2004 Nissan Armada: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed May 25, 2022 · Brakes · WA

This issue had been going on for years with my 2004 Nissan Armada. Driving down the freeway at approximately 70mph and the brake light comes on out of no where. When this happens there us no way to safe stop the vehicle because the brakes will not engage. There is this rattling and grinding sound that happens each time. The only way to safely continue is turn the truck off and back on. This needs to be corrected immediately before there is a fatal because of brake failure. Nissan refuse to research all the complaints.

Filed Jul 14, 2021 · Brakes · WY

As I was driving through the canyon at 55 mph I pressed on my brakes to begin to slow down for the construction zone coming up and they felt like air no pressure then there was a grinding sound like something was breaking underneath my vehicle as I let off my brakes the brake light came on and it sounded like a spring releasing under my vehicle. I attempted to use my brakes almost a dozen times attempting to stop with the same grinding and spring sound happening. Once I was finally able to come to a safe stop I turned my vehicle off and once I turned it back on the brake light was off and the pressure was back in my brakes

Filed Nov 18, 2020 · Brakes · 72,000 miles · CA

This problem has happened numerous times at various speeds from 10mph to 70mph.while driving on city streets and freeways and need to come to a stop the brake light, vdc off light, and slip light came on. When brakes applied, very loud grinding/clunking metal noise happened and brakes would not engage only at about 10% of brakes working it seems. I stop turn off the car and start it back up and it seems to reset. This cannot happen as I almost got into numerous collisions because of this ABS brake malfunction !! Doing research on this problem from other armada owners forums this problem happens quiet frequently. Some owners came to the conclusion that its a faulty delta sensor in the brake booster. Nissan must recall this problem asap!!

Filed Feb 3, 2020 · Brakes · 140,000 miles · CA

Several times when driving my brake light will come on along the brake does not engage. When you press on the pedal you hear a loud grinding sound similar to springs being ejected from the car. It does not slow down the vehicle at all and the grinding is loud and seems to be damaging internal parts. When you turn the engine off, and restart it the problem goes away. I took it to the nissan dealership in fremont ca. They advised to change the brake pads and rotors. Which I elected to do and cost me a lot of money. Immediately after leaving the dealership it happened again. I called the next day for they were closed. They said that they didn't see any errors on their reader and cannot replace parts when there are nothing showing. I insisted to take it in and the mechanic suggested I clean the battery or get a new battery which I did. The problem stoped for a month until it happened again while driving 50mph down a windy road. It nearly killed me! The closest description I have of the problem is explained on this youtube video I found https://youtu.be/jvcrd2lxti8

Filed Oct 9, 2019 · Brakes · 191,000 miles · IL

Note that this vehicle was purchased used about 2 years ago without any service history from the previous owner. However I was able to confirm no outstanding recalls open on the VIN. While traveling home (45mph) I observed the brake light illuminate on the dashboard and noticed the brakes were malfunctioning. When attempting to depress the brake pedal the ABS/brakes appeared to make grinding/metallic noises and the brake pedal would vibrate and go to the floor. I thought that a brake line or fluid issue may have occurred, but when I stopped the vehicle and turned off the ignition I did not see any visual issues. Then upon restarting the vehicle the issue was no longer present. When I researched this issue I found hundreds of complaints about nissan brakes having similar issues and found a service bulletin ntb06-040.pdf regarding the issue. Upon using a scantool to read the vehicle codes I was able to confirm that dtc c1179 was present and that this issue was related to the service bulletin. The service bulletin indicates a software update addresses the issue. I contacted nissan consumer affairs and they indicated nissan would not be able to assist due to the age of the vehicle. I am concerned about the number of complaints I am seeing online (clubarmada, nissanhelp, etc) regaing this issue and feel that if a software update is needed to resolve than there is either 1) a software bug (which needs a recall) or 2) a defective sensor (delta sensor) that the software update chooses to ignore or diminish. Either way a random brake malfunction that can "fix" itself upon reboot (restarting the vehicle) seems suspicious and should be investigated.

Filed Jul 23, 2019 · Brakes · 140,000 miles · KY · crash

I was driving down the road around 45 to 50 MPH. I looked down and when I looked back up a car was stopped in the road. When I pressed the brake it made a weird noise almost like a spring going boing and air rushing. The noise is very hard to describe. The pedal went almost to the floor. The brakes had a weird grinding sound and a lot of vibration in the pedal. I had the brakes down as hard as I could. The brakes did work a little but nothing like they should have. There was only a very small light in color skid mark. I let the officer know after the crash. After looking into it I discovered this is a known problem. I was not injured but people in the other car were.

Filed Mar 9, 2019 · Airbags · 165,000 miles · TX · 2 injuries

The side airbags deployed without any incident of an accident or crash. There was no accident-nothing was but or bumped just driving 35 MPH and the side airbags deployed fully and the seat belts on the driver and passenger side tightened to the point of restricted breathing. The seatbelts no lomger can be used as they should. They do not extend out fully. And the airbag sensor light is constantly. Before the deployment of the side airbags the brakes would grind to the point of needing to pull over to pump the brakes in order for them to function again properly. This would happen every 100 miles or so.

Filed Jan 26, 2019 · Brakes · 3 miles · CA

All dash board lights suddenly turn on when driving on the freeway and breaks disengage. Pressing the break pedal results in a loud grinding noise and sounds like springs tearing. This happened four times. Dealer cannot find the problem and I have changed break pads and rotors but still continues. The only solve is to turn off the engine and turn it back on.

Filed Dec 5, 2018 · Brakes · 154,000 miles · IL

Randomly the truck would not stop as I try and apply the brakes , its as is I push petal to the floor and you hear a bad grinding a bad vibration and feels as if the truck is about to drop a mechanical piece from underneath the front end .as I come to a long and rolling stop the brake light turns on,, I try and pump the brake petal and it seems as if its disconnected from the cable, so I turn the truck off wait a minute and turn it back on... Now this has happened about 5,6 times the past time my wife and 3 boys where in the vehicle.. Ive done research and been on many forums and know this is a big issue and very dangerous, as we are now extremely nervous to drive the vehicle especially on the expressway ... Please at least honor the repairs as I can take it to a nissan by me and have it fixed. I love the truck and have put a lot of money to modifying it and its very dependable. But no vehicle will be safe if brakes randomly go out... Its bound to be a very bad outcome and we dont want to be a statistic,,,please help us. Please call for further info and a resolution.. Thank you for your time [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).'

Filed Aug 16, 2018 · Brakes · 55,000 miles · OH

At random times, usually when transmission in drive, the brake light displays on the dash and immediately the brakes do not work appropriately. The brake pedal sinks to the floor when depressed while making a loud groaning/grinding sound. The brakes fail. I have to stop the car by pumping the brake pedal, turning off the motor and then once auto restarts the problem is gone until next time. Very dangerous. At higher speeds could cause serious accident with injury or death. Happened several times on expressway. Happened in parking lots and on side streets. Frightening situation. Dealers act ignorant about this problem even tho this seems to be a common complaint with this vehicle. I understand it is the ABS booster that needs to be replaced. Others said it is the computer. I spent 4 hours 2 wks ago at dealer who "found nothing." yet the situation has increased fron a few times a year to 3 times this week.

Filed May 9, 2018 · Brakes · 112,000 miles · CA

I've made some research and I'm surprised to find out I'm not the only one that has this problem. Sometimes without notice the brake light comes on as you try to brake you hear a loud grinding noise and loose braking power. I pull over turn off the truck for a few seconds, turn it back on and the brake light goes away. It works good after that but sometimes I get the same problem multiple times through out the day. It gets scary when traffic suddenly stops and that happens. Nissan should really make a recall on this.

Filed Jun 25, 2017 · Brakes · 134,000 miles · FL

I was driving down a main roadway when the brake, vdc, ABS and 4x4 lights all came on. The car also started making a bonging grinding and vibrating when I pressed the brakes. I pulled off to the side of the road and turned the car off. I checked to see if I could find anything wrong. I couldn't see anything so I turned the car back on and all the lights were still on but the noise and vibrating had stopped. I made it home without it making the noise again. The next weeks went by and all the lights are still on and it makes the noise and vibration each time I turn the car on but and I pressed the brakes a few times it goes away expect the lights are always on now.