NHTSA Complaint #10444412 — 2004 NISSAN ARMADA

WHILE EXITING THE INTERSTATE, WENT AROUND THE EXIT RAMP. THE BRAKES DEPRESSED FARTHER THAN NORMAL AND MADE A GRINDING SOUND. THE BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ONE. THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHILE I TRIED TO BRAKE. I NARROWLY MISSED THE GUARDRAIL AND MANAGED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN, ALTHOUGH IT TOOK LONGER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE, AND I DROVE SLOWLY TO A SERVICE STATION NEARBY. THE VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED, AND I WAS TOLD I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON AND THAT THE BRAKES HAD JUST "HEATED UP". I WASN'T DRIVING WITH THE PARKING BREAK ON THOUGH. IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW WEEKS LATER AND WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT SERVICE STATION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT NEEDED TO GO TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE SERVICE CODES PULLED, AND THAT THERE HAD BEEN BRAKING ISSUES WITH THE MODEL AND YEAR. FURTHER INVESTIGATION ONLINE REVEALED IT CAN BE FIXED BY SHUTTING CAR OFF. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN, AT RANDOM TIMES WITH NO ANTECEDENT. I DRIVE CAUTIOUSLY AND LEAVE PLENTY OF BRAKING ROOM, AS I AM NERVOUS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKES AND MY ABILITY TO STOP. PLEASE HAVE NISSAN ADDRESS AND FIX THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM!