The rear axle seals are leaking. There is a service bulletin at nissan for this issue. So this is a known issue. Rear differential fluid is leaking on the rear brakes. This will cause rear brake failure. I think there has been numerous cases of this problem. Nissan best to my knowledge will only take care of this issue if the vehicle is under warranty.
2010 Nissan Frontier transmission complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 15 of 15, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Noticed e-brake no longer holding. Took to local shop. Told me need new e-brake pads and rear axle bearings, seals. Apparently bearing seals failed and gear oil saturated brake pads. Took to dealer to fix bearings and seals under warranty (though they charged me for the brake pad replacement that was a direct result). A little online search reveals the bearing problem common on frontiers, a result of improper axle venting. Apparently there was a retrofit part that nissan sold to address this that has since been pulled from the parts offering.
Transmission slips when placed in gear, does not engage right away.
I put my 2010 nissan frontier truck into four wheel low to back my camper into its parking area. The parking area is located at the top of a slight incline. After backing the camper into position I placed the truck into park and left it running while I secured the camper by placing chocks behind its wheels and putting a foundation for the jack. I removed the safety chains and the hitch lock from the camper and jacked it up. As the hitch came off the truck ball the truck began to roll down the hill freely. I was unable to catch it before it struck things in its path and finally came to rest hitting a tree. The truck was still in park but the indicator for the 4 wheel drive and vdc was off. The truck when put n reverse would not move. I turned it off for a few minutes and restarted it acted normal.
6-speed manual stick shift transmission; clutch failed prematurely at 20,160m, 13mos vehicle age; several months prior, intermittant burning smells of unk origin when backing vehicle that went away quickly may have been only symptom of impending premature clutch failure. Sole driver/owner is veteran stick shift driver since 1975, previous sole owner of a ford ranger stick that did not have clutch failure until 11 yrs of driving it and 85,000m, so driver error not a factor. Clutch failure in mid-traffic resulting in having to divert vehicle off main roads and slowly limp it to nearest nissan dealership; clutch failure got progressively and dramatically worse in a span of just 10 minutes. Even though vehicle is covered under both a 36k/3yr bumper-to-bumper warranty and 6yr/75k extended gold preferred manufacturer warranty, nissan refused to cover the premature clutch failure under warranty, claiming driver error. Mechanic for previous ford ranger is willing to testify to driver stick shift expertise. Driver was placed in harm's way by clutch failure; driver's expertise with a stick is the only reason vehicle was able to be driven in a limping fashion to nearest dealership.
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