Nissan Armada shudder problems

Filed Jan 6, 2021 · Transmission · 11,200 miles · VA

While driving the vehicle has displayed an intermittent transmission shudder at low speeds when accelerating from a stopped position. This occurs at speeds between 20-40 MPH. The shudder can be felt through the floor into the seat and appears as if the transmission is searching for a proper gear. Under hard acceleration/freeway driving the issue does not present itself. The vehicle has been into both my nissan and infinity dealer. Both technicians who inspected the vehicle confirmed feeling the shudder. Driveline service was performed at nissan and the ECM received the most current update. Nissan technician advised that this is a known problem with the armada and that the shudder is due to the computer trying to find the optimum transmission shift points for the best fuel economy. I brought the vehicle to my infinity dealer after learning that the issue is known to exist in the qx56 & qx80 as well as the armada as the vehicles all share the same components. My service technician drove the vehicle and also confirmed the shudder occurring intermittently under certain driving conditions. I requested that they search for the most current update which would be the "e" update, unfortunately this update only applies to models prior to 2018. Service tech advised me to continue to drive the vehicle normally as this is not a mechanical issue, but a software issue. He also confirmed that nissan / infinity are well aware of the issue and have done little to nothing to provide a tsb, computer update, or permanent solution. He further advised that a transmission replacement, rebuild, or major servicing would not resolve the issue as it is software related. It is deemed very common. This is unacceptable in a $65,000 vehicle. Nissan needs to resolve this issue instead of having dealers advising owners this is normal. My concern is a transmission failure while driving.

Filed Sep 23, 2020 · Brakes · 104,000 miles · CA

I was traveling at low speed and step on the brakes and hear a terrible grinding sound coming from the brakes in addition to a spring like sound and a significant reduction in braking power. The brake lights came on. This continues until I pull off the road and shut off the engine and then start it back up and the brakes work fine. The next day, while exiting the highway...brake light came on, little or no braking power and a shudder in the breaks. And then it happened again as I pull up to the driveway to park my armada. This is a safety issue and I really hope that nissan will take care of this issue.

Filed Jun 19, 2017 · Transmission · 8,000 miles · AR

Sometimes when pressing the accelerator, the vehicle will act like it is trying to choke out and will shudder and/or hesitate. This can occur when trying to climb an incline or when merging into traffic from a slowed down or stopped standing. This can be seen in a shudder in the tachometer needle and feels terrible. There is great concern on my part that it will happen to do this at a moment that my children are with me and will cause me to be hit by another vehicle. The occurrence is unpredictable but is incredibly noticeable. I have been told by the dealership many times that this is normal and that no one else has reported a problem. I cannot imagine that anyone would buy this vehicle given how easily the problem is noticed. It is unnerving.

Filed Jul 8, 2015 · Brakes · 75,000 miles · VA

The brake, slip and vdc off light come on at once. Lose brake pedal pressure. Pedal goes almost to floor with noise like the ABS is on, grinding sound shuddering happens. Turn off and turn on vehicle, issue goes away for anywhere from a day to a few week then happens again. It has happened on mostly dry smooth pavement. It could happen few times a day or few times a week and sometimes not for weeks. I am very afraid to drive because luckily it had happened every time I was 20 MPH or below.

Filed May 24, 2015 · Fuel system · 60,000 miles · NH

At approximately 45-50 the car began to shudder on a state highway and stalled making it impossible to steer with normal effort . It would not start and was towed. Of note this is my 2nd armada my 2004 had the same problem. I can't imagine nissan does not know and has done nothing to fix it. Any thoughts ?

Filed Sep 23, 2014 · Brakes · 83,921 miles · VA

Brake judder from front brakes.[xxx]. I have had numerous episodes like this "bad ABS, I think, on armada". Everything goes well and am traveling at low speed or pulling out of the parking and step on the brakes and hear a terrible grinding sound coming from the brakes in addition to a spring like sound and a significant reduction in braking power. This continues until I pull off the road and shut off the engine and then start it back up and the brakes work fine. This has happen 8-10 times since may 2014. It did happen couple of time when I was traveling with 20-30 MPH and I come to stop, causing groaning, banging noises and feel spongy.this started happening in the same week or so after I had brake work done by dealer. I had taken my car to dealer to replace rotor and pads. This didn't happen before that time. I took the car back to dealer in july and complained about this issue. They reset the module and suggested to replace the booster if it happens again. I ran the scanner to see error code c1179, delta stroke sensor. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 24, 2014 · Steering · 45,000 miles · TN

The first incident took place approximately 1 year after purchase, but it was not as severe, so I will begin with the first severe occurrence, which took place in the summer of 2009. At about 55 miles per hour the vehicle shakes, and the steering seemed a bit loose. But because I like my nissan, I just drove it very carefully. Then in 2014, it became almost impossible to control. I began to research problems that others were having as originally I thought the problem I was having was related to the brake system. But it was shaking even without applying the brakes. I have owned vehicles that cost considerably less, and I have never had a problem where the steering shaft connection to the rack and pinion assembly became so worn that both the steering shaft and the rack and pinion assembly had to be replaced. This seems to be an engineering defect or poor workmanship, and a definite safety hazard, and if I had not had the presence of mind to have it checked out, or the finances to have it repaired, it would certainly have resulted in a car crash and possible loss of life, as when the steering started to degrade without my applying the brakes, it degraded quite rapidly. I paid auto-nation nissan of memphis $1989.60 to repair, and it only put me back to the point where the shuddering or shaking only occurs when I apply the brakes. I would not be able in good conscious to sale this vehicle to anyone, though I am sure that north american nissan would have no problem doing so.

Filed Jun 3, 2014 · Brakes · 190,426 miles · VA

Yesterday I left the parking lot after work and after driving for a few minutes I noticed that the parking brake light was on. The parking brake was in the up position and the car was in drive. I have had issues with lights coming on even if nothing is wrong (tire pressure light). At the time I was traveling at a low rate of speed due to five o'clock traffic. So after getting onto the freeway the speed increased then I noticed when I depressed the brake pedal to slow down the vehicle began to shudder/shake and the brakes didn't seem to be working as they should. It was a noticeable grinding noise as well. So I continued on slowly(35mph) until I reached a point that I could stop. I checked to see if maybe I had leaking brake fluid. I saw nothing coming from under the car. I stopped the car in order to do this. Well once I got back in and started the vehicle the light was off and the brakes were working as if nothing had happened. I am concerned because I see blogs where people have had the same problem as me. What I didn't see was a recall or any acknowledgement that the armada has a malfunction of some sort with the braking system. I have been reading about anything I can find that identifies the part or problem. So far nothing...I will be taking my armada to the dealership to get a diagnostic just to see what if any code will match my description of the events yesterday. I am worried that I will experience brake failure altogehter.

Filed Feb 14, 2014 · Brakes · 105,000 miles · CA

While driving our nissan armada our brake indicator light came on while driving 45mph down a city street. When my wife, who was driving attempted to stop at a stoplight the armada's brakes shuddered, went to the floorplan of the vehicle and become spongy. As this happened nearly all braking capacity disappeared and my wife was barely able to stop. She pulled off the roadway stopped the vehicle and called for a tow service because it had scared her so badly. Upon restarting the vehicle however, the problem disappeared to I, her husband, drove the car home with quite some anxiety and the problem would not replicate itself. I inspected all brake hardware, fluid levels, and there appears to be no actual problem. I am reading about many customers with similar model year nissan titans and armadas having identical problems with no real solution being made by nissan north america. What do I do? I am very scared for the safety of my wife and two small children.

Filed Aug 13, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 85,000 miles · AL

Problem with car accelerating spontaneously when brake booster sensor fails at random times. Initial problem with brake peddle going soft and the anti-lock braking system gets activated when braking trying to do standard braking. The brake light turns on, the peddle goes to the floor, brakes are not normal and very touchy and the car shudders viciously to a stop while. Loud noise is scary while brakes not firing in the usual peddle position and feel like mush. Now in january a new situation started occurring when the brake booster would fail is that the armada would also accelerate the engine on pressing the brake. I went to stop my armada's and the engine surged its rpms while the anti-lock relays were firing. I stood on the brake peddle with my every muscle in my body to try to get the nissan armada to stop. I could not shift the car into neutral because the shifting lock seemed to engaged. I ended up turning off the engine and was able to stop. I called nissan america to report this issue. Also stopped by the local nissan dealership and service manage informed me that the braking issue was caused by the delta sensor in the brake booster and was a know issue but that this was the first time he heard about the spontaneous acceleration when applying the brakes at low speed and that he only had heard about the spontaneous acceleration when applying the brakes at higher speeds. He said this was caused also by the delta sensor in the brake booster. I think I understood him in saying that when this sensor fails it allows the booster to inject air into the intake that causes the car to accelerate. I replaced my brake booster yesterday to find today that my armada has the same deadly issue! Please have nissan fix this known safety issue!