NHTSA Complaint #10778286 — 2004 NISSAN TITAN

WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 TITAN, I NOTICED A BANGING AND CLANGING SOUND. I THOUGHT IT WAS A LIMB STUCK IN MY TIRE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I NOTICED OIL ON THE INSIDE REAR ROTOR, PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS ALREADY MILES FROM HOME ON A HUNTING TRIP. I ONLY HAVE 79,000 MILES ON THE TRUCK. AFTER HUNTING, I LIMPED MY TRUCK ABOUT 30 MILES HOME, TRAVELLING ABOUT 35 MPH, WHILE IT IS BANGING AND CLANGING, SOUNDING AS THOUGH THE WHEEL IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. I MADE SEVERAL STOPS ON THE WAY HOME TO MAKE SURE THE WHEEL WAS STILL SECURE. I FEEL BLESSED TO MAKE IT HOME AS THE WHEEL STARTED TO BIND WHEN I HIT THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, THEY HAVE SEEN THIS ISSUE ALOT. THE REPAIR WILL COST SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $3,000 TO $4,000. APPARENTLY THE AXLE SEAL BLEW WITHOUT WARNING AND NOW THIS HAS CHEWED UP THE GEARS INSIDE AND DESTROYED THE HOUSING. THE MECHANICS SIMPLY SUGGESTED TO BUY THE ENTIRE REAR AXLE AND REPLACE. THEY ALSO STATED THE ORIGINAL DESIGN WAS PISS-POOR. OF COURSE, THIS HAPPENS AFTER PLACING $2,000 REPLACING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS THAT WERE UNDER WARRANTY FOR 80,000 MILES AND 10 YEARS OLD. MINE WERE 11 YEARS OLD AND THE TRUCK HAD 79,000 MILES ON IT. THE LOCAL GARAGE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP. IT WAS MORE THAN 10 YEARS OLD. I WOULD HOPE THERE IS SOMETHING YOU COULD DO TO MAKE THE MANUFACTURER LIABLE FOR THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.