2006 Nissan Altima Brakes Problems

Your brake pads and rotors need replacing every year to year and a half, which is unusually frequent. When you press the brake pedal, you hear an abnormal grinding sound, but no warning light appears on your dashboard. Both the dealer and an independent mechanic have confirmed the same problem occurs repeatedly. The underlying cause of this excessive brake wear hasn't been identified or resolved.

I HAVE 88,000 MILES ON MY NISSAN ALTIMA AT 30,000 MILES I CHANGED MY FIRST SET OF ROTORS, FOR A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES AND HERE WE GO AGAIN. I HAVE ALSO CHANGED THE PADS COUNTLESS TIMES. I WISH I HAD NEVER BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE.

THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY FOR 6 HOURS IN 10 DEGREE WEATHER. IT WAS REQUIRED TO MOVE THE CAR TO ALLOW ANOTHER VEHICLE TO LEAVE WHEN THE NISSAN WAS DRIVEN FORWARD TO RE-PARK THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDDLE WAS ROCK HARD AND NO BRAKES WERE AVAILABLE CAUSING A COLLISION WITH A GARAGE DOOR. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A VACUUM VALVE, INTEGRAL WITH A VACUUM HOSE. THE DEALER TESTED THE CAR AT 7:30AM ON 1/16/2012 WHEN THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR OVER 24 HOURS IN 23 DEGREE WEATHER, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD (HOWEVER NOT ROCK SOLID) ONCE THE PEDAL WAS PUMPED TWICE THE BRAKES WORKED ACCORDINGLY. THE THEORY WAS THE VALVE WAS NOT FUNCTIONING IN THE COLD WEATHER. THE DEALER TESTED THE THEORY BY REMOVING THE FAULTY PART AND PLACING IT IN THE COLD WEATHER FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AND REINSTALLED PART BACK INTO THE CAR AND CREATED A SIMILAR SCENARIO WHERE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD WITH LIMITED BRAKES (TEMPERATURE WAS 22 DEGREES). THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED AND APPEARS TO HAVE SOLVED THE ISSUE. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE NISSAN ALTIMA CAN POTENTIALLY HAVE BRAKES IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER AS I LIVE IN A COLD CLIMATE. - SEE MORE AT: HTTP://WWW.NISSANUSA.COM/APPS/CONTACTUS#STHASH.GPXHTYA7.DPUF THIS BRAKES ISSUE SHOULD HAD BEEN RECALLED. *TR

THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE GO OUT ABOUT ONCE A YEAR WITH NO WARNING. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THEY JUST START GRINDING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE MY BRAKES ABOUT 10 MANY TIMES SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE. *TR

BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE WHEN CAR HAS BEEN LEFT IN COLD, USUALLY BELOW FREEZING. BRAKES USUALLY ENGAGE AFTER I HIT THE PEDAL ONCE, TWICE HARD. DEALERSHIP STATED MASTER CYLINDER PROBLEM AND REPLACED; NOW LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER SAME THING IS OCCURRING HOWEVER NOT AS COLD AND NOT AS FREQUENT AS DURING THE MAJOR COLD SPELL IN AREA. DEALERSHIP HAS IT AGAIN OVERNIGHT TO SEE IF THEY CAN REPLICATE ISSUES. SPENT MAJOR BUCKS ON MASTER CYLINDER AND AM AFRAID TO TRUST MY CAR'S BRAKES, PLUS PERHAPS HAVING TO SPEND MORE MONEY ON A DIFFERENT ISSUE. HAVE SEEN OTHERS RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE BUT FIND NO MAJOR RECALLS; ONLY A NISSAN SERVICE CAMPAIGN AT SOME POINT TO CHECK BRAKE PADS AND MASTER CYLINDER FOR LEAKAGE. I HAVE NO IDEA IF DEALERSHIP EVER CHECKED MY PADS/MASTER CYLINDER, BEEN GOING TO SAME LOCATION FOR ALMOST 7 YEARS. *TR

2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE REPAIR PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HAVING FOUND RUST ON THE BRAKES, WITH ONLY 20,559 MILES, ON THE VEHICLE WAS EXCESSIVE. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE BRAKE PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH OTHER BRAKE REPAIRS DUE TO THE RUST DESTROYING THE ROTORS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE UNDER THE CABIN.

SO AFTER MY HUSBAND REPLACED A FAULTY BRAKE CALIPER ON THE LEFT REAR OF MY ALTIMA HE PROCEEDED TO ROTATE THE TIRES. IT WAS THEN HE DISCOVERED MY DRIVER SIDE FLOOR PAN COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. WE HAD BEEN NOTICING A "WET CAR" SMELL ON OCCASION, BUT I WOULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED THIS. I AM SO DISGUSTED. TO BEAT IT ALL, NISSAN WON'T RECTIFY THIS?? THAT'S BULL@$#T. I HAD A 1995 ALTIMA THAT I DROVE FOR OVER A DECADE WITH OVER 200000 MILES ON IT BEFORE I TRADED IT IN. THE RELIABILITY OF IT WAS WHAT PROMPTED ME TO PURCHASE ANOTHER. THOUGH MY HUSBAND CAN REPLACE THE DAMAGED AREA, THE POINT IS HE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. I PROMISE YOU THIS, IT IS THE LAST NISSAN ANYTHING I'LL EVER BUY. I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I GET FOR NOT BUYING AMERICAN ENGINEERED/MADE/CONCEIVED (KARMA BIT ME IN THE BUTT). I'LL GO BACK TO FORD FOR SURE. *TR

I HAD THE VEHICLE REVIEWED ON APRIL 23, 2013 WITH YOUR ELHART MICHIGAN NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT. I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW DISAPPOINTED I AM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REAR BRAKES PINS AND SLIDES HAD NO LUBRICATION IN THEM WHEN MY WIFE PERSONALLY WATCHED THE MECHANIC LUBRICATE THEM WHEN THE MOST RECENT PADS WERE INSTALLED 2 WEEKS AGO. ONE OF THE PINS IS AN AFTERMARKET BECAUSE THE EXISTING ONE WAS FROZEN AT THE SERVICING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I QUESTIONED THE NISSAN SHOP MANAGER WHO CALLED ME REGARDING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR MAINTENANCE OF THIS PARTICULAR AREA OF THE VEHICLE AND HE INDICATED THAT IT IS NOT MENTIONED. I AM NOW IN MY WORDS "STUCK" WITH A SAFETY PART OF MY CAR WHICH I MUST WATCH RELIGIOUSLY AND I CAN EXPECT TO SPEND $1000'S OF DOLLARS IN PARTS AND MAINTENANCE. THIS CAR DID NOT YET HAVE 60,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS ALREADY GONE THROUGH ALL 4 ROTORS 2 SETS OF FRONT PADS AND 4 SETS OF REAR PADS. MY FORD VEHICLE HAS 240,000 MILES AND IS ON ITS 3RD SET OF PADS AND SECOND SET OF FRONT ROTORS. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A PRESTIGIOUS BRAND OF NISSAN IS EXPECTING THEIR CUSTOMERS TO SWALLOW THIS. YES, I AM ALSO ONE OF THOSE CUSTOMERS WHERE YOU REPLACED MY ENGINE AT 11,000 MILES BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL USAGE. I KNOW THAT DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING MISTAKES OCCUR, ITS HOW THE MANUFACTURER RESPONDS TO THE MISTAKES THAT DETERMINE THE DIFFERENCE IN OBTAINING CUSTOMER LOYALTY. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE CNN CONSUMER SITE TO REPORT THIS AS THE INTERNET IS FULL OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WHERE THE OWNERS ARE BEING TOLD THAT IT IS THEIR FAULT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PANEL WAS CORRODED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THIS FAILURE MADE THE FLOOR UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,000. THE VIN INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. DURING BRAKE APPLICATION HE INTERMITTENTLY HEARD METAL GRINDING. THE DEALER HAS MADE FIVE ATTEMPTS TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE , BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKES FOUR TIMES. HOWEVER THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. A REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT HIM REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

MY BRAKES HAVE A HIGH PITCHED SCREECH ONLY WHEN IN REVERSE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. I HAD IT IN TO THE GLENDALE NISSAN DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE TYPE OF BRAKE IT IS. AM I SUPPOSE TO LIVE WITH IT FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS SOUND IS VERY ABNORMAL. WHEN I AM BACKING UP PEOPLE JUST LOOK AT THE CAR AS TO SAY, "GET YOUR BRAKES FIXED". I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A CAR DOING THIS LET ALONE HAVING TO DEAL WITH THIS TERRIBLE SCREECHING NOISE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING LOUDLY. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES. THE SECOND TIME, THEY COULD NOT LOCATE A FAILURE, AND CURRENTLY, THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

DUST BOOT WEDGED BETWEEN PISTON AND CYLINDER. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY MADE A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TWO DEALERSHIPS IN VIRGINIA. AND BOTH STATED THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY BECAUSE THE BRAKES CONTINUED TO MAKE A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE. *AK UPDATED 4/8/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE ENGINE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND CONSUMER STATED A FUEL SMELL IN THE WAS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 04/08/08 *TR

2006 2.5 ALTIMA SPECIAL EDITION HAS SQUEAKING BRAKES 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASED. CAR HAD 4,000 MILES AND BRAKES ARE SQUEAKING. NISSAN HAS NOT REPAIRED OR REPLACED THE HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION ENGINE RECALL SINCE RECEIVING RECALL NOTIFICATION IN JUNE 2006. NISSAN HAS EVEN TAKEN THE RECALL OFF THE WEBSITE HOWEVER HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IT BECAUSE THERE ARE CARS ON THE LOT WITH REPLACED ENGINES. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. ENGINE OIL IS VERY ESSENTIAL TO THE CAR AND SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS A MINOR RECALL. I WAS TOLD THE PISTON RINGS ARE DEFECTED AND SHOULD HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. HAVE YET TO HAVE NISSAN HONOR THIS REQUEST. *NM

2006 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 SPECIAL EDITION HAD OIL LEAK FROM THE SEAL IN THE MOTOR. BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING. *KB THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. *JB

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA IN MARCH 2006. IT'S NOW AUGUST 2006, AND I AM EXPERIENCING AN OIL LEAK. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS LEAKING AT THE SEAL. NOW MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER FELL IN THE RANGE OF THE 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA RECALL. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT NISSAN CORPORATE TOLD HIM JUST TO REPLACE THE SEAL. I WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH THAT RESPONSE. I WAS NEVER OFFERED A NEW MOTOR. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN THEY ARE PLAYING ME FOR DUMB. I HAVE ALSO BEEN DEALING WITH SQUEALING BRAKES THAT I HAVE REPORTED TO THE TECHNICIAN WHICH HE KEEPS DISMISSING AS THE HOT WEATHER. *JB

THE 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA, BOTH 2.5E & 3.5E HAVE A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW REGARDING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS SOFT & ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO SIMULTANEOUSLY DEPRESS BOTH PEDALS! MY NIECE HAD A NASTY ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS AND I MYSELF ALMOST DID. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. *NM

THERE WAS A RECALL SENT TO ME STATING THAT THE CAR HAS A HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION RATE AND THAT THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS OF ENGINE FIRES. HOWEVER, THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN PHYSICALLY RECALLED. I HAD BEEN HEARING THE BRAKES SQUEAL AND SCRUB AFTER 3 WEEKS OF HAVING THE CAR, HAVE ONLY HAD 2 MONTHS, FINALLY 2 MONTHS LATER IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL 4 CALIPERS WERE LEAKING. THE PARTS THAT WERE NEEDED WERE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. THE PARTS WERE SHIPPED IN AND THE BRAKE PADS, CALIPERS, AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THIS WAS A WEEK AGO, CURRENTLY I AM HAVING MORE TROUBLE WITH THE BRAKE AREA. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH ON NORMAL RESIDENTIAL ROAD CONDITIONS THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED CRASHING INTO A MAILBOX. A POLICE REPORT WAS PROCESSED AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE VEHICLE HAD INCIDENCES OF SKIDDING ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS.

ABS BRAKE FAILURE--FOUR TIMES IN SIX WEEKS SINCE PURCHASE ON APRIL 23, 2006. *NM