NHTSA Complaint #10219236 — 2004 NISSAN TITAN

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA HAS INCORRECTLY DEFINED THE CONDITION "BRAKE JUDDER" AS STEERING WHEEL SHAKE, BODY VIBRATION OR BRAKE PEDAL PULSATION WHILE BRAKING (EMPHASIS MINE), ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MY PROBLEM MANIFESTED ITSELF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHILE NO BRAKING WAS BEING ACCOMPLISHED, AND WAS EXTREME AFTER THE PURCHASE OF NEW PREMIUM TIRES (TOYO OPEN COUNTRY H/T). WHILE A FIX HAS BEEN OFFERED FOR "BRAKE JUDDER" AS NISSAN DEFINES IT, I WAS TOLD AT TWO DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERS THAT IT WOULD NOT REMEDY MY PROBLEM. MY PROBLEM SURFACED BEFORE THE 36 MONTH/ UNLIMITED MILEAGE LIMITATION, BUT I DID NOT UTILIZE THE WARRANTY COVERAGE BECAUSE MY SITUATION DID NOT FIT THE DEFINITION. AN INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER MECHANIC (WHO USED TO WORK FOR NISSAN) INDICATED THAT DEFECTIVE ROTORS WERE INDEED THE PROBLEM, AND INTERNET FORUMS AND LEMON LAW WEBSITES SUPPORTED HIS CLAIM. SINCE I HAD EXCEEDED THE 36 MONTH LIMIT BY 90 DAYS, I ELECTED TO LET THE LOCAL INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER INSTALL THE NISSAN PARTS. HE WAS CORRECT! PROBLEM SOLVED (AT LEAST FOR NOW). I CALLED NISSANS CONSUMER AFFAIRS LINE TO COMPLAIN, AND TO LET THEM KNOW THAT I FELT THAT A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME SAFETY IMPLICATIONS INVOLVED--AND NOT THE COMPANY COST SAVING MEASURES OF A COUPLE OF TSBS AND A FEEBLY MODIFIED BASIC AUTO WARRANTY. NISSAN IS ACUTELY AWARE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. SHE ASKED ME WHAT NISSAN NA COULD DO FOR ME? I REPLIED, "PAY FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR THAT IT COST ME TO FIX MY TRUCK, WHICH TOTAL $747.65." SHE ASKED IF I HAD THE RECEIPTS FOR THE REPAIRS AND I ANSWERED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE. WHEN I DISCLOSED THAT AND INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER HAD INSTALLED THE NISSAN PARTS (DONE BY A FORMER NISSAN TECHNICIAN), REIMBURSEMENT FOR PARTS AND LABOR WERE RESOLUTELY DENIED BECAUSE A NISSAN DEALER DIDN'T DO THE JOB (THE SAME FOLKS WHO TOLD ME I NO LONGER HAD WARRANTY COVERAGE, AND THAT THE FIX" WOULD NOT REMEDY MY PARTICULAR PROBLEM). *TR UPDATED 03/17/08