2002 Nissan Altima Brakes Problems

ON EXTREMELY COLD DAYS (5 DEGREES F OR LOWER) I HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE BRAKES DO NOT STOP THE CAR WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST DRIVEN. THE CAUSE IS DUE TO APPARENT MALFUNCTION OF A CHECK VALVE IN THE VACUUM LINE TO POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. THE PEDAL REMAINS HARD (I.E. - THE PEDAL DOES NOT GO TO THE FLOOR). USUALLY AFTER A FEW SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO BRAKE, THE BOOST FUNCTION RETURNS AND THE BRAKES FUNCTION NORMALLY. MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED AND REPORTED THIS PROBLEM ON INTERNET FORUMS SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.NISSANCLUB.COM/FORUMS/2002-2006-NISSAN-ALTIMA-DISCUSSION-2-5-3-5/256153-COLD-WEATHER-BRAKING-ISSUE.HTMLINE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IT IS ONLY BY LUCK THAT I HAVEN'T BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE IT HAS RESULTED IN BEING UNABLE TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF NISSAN TO REPAIR AS A SAFETY RECALL. NISSAN HAS REDESIGNED THE PART AND IT IS VERY INEXPENSIVE (ABOUT $28) AND THE NEW HOSE/CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY CAN BE REPLACED IN ABOUT 5 MINUTES. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE REDESIGNED VACUUM HOSE/CHECK VALVE IS 47430-L31002 FOR THE 3.5L V6 ENGINE. FOR THE 2.5L 4 CYLINDER ENGINE THE PART NUMBER IS 47430-L31001. IT'S CALLED A "TUBE-VACUUM". I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED THE PART MYSELF. SOME PEOPLE REPORTED THAT SOME DEALERS MISTAKENLY THINK THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER ITSELF IS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE REPLACED IT AT A COST OF UP TO $500 (AND DID NOT REPLACE THE HOSE) ONLY TO HAVE THE OWNER CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE BRAKE FAILURE ON THE NEXT EXTREMELY COLD DAY. *TR

NISSAN ALTIMA '02-05 2.5/3.5 MODELS HAVE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A VALVE CHECK ASSEMBLY IN A BRAKE VACUUM TUBE. WHEN THE CAR IS EXPOSED TO EXTREME COLD TEMPERATURES FOR PROLONGED PERIODS OF TIME, LIKE THOSE EXPERIENCED THIS PAST WINTER IN IL, THE VALVE FREEZES UP AND PREVENTS PROPER OPERATION OF THE VACUUM AND THUS COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. IT FIXES ITSELF AFTER PUMPING OF THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES. I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM 3 TIMES WITHIN A 2 WEEK PERIOD. IMAGINE ROLLING UP TO A STOP SIGN ONLY TO PUMP YOUR BRAKES TO THE FEELING OF A BRICK STUCK UNDER THEM, NO STOPPING ACTION, HELPLESSLY COASTING RIGHT INTO THE INTERSECTION. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND STUMBLED ON TO A NISSAN ENTHUSIAST FORUM WHERE IT WAS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE TO THEM. THEY SAID THAT NISSAN WON'T EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THIS TO BE AN ISSUE AND TO JUST ORDER THE REDESIGNED PART AND REPLACE IT YOURSELF AS IT WAS A DYE JOB. THE FACTORY PART REPLACEMENT NUMBER IS #47430-8J100 (3.5 MODEL) OR #47430-8J000 (2.5 MODEL). WHY DID NISSAN REDESIGN THE PART IN '06 IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH IT? WHEN I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, SURE ENOUGH THEY WOULDN'T ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT PART AND EVEN WENT AS FAR AS TO CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE NEVER EVEN ORDERED THAT PART. THEY HAVE EITHER NEVER DIAGNOSED THE ISSUE CORRECTLY OR THEY OUTRIGHT LIED TO ME. I CALLED A DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERSHIP, ORDERED THE PART AND INSTALLED IT MYSELF AND HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM DESPITE THE SUBZERO TEMPERATURES THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE. I'LL CONCLUDE WITH THE FACT THAT I HAVE ZERO AUTOMOTIVE/MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE. I AM A COMPUTER SYSTEMS ENGINEER SO I'M USED TO REPLACING PARTS IN SMALL SPACES ON A DIFFERENT TYPE OF MACHINERY. BUT YET I WAS ABLE TO RESEARCH, DIAGNOSE, AND FIX MY OWN CAR PROBLEM, CAUSED BY A KNOWN DEFECT IN A FACTORY PART, WITH THE HELP OF THE GUYS IN THAT FORUM. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE DRIVING TICKING-TIMEBOMB ALTIMAS THAT DON'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO DO THAT?? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A BUMPING SOUND FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, SHE WAS UNABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO PARK. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END CAUGHT FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 143,000.

AS I WAS DRIVING THE ROAD AT A GOOD DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, THE OTHER VEH STOPPED SUDDENLY. I PUT FOOT ON THE BRAKES BUT I SKID TO HIS REAR BUMPER WITH MY FRONT END. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE PASSENAGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE SEATBELT TIGHTEN, BUT MIND DID NOT. WHICH CAUSED ME TO STRIKE THE STEERING WHEEL AND MULTIPLE INJURIES THAT I'M STILL SUFFERING. WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS TAKE TO MECHANIC , HE STATED MY AIR BAG SENSORS WERE NOT ACTIVATED AND HE STATED THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED ME NOT TO HAVE THE ACCIDENT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN JULY 2007, BEFORE PURCHASING I HAD FIRESTONE INSPECT THE VEH FOR ANY DEFECTS OR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THEY NEVER SAID ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY SENSORS OR THAT I LACKED ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP WAS TO HAVE DONE A SAFETY CHECK ON MY VEHICLE AND I WAS NEVER TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR AIR BAGS. HAD I KNOWN I WOULD MADE IT WAS FIXED BEFORE PURCHASING AND I WOULD HAVE NOT SUFFERED INJURIES. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED FROM THAT CRASH ANTHER OTHER VEHICLE A 2006 NISSAN MAXIM HAD A COUPLE DENTS AND SCRATCHES. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED ON 03/17/08 AND I'M STILL GOING TO THE DOCTOR FOR PAIN. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE BUT I GOING TO MAKE SURE SOMETHING IS DONE VERY SOON. *TR

1. VEHICLE'S EXHAUST PIPE HANGER CAUGHT BAG OF DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD AND FELT LIKE THE CAR WAS FALLING APART IN THE REAR. DEBRIS WAS REMOVED BY DISCOUNT TIRES AFTER PURCHASING NEW WHEELS AND TIRES. 2. SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. ENGINE HAS REDUCED POWER AND IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING OPERATION, WITH VIBRATING NOISES. NISSAN STATES THAT THE CAM SENSOR WITH CRANK SENSOR IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY IT IS UNDER RECALL AND THEY WANT US TO PAY FOR A RECALLED ITEM. 3. ENGINE LONG BLOCK WAS REPLACED ON 2/14/06 BECAUSE OF CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE, AND THE ENGINE CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH VIBRATING AND SLUGGISHNESS. 4. REAR ENGINE MOUNT REPLACED IN 11/03/04 AS RECOMMENDED. NOW, PASSENGER UPPER MOUNT WAS RECOMMENDED TO BE CHANGED ON 3/14/08. 5. AIR CONDITIONING IS BLOWING HOT AIR AND WE REPLACED AIR CONDITIONING HIGH SIDE COMPRESSOR AND OIL RECHARGED SYSTEM IN 6/01/07, AS RECOMMENDED. AS OF TODAY 3/30/08 AIR CONDITIONING IS BLOWING HOT AIR AGAIN. WE PURCHASED NEW WHEELS, TIRES AND BRAKES BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION IN THE CAR AND STEERING COLUMN WITH LOW SOUNDING NOISE. WE HAVE CONSISTENTLY TAKEN OUR CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE, RECALLS AND ADDITIONAL MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH VERY MINIMAL RESOLUTIONS. THANK YOU. *TR

I LEFT MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA SIT OUT OVERNIGHT (TEMPS DROPPED BELOW 10 DEGREES). WHEN I DROVE THE CAR IN THE MORNING, THE BRAKES FAILED. I PUSHED DOWN ON THE BREAK PEDAL, BUT IT WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. FORTUNATELY, THE BRAKE FAILURE DID NOT CAUSE OR RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THEY BELIEVE IT IS A "CHECK SENSOR" AND ARE REPLACING IT AT MY EXPENSE LATER TODAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 4 TIMES. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN IT IS BELOW 10 DEGREES OUTSIDE. *TR

INTERMITTENT BRAKE PEDAL FAILURE. SERVICE DEALER SUGGEST REPLACEMENT VALVE. 4 WEEK BACK ORDER. *JB

RE: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA SE. SINCE APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AGO, I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY BRAKES. I LIVE IN THE NE WHERE IT GETS COLD IN THE WINTERS, AND ONLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMP. IS APPROX. BELOW 30 DEGREES. THIS PROBLEM HAS TYPICALLY OCCURRED WHEN THE CAR HAS SAT IDLE ALL NIGHT, BUT HAS ALSO HAPPENED AT OTHER TIMES WHEN IT HASN'T BEEN DRIVEN FOR A FEW HOURS. WHEN FIRST STARTING THE CAR, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SO STIFF THAT I CAN'T PRESS IT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR - ALMOST LIKE IT IS FROZEN. LUCKILY, I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED ONE SEVERAL TIMES WHILE BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SLOW DOWN, COMING TO A STOP SIGN OR PARKING LOT EXIT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP, OR TRYING TO SLOW DOWN TO TURN A CORNER. I HAVE TO TRY TO REMEMBER TO PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL 10 - 15 TIMES EVERY TIME I START THE CAR IN COLD WEATHER, AS THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO "LOOSEN" IT UP SO THAT IT WILL WORK CORRECTLY. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSES THIS. WHEN I'M DRIVING THIS CAR, I'M ALWAYS AFRAID THAT THE BRAKES WILL TOTALLY GIVE OUT. *TR

REAR BRAKES HAVE FAILED AGAIN - AFTER BEING REPLACED AT 37,000 MILES AND 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP IN 2004. NOW AT 57,000 MILES I NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR BRAKES COMPLETELY AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THE NISSAN 'GENUINE' PARTS ARE DEFECTIVE IF AFTER ONLY 20,000 THE BRAKES ARE SHOT TOTALLY AGAIN. WHY DOES NISSAN KEEP RIPPING OFF THE CONSUMERS THIS WAY AND WHY ISN'T SOMETHING DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION? *JB

FAULTY REAR SPEED SENSOR TURNING THE ABS SYSTEM ON/OFF. THIS FAILURE WOULD ALLOW THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PUSH TO THE GROUND AND NOT ALLOW FOR PROPER BRAKING. IN FACT IT WOULD FEEL AS IF I WERE LOOSING THE BRAKES ENTIRELY. *JB

MY NISSAN ALTIMA 2002 IS SMOKING MY BRAKES HAVE FAILED ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK I HAVE HAD TO PUT BRAKE PADS ON MY CAR 4 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR MY CAR HAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND I DON'T KNOW THE REASON WHY. I TOOK MY CAR TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED A NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER A NEW ENGINE AND THAT WAS THE PROBLEM FOR MY CAR STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED ONCE. I WAS TOLD BY NISSAN OF GADSDEN AL. THAT I NEED TO HAVE OVER $13,000.00 WORTH OF WORK ON MY CAR BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD . I CALLED THE NISSAN COMPANY AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT THEN THEY STOP ACCEPTING MY CALLS AND SAID DEAL WITH IT BECAUSE THEY WAS NOT GOING TO HAVE ANY REPAIRS MADE TO MY CAR. I PAID CASH FOR MY CAR AFTER THE FIRST YEAR I BEGAN TO START HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT NSSAN NEW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS AND REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND THEY COULD WORK OUT SOMETHING WITH ME INSTEAD OF PAYING $12,000.00 FOR THE REPAIRS THAT THEY WOULD CHARGE ME $8,000.00 FOR THE REPAIRS I DO NOT HAVE ANY MONEY TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND NISSAN TOLD ME TO DEAL WITH IT. WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS PLEASE HELP I PAID $13,000.00 FOR A CAR THAT DON'T WORK PLEASE HELP ME. THANK YOU SHELIA GASTON *TR

AT 25,000 MILES THE 2002 ALTIMA REAR BRAKES FROZE UP AND DISCONTINUED OPERATING. I WAS TOLD BY A NISSAN SERVICE MGR. THAT THIS WAS DUE TO NISSAN USING FAULTY MATERIAL. I HAD THEM REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE GARAGE AND WAS TOLD THAT HE HAS SEEN A LOT OF THIS. BRAKES NOT DESIGNED FOR NORTHERN WEATHER. *NM

THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE FAILED WITH ONLY 15,589 MILES. CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD. THERE WAS NO BAD CONSEQUENCES DUE TO THIS FAILURE. DEALER REPLACED BRAKE, ROTOR, AND PADS, BUT SAID PROBLEM WAS DUE TO NOT DRIVING CAR ENOUGH. HE CONVEYED THAT MILEAGE WAS TOO LOW FOR 3-YEAR OLD CAR. I DON'T THINK SO.

I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT TODAY AND THE BRAKES NOT WORKING HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT. AS I NOTICED A CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I APPLIED MY BRAKES ONLY TO FIND THAT IT DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AND WENT TO THE FLOOR SO I TRIED AGAIN (STILL ABOUT TO HIT ANOTHER CAR) AND THEY WORKED FINE. I AM WAITING TO HEAR IF THERE WAS A FAILURE WITH THEM, BUT THE FACT THAT THEY WORKED THE SECOND TIME LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THEY WILL FIND NOTHING WRONG.....I KNOW THERE ARE OTHER BRAKE COMPLAINTS WITH NISSANS, SO I HOPE THIS WARNING HELPS. ALSO, I WAS GOING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 50MPH AND WHEN I HIT THE CAR AHEAD, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. IT WAS A FRONTAL HIT, MORE TO THE RIGHT SIDE, AND NEITHER AIR BAG WORKED. NO INJURIES BUT MY NECK AND BACK HURT. I HAVE JUST REPAIRED SO MUCH ON MY SENTRA, AND I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THE PROBLEMS I HAVE INCURRED WITH NISSAN, WE'LL SEE IF I EVER BUY ANOTHER.*AK

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT HAS JUST 37000 MILES ON IT. IN THE PAST 2-3 WEEKS I NOTICED BRAKE NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE METAL ON METAL GRIDING. I OF COURSE TOOK IT TO MY DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL FOUR SETS OF BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN SHORT, EVERYTHING WAS GONE. AFTER LESS THAN 2.5 YEAR. THIS SEEMS LIKE EXCESSIVE AND PREMATURE BRAKE FAILURE. I HAVE VISTITED SEVERAL OWNER WEBSITES AND HAVE SEEN A MULTITUDE OF STORIES REGARDING EARLY BRAKE WEAR ON THE 2002 ALTIMA. THIS VEJICLE HAS ALSO HAD 5 SAFETY RECALL IN THE LAST 2 YEARS. NISSAN CLAIMS THAT THIS IS "NORMAL" BRAKE WEAR. I THINK IT'S A POTENTIAL SAFTEY HAZARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT A COST OF $900. I AM NOT A "HARD" DRIVER AND ALL VEHICLES I HAVE OWNED IN THE PAST HAVE NOT NEEDED BRAKES TILL 50-60000 MILES. THIS SEEMS LIKE EITHER A DESIGN FLAW OR FAULTY PARTS OR BOTH. *AK

WHEN BRAKING AT ANY SPEED THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BE HARD TO DEPRESS. THIS WOULD CAUSE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM. *AK

AT 2 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP AND 37,000 MILES MY REAR BRAKES HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY; CALIPERS, PADS, ROTORS, ETC. ALL NEED REPLACEMENT. FRONT BRAKES ARE "OK" FOR NOW AND ONLY HALF AS WORN AS THE REAR BRAKES. THIS DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME. OF COURSE, IT IS NOT WARRANTIED SINCE IT IS OVER THE 36,000 MILES OR 3 YEARS. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO THEM TOO. I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN 2002 AND HAVE DRIVEN MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES. WHAT, BESIDES DEFECTIVE PARTS IN THE FIRST PLACE, WOULD CAUSE THIS KIND OF PARTS FAILURE?*AK

AT APPROX. 36,400 MILES ABS WARNING LIGHT WENT ON. II TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE FRONT LEFT ABS SENSOR, $290.00 TO REPAIR, FRONT BRAKE PADS DOWN TO 10% AND ROTORS NEED TO BE RESURFACED. I INQUIRED ABOUT WARRANTY COVERAGE OF THE SENSOR AND THEY SAID NO. I CONTACTED NISSAN EXPLAINED THE SITUATION, THEY CONTACTED THE DEALER AND NISSAN REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR SAYING THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO BRAKES BEING WORN DOWN. THIS WAS MY 3RD NISSAN VEHICLE AND WILL BE MY LAST ONE.*AK

REAR BRAKES ON 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WORE PREMATURELY AND WORE BEFORE FRONT BRAKES. I THINK IT IS ODD THAT REAR BRAKES WOULD WEAR BEFORE FRONT BRAKES. ALSO, I HAD THE BRAKES INSPECTED AT 18,000 MILES AND THEY WERE FINE. JUST 5,000 MILES LATER MY ROTORS WERE SHOT AND CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE. TOOK CAR TO PETERS AUTO CENTER IN NASHUA (A NISSAN DEALER), THEY TOLD ME THE FOLLOWING: 1) REAR BRAKES WERE WORN AND ROTORS TORN APART. AT FIRST THEY TOLD ME THE CAUSE WAS POSSIBLY SOMETHING GOT STUCK IN THERE. LATER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MORE LIKELY CORROSION. CALIPERS TESTED OK. 2) FRONT BRAKES HAVE CORROSION AND WERE NOT BEING USED PROPERLY. THE RECOMMENDED REPLACING BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. AFTER HAVING PETERS AUTO FIX REAR BRAKES ONLY, I KEPT THE PARTS AND TOOK MY CAR TO FROST NISSAN. THEY TOLD ME THE FOLLOWING: 1) IT LOOKED LIKE REAR BRAKES WORE NATURALLY. CALIPERS TESTED OK. THEY COULD GIVE ME NO REASON WHY WHEN THEY EXAMINED MY BRAKES JUST A FEW MONTHS EARLIER AND THEY LOOKED FINE. 2) FRONT BRAKES ARE FINE, SHOULD LAST ANOTHER 3 OIL CHANGES. IS 3 WEEKS TOO LONG TO LET A CAR SIT? COULD CORROSION CAUSE MY BRAKES TO FAIL THIS QUICKLY? I NEVER HEARD OF ROTORS RUSTING IN 3 WEEKS! AND RECENTLY, AT 18,811 MILES, FROST NISSAN OF NEWTON, MA PERFORMED BRAKE SYSTEM INSPECT AND ADJUST. THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. I FIND IT TROUBLING THAT MY REAR BRAKES ARE NOW SHOT, AND THAT MY REAR BRAKES HAVE CONSIDERABLY MORE WEAR THAN MY FRONT BRAKES. NEITHER GARAGE COULD GIVE ME ANY EXPLANATION WHY REAR BRAKES WOULD WEAR BEFORE FRONT BRAKES, AND BOTH GARAGES THOUGHT IT WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY.*AK

BOUGHT CAR USED IN MARCH 2003 WITH 28451 MILES FROM DECORMIER NISSAN IN MANCHESTER, CT 06040. SINCE I HAVE HAD CAR THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. NO STARTING, CAR WOULD STOP RUNNING WHILE DRIVING, IGNITION COILS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, CAM POSITION SENSOR REPLACED (TWICE), 5 RECALLS, BRAKES REDONE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORRISION, AFTER BRAKES REDONE NEEDED TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT WARPED ROTORS, RADIATOR REPLACED AFTER BOTTOM SEAM BLEW OUT. LATEST PROBLEM IS WHAT I FEEL IS EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION OF ENGINE OIL. CAR ORIGINALLY DID NOT USE OIL BETWEEN OIL CHANGES (3000 MILES). CAR IS CURRENTLY USING JUST OVER 1 QUART PER 3000 MILES. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER WITH 52,281 MILES TO PERFORM OIL CONSUMPTION TEST. BROUGHT CAR BACK WITH 53,924 MILES. IN 1,643 MILES CAR CONSUMED 0.6 QUART OF OIL. DEALER SAID THIS IS ACCEPTABLE. HAVE SINCE CONTACTED NISSAN OF AMERICA (1-800-NISSAN1) TO START CASE #4630040. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT RECALL FOR PRE-CATALYST (DONE ON 9/23/03) BECAUSE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE PRE-CATALYST. MATERIAL FROM A DAMAGED PRE-CATALYST COULD ENTER THE ENGINE AND RESULT IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THE PRE-CATALYST AND THERE WERE NOT AWARE OF THIS. PRE-CATALYST RECALL IS ON THE NISSAN OF AMERICA WEB SITE THEN WHY IS THE DEALER NOT AWARE OF THIS?*AK