NHTSA Complaint #10184103 — 2004 NISSAN ARMADA

2004 NISSAN PATHFINDER ARMADA. PURCHASED AT 11488 MILES ON 11/5/05. EXPERIENCED VERY SLIGHT VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING AT HIGH SPEED ON WAY HOME. ALSO EXPERIENCED PERIODIC "GROAN OR THUMP" WHEN GENTLY BRAKING, MOSTLY WHILE TURNING. VIBRATION CONTINUED TO INCREASE UNTIL STEERING BECAME UNMANAGEABLE WHILE BRAKING. DIFFICULT TO BE WITHOUT A CAR SO WE COULDN'T TAKE THE CAR IN UNTIL 1/10/07 AT 22030 MILES. OUR MECHANIC SAID THEY WERE THE WORST WARPED ROTORS HE HAD EVER SEEN AND HAD THEM TURNED. HE ALSO REPLACED 50% NISSAN PADS WITH CARQUEST CERAMIC PADS. TWO DAYS LATER, THE VIBRATION WAS BACK AND DRAMATICALLY INCREASED OVER 1000 MILE ROAD TRIP UNTIL WE TOOK CAR TO DEALER ON 3/2/07 AT 24,140 MILES. STEERING NOW COMPLETELY UNMANAGEABLE! DEALER WOULDN'T HONOR WARRANTY BECAUSE WE HAD CARQUEST PADS ON CAR. ALSO TOLD US THAT WARRANTY WORK HAD BEEN DONE ON ROTORS AT ABOUT 7000 MILES UNDER ORIGINAL OWNER. DEALER TURNED ROTORS AND INSTALLED NISSAN PADS AND INFORMED US THAT WE WERE NOW BACK UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 36000 MILES OR 8/07. DON'T FEEL SAFE ON ROAD, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING POSTS OF COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE, YET NEED A CAR TO DRIVE ON TRIPS. PLEASE ISSUE RECALL. *JB