More ABS/near brake failure problems

46176 Views 57 Replies 32 Participants Last post by m3bs, Aug 11, 2016

SCOTTINATLANTA

Discussion Starter · Jun 2, 2006

I have had numerous episodes like those described in the thread "bad ABS on Armada". Everything is going well and I am traveling at low speed and step on the brakes and hear a terrible grinding sound coming from the brakes in addition to a spring like sound and a significant reduction in braking power. This continues until I pull off the road and shut off the engine and then start it back up and the brakes work fine. This has happen to myself and to my wife at least 15-20 times. (2004 Armada)

We took the car to the dealer in Roswell, GA several times. The first few times the answer was that they can't find anything wrong. Several weeks ago we took it in for the same issue and were told the same thing, but this time the brake problem recurred on the way home. We called the dealer and they drove to my car and picked it up and left me with a loner. Now they had the car running with the problem so I thought great now we can get this fixed!!!

They determined that the ABS actuator circuit was open and therefore replaced the ABS actuator. Great problem fixed, at least for 3 weeks. Same brake issues occurs again this week. Brought it back to the dealer and the answer I get is "Can't find any problem". I can't understand this response at all!!! It is the same problem as before!! The fix did not work!!!!

There seem to have been several people experiecing the same issues. Any thoughts or contacts so I can point these guys in the right direction??

If this were my dealership my answer would have been that I'm going to start replacing every piece of the braking system 1 at a time until we get it right. This is a real safety issue!!

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BlakSpyda

· #2 · Jun 2, 2006

Search on-line for...

Nissan Consumer Affairs. They will give you some satisfaction.

Nissan Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 191
Gardena, CA 90248
(800) NISSAN-1 (or 800-647-7261)
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Eastern / Central Time
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Monday through Friday

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92TripleBlack

· #3 · Jun 2, 2006

I don't know about several people. From what I've read, you are number 2. However, where brakes are concerned, 2 is too many. If you have been in 3 times, I'd lemon, get a new one with the new brake components, and probably (99%) without the problem you are experiencing. It sounds like it is such a rare problem, they don't know what it is. ABS acutator bad might be it, but why is it going bad? Is there something frying it higher up the food chain? Gives you a chance to get a newer rattle free rig at the same time.

Campfamily

· #4 · Jun 2, 2006

Find a new dealer. This problem has been reported before, and has been fixed (at least, according to posts on this forum). Nissan Consumer Affairs is a joke, they won't do anything to help you, only stall you. If a new dealer can't fix it, call an attorney that specializes in lemon law cases, and replace your 04 with an 06, like I did.

Keith

PS - Nissan Corporate is no longer in California, they moved east, to Tennessee I think.

92TripleBlack

· #5 · Jun 2, 2006

Good Point. Only about half of the dealers have good repair guys. I'm lucky enough to have 4 in the general area. Good luck!

BlakSpyda

· #6 · Jun 2, 2006

Campfamily said:
Find a new dealer. This problem has been reported before, and has been fixed (at least, according to posts on this forum). Nissan Consumer Affairs is a joke, they won't do anything to help you, only stall you. If a new dealer can't fix it, call an attorney that specializes in lemon law cases, and replace your 04 with an 06, like I did.

Keith

PS - Nissan Corporate is no longer in California, they moved east, to Tennessee I think.

I agree about finding a new dealer, but consumer affairs should be able to solve some situations. They do not want bad press.
The toll free number is still good even if they have moved.

Campfamily

· #7 · Jun 2, 2006

BlakSpyda said:
I agree about finding a new dealer, but consumer affairs should be able to solve some situations. They do not want bad press.
The toll free number is still good even if they have moved.

Nissan Consumer Affairs will do nothing for you. I know, I have tried them, both on my first Armada, and on my Maxima, when I had a warranty issue. They pretend to listen, assign you a case number, and you don't hear a thing back from them. Then, you call them back, leave lots of messages, if you're lucky, they'll call back. Nissan has not made its reputation on customer service; if it weren't for the fact that their cars are so good, I wouldn't be a Nissan owner.

Keith

BlakSpyda

· #8 · Jun 2, 2006

Well damn! I'm sorry to hear that. I never had the opportunity to call them, but thought I was passing on some good info.

SO, SCOTTINATLANTA, here you have input from a few mambers saying that Consumer Affairs is a waste of time.

Sorry if I gave you false hope!:damn:

deryck67

· #9 · Jun 10, 2006

I just had the SAME isue this morning. Out of the blue, with my two kids in the car. What is the most concerning is that I must use the same dealer as you becuase there is only one in Roswell that I know of. Now I am not sure what to do. I have had two recalls on this car already (2004) and now this.

92TripleBlack

· #10 · Jun 11, 2006

deryck67 said:
I just had the SAME isue this morning. Out of the blue, with my two kids in the car. What is the most concerning is that I must use the same dealer as you becuase there is only one in Roswell that I know of. Now I am not sure what to do. I have had two recalls on this car already (2004) and now this.

Its a first year truck. All first year vehicles stink. You get one from any maker with full knowledge it will be back several times. This is why I got a second year vehicle. (In the Sequoia case, you needed a 4th year). So, bring it in, get it fixed. If they can't fix it in 3 visits, lemon and get a new one. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Just ask any '99 Grand Cherokee owner, etc. The only thing that surprises me is the surprise of others. :crikey:

Eugene Onyeji

· #11 · Jun 13, 2006

I just went through some brake problems also. I bought an '05 Armada May last year. Of late, when I step on my brakes my steering wheel will begin to vibrate terribly. Thought I needed to change my brake pads. Went to my Dealer and was informed that Nissan was fixing such problems under warranty. I collected my truck after 4 hours. It now brakes smoothly without any vibration. Would someone please tell me what else Nissan is fixing under warranty before my warranty runs out. I don't have to wait for such problems to occur before going for to the Dealer.

ggeorgie

· #12 · Jun 13, 2006

Eugene Onyeji said:
I just went through some brake problems also. I bought an '05 Armada May last year. Of late, when I step on my brakes my steering wheel will begin to vibrate terribly. Thought I needed to change my brake pads. Went to my Dealer and was informed that Nissan was fixing such problems under warranty. I collected my truck after 4 hours. It now brakes smoothly without any vibration. Would someone please tell me what else Nissan is fixing under warranty before my warranty runs out. I don't have to wait for such problems to occur before going for to the Dealer.

It seems you like the truck and you want to keep it, why not buy an extended service warranty before you warranty runs out, if not here is the Nissan TSB http://www.nissanhelp.com/Bulletins/Armada/Year.htm

AZARMADA

· #13 · Jun 24, 2006

This happened to me last night. I drove to work and all was fine. Just as I was pulling out on my way home, there was the judder and the pump on the brake peddle. The brake light also came on. I drove to the dealer (2 miles away) left it there for them to get started on it 1st thing this morning. The told me there was a TSB for the software for the ABS system. That was updated and my Armada returned. Only 25 miles but so far so good.

pathfinder19

· #14 · Sep 16, 2006

the same thing happened to me today while exiting the highway...brake light came on, little or no braking power and a shudder in the breaks...pulled car off road turned off to check under hood and did not find anything out of the ordinary. Started the vehicle and no brake problems all the way to closest dealer.

Dealer stated that the VDC needed to be reprogramed....and there was a TSB for this....TSB my A$$...should be a recall to update everyones computer.

Pops

· #15 · Oct 17, 2007

lurker said:
add me to the list. Happened last night so I drove it straight to the dealer. Exact same thing you all are describing... Happened two months ago and they couldn't reproduce/find the problem because I had turned it off.

Of course now I'm out of warranty but they said it was a "software reset" or something like that, I don't know. They should have been able to read the error code so I'll post that when I return. Should be done in a few hrs...

Selling Real Estate is hard without a vehicle...

After I fix that it's on to my power liftgate/people-crusher feature.

This thread is really old. I'm pretty sure there's newer threads that should have the documented fixes.

lurker

· #16 · Oct 17, 2007

Pops said:
This thread is really old. I'm pretty sure there's newer threads that should have the documented fixes.

Yeah, I searched and this appeared the most recent (at least for the keywords I used) and didn't want to clutter up the boards with another one. (I very well could have missed other new ones...).

Regardless, it had to be reprogrammed. Here's what they put on the documentation.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cust states brake light on and grinding brakes.

Reprogrammed VDC System with updated part.

Found code C1179 stored in ABS control unit. Found bulletin NTB06-040 applies to vehicle. Reprogrammed VDC.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

So...$100....and I'm back on the road. Coulda been a lot worse ($$$). Oh, got a free car wash out of it.

They said (unlike 60 days ago when it happended) that since this fix was taken care of knowing the code that it won't happen again. (we'll see...)

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Pops

· #17 · Oct 17, 2007

It's good to have it on this thread too because searching for brakes and code are the only way that I could find them. If you do a search for C1179, you'll see what I mean.

sabro

· #18 · Oct 17, 2007

i have the same problem with mine, its an 04. Thats way I join ca for help.
great stuff in here tho.

LVArmada

· #19 · Oct 19, 2007

Same Problem

My Wife was driving the Armada(2005) and everything was fine. She stopped at the park and went for a jog with the baby. When she got in to drive the brake warning light was on and the brakes were junk. Lets just say the phone call I got while at work was not good. I contacted Douglas Nissan in Henderson NV. and they were waiting for her when she arrived. They got the car into the shop and paid for a rental. When I picked it up the rep told me they had to re-flash the control module. I asked him if turning the car off and on whould reset it if this happens in the future and he said that is correct that it would reset and the brakes would be OK. Other than my wife freeeking out and almost wrecking on the way to the Dealer I guess my experience with Nissan was good.
My question is, should I expect this to be a problem in th future or a one time deal???
Thanks
LVArmada

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keala

· #20 · Oct 19, 2007

this also happened to me. i got so upset i just wanted to get rid of this think. i ahve a few small problems, but this shouldn't be happening. i have a 3 yea old, newborn, and a wife. we all were in the car when it happened. iwe stopped and turned off the car. i figured maybe let the rotors cool off while we ate something. when i started it up everything was fine. i hope it wont happen again

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