 2007 Altima creates an rotational sounding 'ekk, ekk, ekk' at about 30 - 40 mph only when cold. After about 10 miles or so it subsides? They checked by brakes yesterday and said I have about 1/2 life left on the pads, and did not think it was a Brake issue.

    Does anyone have an experience like this with brakes , or could this be another issue?

    Thanks
  • chysellchysell Member Posts: 1
    How many miles do you have on your 2007 Nissan Altima? I have about 30,000. When I push hard on the brake it feels very rough and acts like it does not want to stop.
  • cef2772cef2772 Member Posts: 2
    Nissan has been notorius for noisy brakes. I had a 2007 Altima that squealed bad when braking for a red light or on a slope. Dealer said they were fine but replaced the pads and turned the rotors anyway. I have since traded for a 2009 Altima but this one is different. The 2009 Altima does not squeal when braking forward. I have a steep driveway and when I back out of the driveway the brakes have a heavy grinding sound. It has only 13k miles and I took it to the dealer and of course they find nothing but are going to replace the pads. Its weird because I also have a 2007 Sentra with 33k miles that has never squealed or had a grinding sound.
  • altgirlaltgirl Member Posts: 10
    Why would you buy another Altima, after the first one had brake problems. I for one will never buy another one.
  • gooddeal2gooddeal2 Member Posts: 750
    Why would you buy another Altima, after the first one had brake problems. I for one will never buy another one.

    Noisy brake is not a brake problem...yes, it's annoying. When you need to replace the brakes at 15k like the Accord 2008-2010, that's the brake problem.
  • cef2772cef2772 Member Posts: 2
    My wife was hit and totaled the 07 was the reason I have an 09 Altima now, thank you very much!!! Nissan makes good vehicles. I am not here to bash Nissan but to find other owners with similar problems and find the best solutions.
  • gooddeal2gooddeal2 Member Posts: 750
    Well, some people are really bad in term of bashing other brands..."This is a POS. I wouldn't buy this car again b/c of the squeaky wipers". IMO, if the wipers or brakes are working good but it's noisy, I might try to have it fixed but it's not a big deal that I have to spend days to go after the dealer or manufacturer.
  • smarty666smarty666 Member Posts: 1,503
    you know, squeaky wipers is not a reason not to get a car; I do agree, since I have a 10 Maxima that the OEM wipers Nissan puts on suck big time; brand new they consistently leave streak marks and smear the window when in use which is ridiculous

    there is a simple fix for that go to Autozone or online and by Bosch, Rain-X, or Valeo silicon wiper blades and replace the OEM, thats what I did and they work wonderfully; the rest of the car is wonderful though!!
  • tallerdogtallerdog Member Posts: 5
    No, not a hybrid. I've seen a couple of other posts with similar or the same story, but no one has answered mine until you. One guy said "I want answers!" and understandably ticked off, and it seems that if there are even just 3 or 4 of us who have had complete brake failures with absolutely no warning we should be getting together and making some noise.
  • smarty666smarty666 Member Posts: 1,503
    if your having brake problems you all need to band together and confront Nissan; this latest UA and brake problems with Toyota should be a make-up call with Nissan and other car manufactures to start taking customers who are having brake problems more seriously!!!!
  • tunesmithtunesmith Member Posts: 1
    edited February 2010
    On Dec 2, 2009, a cold day in Wyoming, my wife was on her way to work driving our 2008 Altima with only 15,000 miles on it. Upon exiting I-80, she pushed on the brake pedal and got nothing! No slow down, nothing! Unable to stop, she was broad sided on the passengers side by a Dodge pickup doing approximately 55 mph as she went through the intersection. The car was a total loss and she was VERY sore for two months. Had she been struck on the drivers side, there is no doubt I would be a widower.
    Previously there had been no indication of any problems with the brakes.
    How many Altimas have this problem? How many people have to be injured or killed for Nissan to acknowledge they have a SERIOUS problem?
  • nissanman2010nissanman2010 Member Posts: 8
    sorry to hear tunesmith. Hope your better half is back on her feet. certainly a shaky experience, I know, it happened to me as well.
    do what I did when my 2009 Altima Hybrid had a catastrophic failure IDENTICAL to yours.

    (1) File a case with NHTSA Online.
    (2) Call Nissan Consumer Affairs at 1-866-799-1690. Open a case with them.
    (3) Write to Nissan consumer Affairs at:
    Nissan North America
    Consumer Affairs
    PO Box 685003
    Franklin, TN 37068-5003

    I had done all this, the dealer told me the ABS Actuator had failed and took 3 weeks to replace. What was the root cause in your case? Did nissan tell you?
    I even called the local CBS station and no one cared!

    We need to make more noise (apparently they dont care for forums) to make ourselves heard. Any Ideas?
  • tallerdogtallerdog Member Posts: 5
    Did you read my post from 12/23 or 12/24 2009? I had the same problem, (with my 2007 Altima) as have several others. In my case it turned out to be a hole in the brake fluid hose, but it had to have just blown out all at once, because I had no previous problem. I was going 65 and when my foot went to the floor, THEN my brake light came on. I'm lucky to be alive. I've now read a few other posts, and wonder if we should write a letter to Nissan, and maybe some other people. If we get ignored, we can do a youtube video and make a stink- but we need to first get together and figure out what it is we are asking for. All I have for proof is a dated receipt from the mechanic who fixed it.
  • chazzcg1chazzcg1 Member Posts: 1
    My wife has complained about the '07 Altima we own. This vehicle has been in the dealership at least a couple of times for grinding brakes. They keep saying that they can find no problem. Do you have a suggestion about getting this problem fixed without BS from the dealership? Now that Toyota has been exposed, I'm sure Nissan wants to run and hide.
  • victor2k6victor2k6 Member Posts: 6
    go w aftermarket brakes thats the only solution cuz the 07 brakes from the dealer wont work after 3000 mile the grinding noise come back, now i have a 2009 2.5 sl altima i already put 15000 miles and no brake problems so far but the 07was a nightmare w the brake
  • nissanjmknissanjmk Member Posts: 1
    I know several people have had issues with their Nissan's. Has anyone been successful in getting them fixed? My 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe is just off warranty (36,300 miles) and my brakes are metal to metal for the second time in one year. Any help????
  • smarty666smarty666 Member Posts: 1,503
    edited March 2010
    here is a little tip, I ran into similar problems with my old FX35! if you guys are having that kind of problems with your brakes and rotors you guys are going to have to take your Altima's to an outside place and get some performance or thicker brake pads and cross-drilled rotors! I had to do it with my FX35! have had no problems since!

    you guys are going to have to do this if you really want to break the vicious cycle; Infiniti and Nissan will just keep giving you the same faulty OEM brakes and rotors and thus the crappy cycle continues!

    wish you all the best!!
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