Rear differential failure

- Houma, LA, USA

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.

- New Creek, WV, USA

Trying to accelerate from a stop at crossroads to go right onto a roadway with high speed vehicles approaching. My rear end made a loud bang and back end seemed to lock up or skip and couldn't get going - nearly rear ended by vehicles on roadway while trying to enter as couldn't get going. Took to Nissan dealer and apparently rear end spider gears gone. 71K on vehicle, changed rear diff. Fluid to Nissan recommended type at 35K, no towing, no hard driving, and less than 1 hour total lifetime use of 4X4.

- Provo, UT, USA

When driving my rear end making loud knocking noises.. it is not gernaded yet but it only a matter of time. Havent been driving it be cause of further ware of saftey issues.

- Clifton, CO, USA

I had just pulled out of the driveway at work into traffic.I heard a loud pop and my rear end started having large bangs and I lost almost all power. I was almost hit by multiple cars. I managed to get off the road and call to have it towed. Thankfully I had 400 miles left on my warranty covered the entire new rear axle that was required.. the dealer said they wouldn't have even though this is a known safety issue!!! my front differential is also slowly going out but isn't bad enough for the warranty to cover it.

- Tolleson, AZ, USA

The front driver side axle is popping out of the front differential housing. This should not be happening especially after it has already been fixed once. There is an obvious defect in the Nissan Titan front final drive assembly starting from 2004 as there are many similar complaints on the internet on many of the Nissan Titan forums. I will be bringing the vehicle in for servers to the dealer and hopefully they will assist in cost of this major malfunction. Again, this should not be happening to this vehicle as it does not get much heavy use. No towing and hardly ever uses the 4 wheel drive.

- Long Valley, NJ, USA

At 55,000 miles the rear axle seals failed on my 2004 Nissan Titan. The seal failure caused a leak which saturated the rear brake apparatus and reduced its holding ability. I reported this to my local Nissan dealer and it was repaired under warranty. I was told that an upgraded rear axle was installed to address the root cause of the premature seal failure. At 138,000 miles the rear axle seals have failed again despite regular fluid changes, and the rear brake apparatus is once again soiled with gear lube. I believe this constitutes a safety hazard and should be addressed as a recall. The dealer refuses to repair under warranty and states that there is no recall. Based on my research, this is a very widespread failure on the Nissan Titan and there are thousands of other Titan owners in the U.S. with the same problem.

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

Transmission fluid diluted with anti -freeze from faulty radiator /tranny cooler Nissan needs to address this problem it is a stall issue, a safety issue, its an expensive repair, and not uncommon.

- Bowlus, MN, USA

Front differential failed. Many reports online suggest a common failure. Cost over $2100 to fix. Parts have been redesigned so manufacturer is aware of the problem and will only guarantee a full differential replacement.

- West Jordan, UT, USA

Both exhaust manifolds have developed cracks and leaks. Nissan refused to repair if not within 70K warranty.

- Madison, AL, USA

Rear axel seals leak causing rear differential oil on wheels, rotors and brake pads. Could lead to a complete brake failure on rear two wheels due to oil.

- Saint George, UT, USA

While using 4WD my front axle popped out of the front differential. Luckily I was offroad and going slow. After researching the issue I see it is a common complaint and can lead to catastrophic front differential failure ( if retaining clip is ejected and gets between gears) causing the front end to temporarily lock up. Again luckily I was going slow. But this is to common an issue and something that can cause a lapse in control of the vehicle, this needs to be addressed.

- Hazelhurst, WI, USA

I was driving up an icy incline on a side road with the 4 wheel drive engaged and the front differential failed. The vehicle lost traction and almost hit other cars and pedestrians. This is the second failure to occur on the front differential on this vehicle.

- Anchorage, AK, USA

This will be the 3rd rear differential on this truck. The first blew on warranty at approx 10K miles. Now with 56K miles the 2nd dana rear axle has blown. I don't off road and tow only a motorcycle trailer. This is obscene, time consuming and very costly ($3,630) to fix and days waiting away from home. This isn't right.

- Grants Pass, OR, USA

When trying to backup the truck the column gear shifter moved into reverse but the vehicle was still moving forward. Fortunately I didn't run over anyone but it could have easily happened in a busy parking lot. The gear shifter was moving up and down into every position but it was continuously engaged in drive. I drove home and parked. The shifter is still moving up and down; the gear indicator shows that the transmission is in "D" - drive but the vehicle is rolling as if it was in neutral and can't be started. There is a Nissan recall no. RU403 but Nissan says my truck is not affected.

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

Rear axle seals were leaking, had replaced, began leaking again almost immediately.

- Eubank , KY, USA

Driving down a main road when I felt an odd vibration coming from under my feet. Pulled over immediately to see that my axle shaft has pulled out of the differential. After getting the vehicle home I researched online to find hundreds of the same problem. The front differential on these trucks is and will always be a safety issue until they decide to recall the problem. Nissan definitely knows this differential is not strong enough for the engine. Needs to be recalled before more people get injured!

- Aurora, CO, USA

Had rear fixed at dealer and it broke again. Now the truck has sat since the date of failure, meanwhile im paying on it still. Called Nissan Corp. They said (they were aware of the problems but they were not going to fix it). Not a very respectable Corp..

- Saranac, NY, USA

My rear end on my Titan began grinding when turning. After researching this, I found hundreds of people with the same problem. This is a defect on the first models of the Titan and Nissan will not report a recall on them. If these rear ends lock up when the vehicle is being driven on the highway or while towing a trailer, people's lives could be lost. The consumer should not be responsible for a design flaw that has affected such a vast population of Titan owners. Furthermore, Nissan only offers a full rear end replacement at the low price of $2,500. Something has to be done about these problems! a recall must be issued before more lives are put into jeopardy.

- Houston, TX, USA

I was accelerating from a stop on to the highway and felt/heard a "clunk" in the rear of the truck. Every time I turned I heard/felt a "clunk". it would even do it every so often at highway speed. The rear differential went out in the truck. I had to replace it.

- Dawson Springs, KY, USA