NHTSA Complaint #10373467 — 2005 NISSAN TITAN

I PURCHASED A USE 2005 NISSAN TITAN 4X4 IN MAY OF 2010. IN DECEMBER 2010 I WENT TO ENGAGE THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE DUE TO DRIVING UP A ROAD THAT HAD SNOW AND ICE. AFTER COMPLYING WITH THE DIRECTIONS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL I BEGAN DRIVING UP THE GRADE ONLY TO FIND THAT I HAD NO PULL FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO LOSS TRACTION ON THE ROAD. ONE TIME THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE COMPLETE SLIDE BACK DOWN THE HILL, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO DO A COMPLETE 180 DEGREE TURN. DAYS LATER I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC AND FOUND THE FRONT AXLE HAD BECOME DETACHED. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND TITAN THEY HAD SEEN DO THIS AND HAD HEARD THAT TITANS HAD A PROBLEM DETACHING WHEN DRIVEN IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MODE ON DRY PAVEMENT AND THE VEHICLES WOULD MAKE SHARP TURNS. LUCKILY, MY INCIDENT DID NOT RESULT IN ANY CRASHES, HOWEVER IT DID COME CLOSE TO STRIKING FIXED OBJECTS ALONG THE ROAD. *TR