2004 Nissan Maxima SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS STOPPING. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE IS PULSING WHILE STOPPING. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM. I THEN CALLED A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WHO ALSO STATED IT IS A PROBLEM & THERE IS A BULLETIN REGARDING THE ABS SYSTEM. YET THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT. ONCE AGAIN NISSAN NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR VEHICLES. NISSAN IS TELLING ME THAT THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM CAN BE IN EXCESS OF $1500.00. THIS IS DISGRACEFUL. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A PROBLEM. I CANNOT WAIT TO GET RID OF MY NISSAN. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE. I WILL ALSO BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH BBB, CONSUMER REPORTS, ALL AUTOMOBILE OUTLETS AND OF COURSE THE INTERNET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE SYSTEM ACTIVATED ERRONEOUSLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE ABRUPTLY APPLIED AND THEY EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE RECENTLY SERVICED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE WEEK LATER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN FOR DIAGNOSIS. AGAIN, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

PARTIAL BRAKE FAILURE WHEN APPROACHING HIGHWAY STOP LIGHT AT 45 MPH, DRY CONDITIONS. BRAKING DISTANCE MORE THAN DOUBLED AS FRONT BRAKES MADE VERY LOUD SCRAPING AND GRINDING SOUNDS (NOT TYPICAL ABS SOUND) WHILE NOT HAVING ANY STOPPING POWER - I APPEARED TO ONLY HAVE REAR BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO STOP JUST INSIDE INTERSECTION. LUCKILY NO TRAFFIC WAS IN WAY, AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. DEALER IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS CAUSED BY RUST BUILDUP ON REAR HUBS DUE TO LACK OF A DRAINAGE CHANNEL/PORT ON REAR "KNUCKLES" (SAID DRAINAGE PORT WASN'T THERE), A KNOWN PROBLEM. WATER BACKUP IN KNUCKLE CAUSES RUST ON HUB AND ON ABS SENSORS, RESULTING IN PREMATURE FAILURE OF BOTH ABS SENSORS, WHICH IN MY CASE CAUSED AN UNEXPECTED STOPPING PROBLEM. BOTH REAR HUBS AND ABS SENSORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT COST OF OVER $1300. CAR IS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND GARAGED. DEALER IDENTIFIED THIS AS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND NISSAN DESCRIBED THE REPAIR IN SERVICE BULLETIN REFERENCE NTB07-016B, ALSO IN NHTSA DATABASE AS SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 07016, NHTSA ITEM # 10021681. THIS FAILURE WAS NOT ROUTINE AND ONLY THE LUCK OF THE SITUATION ALLOWED AN ACCIDENT TO BE AVOIDED. THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED IN 2007 AND I WAS UNAWARE OF IT, THOUGH NISSAN WAS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE ABS BRAKES AND SHOULD TRIGGER A RECALL SO THAT OTHERS MAY BE ALERTED TO HAVE THIS REPAIR BEFORE MORE ACCIDENTS OCCUR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN SHE NOTICED A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE ABS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 76,800.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SENSORS CAME ON AS SOON AS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED. THERE WAS ALSO A LOUD NOISE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SENSORS AND WHEEL HUB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY DRILLING NEW DRAIN HOLES INTO THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1700 SINCE THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS OR WARRANTIES FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND GAVE HIM THE NHTSA HOTLINE NUMBER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 05/24/11*LJ UPDATED 05/25/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND APPLIED THE ABS WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ABS SENSORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIR, THE BRAKES WERE NO LONGER LOCKING BUT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE SPORADICALLY. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC TO INSPECT THE CAUSE FOR THE ABS WARNING LIGHT BEING ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK AND POTENTIALLY CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,500.

THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM BROKE DOWN SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT FAILED ALL TOGETHER. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE DUE TO A FAULTY DESIGN THAT ALLOWS RUST TO BUILD UP BETWEEN THE WHEEL SENSORS AND THE HUB, WHICH APPEARS TO BE MOST PREVALENT IN THE SALT STATES. THE INITIAL SYMPTOMS INCLUDE THE ABS FIRING DURING REGULAR BRAKING, WHICH COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN AT HIGH SPEEDS. EVENTUALLY, THE MISFIRING ABS WILL CAUSE THE ABS CONTROLLER TO BURN OUT COMPLETELY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS ACTUATOR WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE, RATTLE AND KNOCK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.

MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I PUT ON BRAKES WITH PEDAL & STEERING WHEEL VIBRATIONS DEC 2009, I TOOK IT TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS FOR THE PROBLEM & WAS TOLD I NEEDED FRONT & BACK BRAKES & ROTORS WHICH I PURCHASED COSTING OVER $700.00 AND THE PROBLEM WASN'T RESOLVED, I TOOK THE CAR TO JEFFREY NISSAN DEALER IN ROSEVILLE,MI AND THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, THIS WENT ON FOR OVER A MONTH AND FINALLY THE ABS LIGHT & BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME NISSAN DEALER AT WHICH TIME I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ABS SYSTEM HAD WENT, COSTING ME $2400.00 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS(IN ADDITION TO THE $700.00 DOLLARS ALREADY SPENT FOR A TOTAL OF $3100.00 DOLLARS). I BELIEVE THE ABS SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED BY NISSAN AND LOOKING AT ALL THE OTHER COMMENTS REGARDING THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. *TR

THE ABS LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON MY CARS 2004 MAXIMA AND ITS MAKING A LOUD NOISE OFF AND AT LOW SPEED: REPAIR BILL 2600 THE DEAL STATED I NEED 2 REAR HUB 2 REAR SENSOR AND ACTUATOR CHANGE (ABS ACTIVATES WITH NORMAL BRAKING / ABS WARNING LAMP IS ON) C1110 CONTROLLER FAILURE IS THE PROBLEM ACCORD TO THE DEALER. *TR

RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD, DID NOT HAVE THE CAR FOR 3 DAYS AND HAD CAR SHUT OFF AND COULD HEAR A MOTOR OR PUMP RUNNING. DETERMINED IT WAS THE ABS PUMP, VEHICLE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THAT NOW NISSAN IS CHARGING $1500.00 TO FIX PROBLEM. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR IS NOT FIXED AND SITTING UNDER CAR PORT UNTIL WE CAN RESOLVE ISSUE. *TR

ABS SYSTEM FAILED AFTER 5 YEARS AND 44,000 MILES. NEEDS $2000+ TO REPAIR. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY, MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MAKE/MODEL CAR. NISSAN ISSUED A TSB BUT WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

I HAVE BEEN TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 ON THE ABS SYSTEM AND IT IS STILL NOT CORRECTED. I REPLACED A RR SENSOR AND ALSO THE ABS MODULE. NOW I AM GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE ANOTHER SENSOR IN THE LR AND REPLACE THE MODULE AGAIN. THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL JERKED AND I COULD HEAR A NOISE UNDER THE PEDAL THAT SOUNDED LIKE WIRES BURNING. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT I HAVE SPENT $2300 AND I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND I SEEMS LIKE I AM GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND ANOTHER $2300 TO HAVE PROPERLY FUNCTIONING BRAKES. THANKS NISSAN. *TR

THE ABS PUMP IN THE MAXIMA IS DEFECTIVE. IT GRINDS AND GRINDS AND THE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON. THE MECHANICS COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR UNTIL THE SOUND WAS SO LOUD, YOU COULD HEAR IT FROM OUTSIDE THE CAR. THE CAR IS ONLY A FEW YEARS OLD AND THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. IF YOU VISIT MAXIMA.ORG, YOU CAN SEE ON THE FORUM THAT EVERYONE WITH AN '04 MAXIMA HAS AN ABS PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND NISSAN SHOULD FIX THESE. THIS IS OVER $1000 OF WORK FROM THE MECHANIC. WE HAVE OWNED 6 NISSANS AND THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED. IT IS VERY UPSETTING THAT NISSAN WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WOULD FIRE DURING NORMAL BRAKING, AT HIGHER SPEEDS. HAD TO HAVE MULTIPLE WHEEL SENSORS REPLACED. DEALER CLAIMS IS IT CORROSION RELATED. *TR

ABS LIGHT CAME ON WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT THEN VIBRATING NOISE STARTED. NOW EVERY TIME THAT I BREAK THE CAR SHUTS OFF IS ABLE TO START ON AGAIN BUT ABOUT EVERY TIME I BREAK IT SHUT OFF AGAIN IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SOMEONE COULD GET HURT. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND IT WAS NOT GOING TO AFFECT THE CAR AND NOW IT IS. I OWN THE CAR FOR 10 MONTHS AND THE WARRANTY EXPIRED SO NOW I'M STUCK PAYING FOR 3000 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED WHEN IN STILL MAKING PAYMENT ON THE CAR AND CAN'T EVEN AFFORD IT. *TR

GRINDING NOISES DETECTED FROM APPLYING BRAKES ON THURSDAY 4/3/08.. CAR TAKEN TO NISSAN REPAIR SHOP TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. DIAGNOSIS IS ABS SYSTEM FAILURE AND REAR RIGHT WHEEL SENSOR FAILURE. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT FROM THE ABS SYSTEM TO INDICATE A PROBLEM CONTACTED NISSAN HEADQUARTERS ON MONDAY 4/7/08 WHICH IS SAME DAY THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR SHOP. I HAVE REQUESTED SOME ASSISTANCE FROM HEADQUARTERS WITH NO REPLY AS OF THIS DATE. REPAIR BILL +- $2,300.00 TO GET MY CAR BACK ON THE ROAD. *TR

I HAVE A 04 MAXIMA-WHILE AT FIRST I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE NOISE WAS OR WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. I TOOK MY CAR TO SEVERAL PLACES FOR A MECHANIC TO IDENTIFY THE NOISE. AT FIRST NONE OF THEM KNEW WHAT IT WAS. THEN FINALLY ONE SAID HE THOUGHT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. BUT THERE WAS NO LIGHT TO INDICATE THAT. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND I CONTINUED TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER IN MARLOW HEIGHTS AND THE MECHANIC TOLD THAT THE NOISE CAME FROM AFTER-MARKET PADS. EVEN I KNEW THAT WAS NOT IT. SO I WAS TOLD JUST WAIT AND SEE IF IT GETS WORSE. WELL IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THEN IF CAME ACROSS A MASTER TECHNICIAN WHO TOLD ME EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS (THE ABS SYSTEM) ALTHOUGH STILL ABS LIGHT WAS NOT ON. NOW THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AND OF COURSE THE CAR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE EXTENDED WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE COST (RIGHT REAR ABS SENSOR AND CAP) AND LET'S HOPE THAT I DON'T NEED AN ACTUATOR WHICH COST $1,500. I'M WAITING TO HEAR FROM NISSAN. IF THEY DON'T COVER THE COST WHICH I THINK THEY SHOULD (THIS BEING MY FOURTH MAX) SINCE THE CAR IS NOT REALLY THAT OLD. AND I ALSO THINK THAT NISSAN KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. AND IF THEY DON'T COVER THE COST THIS WILL BE MY LAST NISSAN. *TR

DEFECTIVE ABS SENSOR ($482.71) APPARENTLY A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA AS THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ALERTING THE DEALERS OF THE SAME. I TRIED TO GET NISSAN TO AT LEAST COVER THE COST OF THE PART ($202.99) AND WAS FINALLY CONTACTED BY THE "REGIONAL REP" AFTER OVER A WEEK OF E-MAILS AND PHONE CALLS. I WAS TOLD I WAS BASICALLY "SOL". SEEMS TO ME THAT A BRAKE ISSUE INVOLVING DEFECTIVE PARTS IS VERY SERIOUS ONE. AND AT LEAST THE CONSUMER SHOULD BE ALERTED TO IT, EVEN IF IT IS NOT AT THE RECALL STAGE YET!!!! NO LONGER HAPPY WITH THE FOLKS AT NISSAN. *TR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE AND ALL ACTUATOR FAILURES. STARTED MAKING A BIT OF NOISE PRIOR TO FAILURE. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE, ANTI-LOCK, ANTI-SKID, VSC, DO NOT WORK. I HAVE PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY $1800 IN PARTS. *TR

THE ABS SYSTEM HAS STOPPED WORKING AT ONLY 42,000. I BELIEVE THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. NOW THE CAR CANNOT USE ABS TO STOP WHICH IS UNSAFE IN RAIN OR SNOW. THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT WANT TO HELP PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, ALTHOUGH THE DEALER IS WILLING TO OFFER A DISCOUNT FOR REPAIR BECAUSE THE CAR HAS ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE ABS STOPPED WORKING. *TR

2004 NISSAN MAXIMA SE. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE (ABS) COMPONENTS FAILING, THERE IS ALSO A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE NISSAN WEBSITE DESCRIBING WAYS TO FIX OR REPLACE PARTS, BUT VERY EXPENSIVE. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE. THE ABS DID KICK ON UNDER NORMAL BRAKING AND NOW THE ABS MOTOR IS STUCK RUNNING, THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON AND THE ABS SYSTEM WILL NO LONGER ACTIVATE IN A DYNAMIC SLIDING CONDITION. THE ABS MOTOR CONTINUES RUNNING EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND THE KEY IS REMOVED. THE FUSE AND MOTOR GET EXTREMELY HOT AND MAY POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE IF THE BATTERY IS NOT DISCONNECTED OVERNIGHT. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT POSTING ON THE WEB ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERSHIPS THAT I HAVE CALLED ARE AWARE OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AFTER THE CAR WAS TURNED ON OR OFF. THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON AND OFF BY ITSELF. THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE DISCONNECTED TO SHUT THE LIGHT OFF. MOST OF THE TIMES, THE ABS HAD TO BE COMPLETELY DISCONNECTED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING WITHOUT THIS SAFETY FEATURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE ABS SYSTEM AND THE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE DECELERATING OR DEPRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL, THE FRONT WHEELS AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND JERKED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE PROBLEM WAS RECURRING, BUT NOT CONSTANT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND SERVICED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS. EACH TIME, THE FRONT BREAK ROTORS WERE TURNED, ELIMINATING THE VIBRATION FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE MANUFACTURED DETERMINED THE ROTORS OVERHEAT AT TIMES, WARPING THE ROTORS, AND SUGGESTED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO CONFIRMED THAT WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED, SO SERVICES WOULD BE PROVIDED AT COST.