2002 Nissan Maxima Brakes Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, WHEN THE BRAKE WAS ENGAGED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO AGGRESSIVELY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND NO DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

ABS LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO TOWN. BRAKES SEEMED TO WORK OK, SO I CONTINUED. GOT TO TOWN (40 MILES), DID MY BUSINESS, GOT IN THE CAR TO GO HOME. STARTED CAR, ABS LIGHT STILL ON, DROVE 1 1/2 BLOCKS, APPLIED BRAKES AS I APPROACHED INTERSECTION, AND THE PEDAL LOCKED. TAPPED THE PEDAL, STILL LOCKED. CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS STILL GETTING THROTTLE. PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND LUCKILY STOPPED BEFORE THE INTERSECTION. PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT, PUSHED THE BRAKE, AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. PARKED THE CAR, AND TURNED IT OFF. THEN, I DECIDED TO MOVE IT TO ANOTHER LOCATION IN THE PARKING LOT AND LEAVE IT FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHEN MOVING IT, I PUSHED THE BRAKE AGAIN, HEARD A NOISE, ABS LIGHT WENT OFF, AND BRAKES WORKED AGAIN. DROVE HOME. I AM GOING TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP SOON. COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

UNABLE TO STOP VEHICLE - BRAKE FAILURE ON DRY PAVEMENT. WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THERE WAS ONLY A CLICKING SOUND AS IF THE ABS WAS TRYING TO ENGAGE FOR NO REASON - BUT BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL. DEALER LATER REPORTED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ABS SENSOR ON LEFT REAR BUT I AM DISTURBED THAT THIS ABS FAILURE WOULD CAUSE TOTAL BRAKE LOSS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR FEAR OF ANOTHER ABS SENSOR GOING WITHOUT ANY NOTICE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER BRAKE PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. THE ROTORS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED 4 TIMES ON VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 55K MILES (MAINLY HIGHWAY MILES). DEALER ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH ROTORS WARPING ON THIS CAR FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IN ADDITION,I HAD THE BACK BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZE UP ON ME FOR NO APPARENT REASON WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE SKIP AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO STEER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ABOVE 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPLACED THE GAS LEVEL SENSOR, EMISSION AND FUEL INJECTOR AND FLUSHED THE BRAKE LINES. THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS. UPDATED 4/11/2006 - *NM

ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. SUBSEQUENT TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKNIG WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A CRASH BETWEEN MY VEHICLE AND ANOTHER. ONLY BY ACCELERATNG VERY HARD THROUGH A STOP SIGN, AT WHICH I WAS UNABLE TO STOP, WAS I ABLE TO AVOID AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO MY OWNERS MANUAL, WHENEVER THE ABS WARNIGN LIGHT ILLUMINATE, I WILL LOSE ONLY MY ABS BUT WILL RETAIN NORMAL BREAKING. THIS PROVED NOT TO BE THE CASE. I LOST THE ABLITY TO STOP. ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER'S DEALERSHIP REPAIR FACILITY, THE LOSS OF ABS WAS A RESULT OF A NON-FUNCTIONING REAR WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED BY THIS REPAIR FACILITY. I WILL REQUEST THAT THE FAILED PART BE KEPT AND GIVEN TO ME. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS HAD FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES. DURING THE FIRST OCCURRENCE THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE RIGHT ABS SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE RIGHT SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN THROUGH THE CARWASH. THE BRAKES REQUIRED MORE PRESSURE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE SENSOR LIGHT STAYED ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY BY ITSELF. IN OCTOBER 2005 THERE WAS A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL. AFTER THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS. WHEN THE PROBLEM RETURNED THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON AND WENT OFF TWO DAYS LATER. THE BRAKES WORKED WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AND FAILED WHEN THE LIGHT WENT OFF. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE LEFT ABS SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS HAD NOT BEEN MADE.

AFTER WASHING MY AUTOMOBILE, THE ANTI LOCK BRAKING (ABS) WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT I NO LONGER HAVE ABS. THE CONSEQUENCE IS REDUCED BRAKING PERFORMANCE IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IN AN EMERGENCY SUCH A FAILURE WOULD ELIMINATE MY ABILITY TO PERFORM AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS WHILE BRAKING WHICH IS THE PURPOSE OF THE ABS SYSTEM. UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS IT WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE STOPPING DISTANCES. THE MANUFACTURER'S AUTHORIZED DEALER REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THE LEFT REAR SPEED SENSOR FAILED AND THAT THE COST OF REPLACEMENT WOULD BE AT MY EXPENSE. THE CAR HAS 64,500 MILES. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE SUCH DRIVE COMPONENTS ARE WARRANTED FOR THE FIRST 60,000 MILES ONLY. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD BE IMPERVIOUS TO THE EFFECTS OF A GARDEN HOSE RINSE. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS TO REPLACE THE SPEED SENSOR AND HOPE THAT SUCH A FAILURE DOES NOT OCCUR WHILE I AM DRIVING. *NM

MY 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA SE HAD A TOTAL BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE CAR USING THE BRAKES. I HAD TO THROW THE GEARS INTO PARK AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. I STOPPED ON A SIDEWALK ALMOST HITTING TWO PEDESTRIANS. I HAD TO HAVE MAJOR REPAIRS DONE TO THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE ACTUATORS, FRONT AND REAR SENSORS WERE REPLACED. MY CAR ONLY HAD 15,840 MILES. THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. *JB *NM

I HAVE A THREE YEAR LEASE. TWO YEARS INTO THE LEASE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES AND NOW THE BRAKES. THE REAR BRAKES FROZE UP. THE CAPLIERS, ROTORS, AND PABS NEED TO BE REPLACED ON THE REAR AND THE ROTORS ON THE FRONT. I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO THIS WITH A CAR BEFORE. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED A CAR PULLED IN FRONT OF HER, SHE HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES, WHEN SHE DID THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. THE WHEEL WAS DAMAGED AROUND THE RIM. THE SAME INCIDENT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE WHEELS MADE SUCH AN IMPACT INTO THE CEMENT, THE WHEELS APPEARED TO HAVE THE SAME DAMAGE. *JB

NISSAN MAXIMA SE 2002 WAS BOUGHT NEW. BRAKE JUDDER HAS BEEN OCCURING FOR QUITE A WHILE. DEALER STATED BRAKE JUDDER WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND COST OF REPAIRS $175.00. BRAKE JUDDER IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR 2000 MODEL MAXIMA, BUT NOT 2002? *LA

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA IN MAY 2002. I BEGAN TO SEE AN ABS LIGHT WHEN DRIVING IN JAN 2003 WHEN I HAD 9,800 MILES ON THE CAR. BRAKES BEGAN TO CATCH AND THEN FAILED COMPLETELY BEFORE I COULD GET HOME OR TO THE DEALERSHIP. NO ACCIDENT, DUE COMPLETELY TO LUCK. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER. GOT CAR BACK AND IN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS ABS LIGHT AGAIN ON WHILE DRIVING. THIS TIME NO CATCHING OF ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. ANOTHER PART REPLACEMENT. LESS THAN 1 WEEK LATER THE ABS LIGHT ON AGAIN DURING DRIVING. DEALER IS NOW NOT CALLING ME, I HAVE TO CALL. HAS HAD CAR FOR 3 BUSINESS DAYS. SAY THEY HAVE FIXED THE CAR AND ARE KEEPING IT SO THEY CAN TEST DRIVE IT. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE SENSOR. DOES THIS MEAN THE ABS LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM?

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR ACTIVATES ON ITS OWN SPORADICALLY. THE DEALER SPECULATED THAT DIRT OR MUD ENTERS THROUGH THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND CAUSES THE FAILURE. THE DEALER CLEANED THE COMPONENT, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE REMEDY. THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. UPDATED 07/08/09 *BF UPDATED 07/08/09.*JB

WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON, I WAS ASSURED BY THEY SALES PERSON THAT IT WAS A "MINOR SENSOR PROBLEM" IN THAT REGARDS I TOOK THE VEHICLE. WHEN I CAME BACK TO HAVE THE LIGHT CHECKED I LEARNED THAT IT WAS SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS SINCE THERE WAS NO "COMPUTER CODE" AND ACCORDING TO THE COMPUTER THE CAR HAD NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. MANUFACTURER REPLACED ABS CONTROL UNIT AND SAY CAR WAS OK. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE CAR'S FRONT WHEELS STARTING TO LOCK AT LOW SPEEDS, ABOUT 25 TO 30 MPH. WHEN APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKES A SCREECH WILL COME FROM THE WHEELS, SOME TIMES IT WILL BE COMING FROM THE LEFT SOME TIMES FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. LOCKING OF WHEELS WAS ONLY ONCE TO THREE TIMES A DAY. CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY SAID TO BRING THE CAR BACK. AFTER A COPLE OF DAYS OF CONTACTING NISSAN THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. ONCE AT THE DEALER, NISSAN DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO OUTPUT GROUND TO LIGHT AND THAT NO CODE WAS COMING ON.THIS HAPPENED AND 1588 MILES.AT 2054 MILES CAR WAS TAKEN AGAIN FOR ABS LIGHT ON, ONCE AGAIN THERE WAS NO CODE COMING FROM COMPUTER, IN OTHER WORDS COMPUTER WAS SAYING NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR. NISSAN REPLACED ENGINE HARNESS ON VEHICLE. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, AFTER THAT REPAIR, FRONT WHEELS STARTED TO LOCK JUST AS LAST TIME.. IT WILL ONLY LOCK FOR ONE TIME OR TWO A DAY,, BUT SAME PROBLEM, THIS TIME ABS LIGHT IS NOT ON, NISSAN WAS CONTACTED AND SAY NOHTING IS WRONG WITH CAR SINCE THE LIGHT IS NOT ON. ON 08-14-2002 WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING LOT, SPEEDS OF ABOUT 15MPH, PRESSED GAS PEDAL, CAR IS NOT RESPONDING ( THERE SEEMS TO BE NO TRACTION ON WHEELS FOR ABOUT 10 SENCONDS) THEN "SLIP" LIGHT STARTS FLASHING FOR ABOUT 3 SECONDS, AFTER THIS VEHICLE STARTS GETTING TRACTION AGAIN AND LIGHT STOPS FLASHING. WILL MEET WITH NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE ON 8-15-2002.*AK

CAN PROVIDE DETAILS-ISSUE AT HAND IS THAT NISSAN HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND CANNOT CONFIRM CAUSE OF FAILURE AND NOW I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR AND REQUESTED TECHNICAL CONFIRMATION OF THE SAFETY IN WRITING OR A NEW CAR-THEY HAVE NOT ADEQUATELY RESPONSED TO ME. PLEASE CONTACT FOR DETAILS...SINCERELY, JULIE HORNING. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

IN LATE NOVEMBER 2002 WHILE DRIVING THE ABS BRAKE FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN BUT NEVER STOPPED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT IN FEB 2002, THE ABS SENSOR WENT OUT. AND REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE ABS SYSTEM IN AUG 2002. *TS *TT

WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE ACCELERATES INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*AK

EVERY TIME THE CAR IS WASH ABS SLIP AND TRACTION MALFUNCTIONS. THESE LIGHTS ALSO ARE DISPLAYED IN THE CONSOLE.. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON SEVERAL TIMES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND ON MORE THAN FOUR OCCASIOS, AND PROBLEM STILL NOT RESOLVE. THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUM MAKES NOISE BUT DEALER STATTES THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE. WHEN EVER I DRIVE OVER BUMPS IT IS VERY PRONUNCED. *AK