2007 Nissan Altima Brakes Problems

The contact owns a 2007 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the ABS and TPMS warning lights illuminated and the vehicle started to stall. The contact saw smoke coming out from underneath the hood. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. An independent mechanic towed the vehicle to the contact’s residence. The independent mechanic then diagnosed that the transmission fluid and engine coolant were leaking over the engine compartment. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07V267000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that upon attempting to start the vehicle, the brakes seized. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 232,740.

NHTSA ID

11506404

Incident

Feb 6, 2023

Mileage

232,740 mi

As I was driving north on the 101 in the Carpinteria area, I attempted to brake for a construction zone slowdown. I had about 100ft to brake and was going 50mph compared to the 25mph of the cars up ahead. When I pressed the brakes, they did not fully engage and rather appeared to 'slip'. It felt like the brakes were engaged but not limiting the slow of the car in a significant manner. I rear-ended the car in front of me causing that car to hit the car in front of it. I could smell a strong burnt smell during and after the event. The car and brake piece are still available for inspection for another week or so until insurance is done investigating the car for the report, at which point it will be signed over to the scrapyard where it is currently being held (Steelhead Auto Recycler). This incident absolutely endangered my own life and the lives of the individuals of multiple vehicles around me. If I were going 10mph more than I was at the time I wouldn't be typing this message right now. I had absolutely no control over the speed of the car, and because of the construction there was no way to avoid the car in front of me. The lives of the family in the car in front of me were also especially endangered. The specific piece is not being inspected by the manufacturer or the police, although it possibly could be investigated once insurance does follow up with the report. There were no warnings that this was going to occur. In fact the car had its brakes checked just 2 years prior to this incident and it completely passed inspection with no concerns. Brake failure is not an experience I would wish on anyone in the world. It is absolutely petrifying in the moment and can result in devastation of so many lives.

NHTSA ID

11433736

Incident

Sep 18, 2021

THE OWNERS AND OR SELLERS OF THIS DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING VEHICLE THAT WAS SOLD TO ME KNOWING THAT THE CAR WAS IN EXTREMELY BAD CONDITION. THESE CRIMINALS SOLD ME THE VEHICLE KNOWING THAT IT WAS NOT SMOG CLEARED OR APPROVED. THEY SOLD ME A FATAL ACCIDENT WAITING TO O HAPPEN! THEY INTENTIONALLY MODIFIED THE ODOMETER/MILEAGE TO 85K/95K... BUT WHEN I RAN A CHECK ON CAR FAX, IT CLEARLY SHOWED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS 206,851 MILES OF WEAR AND TEAR TO ENGINE. THE BREAK SYSTEM ALMOST KILLED ME ON THE FREEWAY AND MADE ME LOSE CONTROL AND FORCEFULLY MADE ME SPIN OUT OF DRIVING CONTROL FOR 3 FULL SPINS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY, BU THE GRACE OF GOD, I MISSED ALL INCOMING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

11413635

Incident

Feb 27, 2021

Mileage

206,851 mi

WHEN STEP MY BRAKE COMING FROM THE FREEWAY TO GET EXIT MY STEERING SHAKING, MY SUSPENSION I HEARD SOMETHING WHEN GET ROUGH ROAD AND SEAT BEAT IN THE DRIVER SIDE CANT PULL ANYMORE

NHTSA ID

10838099

Incident

Feb 15, 2016

Mileage

108,000 mi

WHILE APPROACHING THE GATE TO MY OFFICE PARKING LOT THIS MORNING, I ATTEMPTED TO COME TO A STOP WHILE THE GATE OPENED. AS I APPROACHED THE GATE, I COULD HAVE BEEN TRAVELLING NO FASTER THAN 4-5 MILES PER HOUR. THE BRAKES FAILED TO REACT. I FLOORED THE BRAKES, BUT TO NO AVAIL, AND CRASHED INTO THE GATE. FEARFUL OF THE SAFETY OF THE CAR, I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN PAST ISSUES WITH THE 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THAT PART. IT HAD LEAKED INTERNALLY AND AT THE TIME I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE THERE WAS SIMPLY NO MORE FLUID TO PROVIDE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES. I ASKED IF THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED AT ANY SPEED, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD HAVE DONE SO. APPARENTLY THE NHTSA HAS DEALT WITH COMPLAINTS ON THIS BEFORE, BUT AS A SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR, I HAD NO IDEA THIS ISSUE WAS OUT THERE. HAD I HAD TO BRAKE AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS CASUALTIES OR EVEN FATALITIES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND CONSIDER A RECALL OF THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10533119

Incident

Aug 1, 2013

Mileage

65,000 mi

A WEEK AGO, MY BRAKES STOP WORKING, I HAVE TO PUSH THE BRAKES COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR FOR MY 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA TO STOP. MY BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON CHECKED BRAKE FLUID STILL AND NORMAL LEVEL TOOK IT TO GET MY BRAKES CHECKED THE SAID IT WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509768

Incident

Apr 17, 2013

I STARTED MY CAR ON THE MORNING OF 11/21/2012 AND NOTICED MY BRAKE LIGHT (!) POP ON, I LOOKED IN THE MANUAL AND READ MY BRAKE FLUID MAY BE LOW, I CHECKED AND IT WAS LOW SO I ADDED SOME THE LIGHT IS STILL ON, I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BE BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10486714

Incident

Nov 21, 2012

Mileage

67,000 mi

THE BRAKE FEELS LIKE IT IS STICKING. WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKE AND RELEASE IT, IT FEELS LIKE IS IT IS NOT COMING BACK ALL THE WAY. ALSO, WHEN YOU PRESS THE BRAKE SOMETIMES IT STOPS OR SLOWS SUDDENLY OR FAST, AND OTHER TIMES IT IS NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482355

Incident

Nov 16, 2011

Mileage

37,000 mi

SLOWLY ENTERING HOME GARAGE. BRAKING. VEHICLE ABRUPTLY ACCELERATED INTO GARAGE STRIKING AND DESTROYING WORK BENCH AND DAMAGING REAR GARAGE WALL. LEFT RUBBER BURN MARKS WHERE FRONT (DRIVE) WHEELS SPUN AFTER IMPACT AND DRAG MARKS ON FLOOR WHERE REAR WHEELS WERE LOCKED UP AND DRAGGING. FILLED GARAGE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF CAR WITH SHEET ROCK DUST FROM THE IMPACT WITH THE INTERIOR WALL. DO NOT RECALL WHEN ENGINE RETURNED TO IDLE BUT WAS ABLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND BACK AWAY FROM DAMAGE AREA. CAR WAS DRIVABLE AND OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER RESTARTING. DEALER ESTIMATED DAMAGE TO CAR AT $2667.99, REPORTED INCIDENT TO NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS ASSIGNED CASE #[XXX]. I WILL NOW DRIVE THE CAR WITH EXTREME CAUTION AND DISCOURAGE MY WIFE FROM DRIVING IT. WAITING FOR RESPONSE BY NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE, WHICH WAS PROMISED WITHIN TWO WORKING DAYS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10465576

Incident

Jul 11, 2012

Mileage

25,948 mi

BRAKE FLUID LEAKING. BRAKE LIGHT TURNS ON INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10453275

Incident

Feb 3, 2012

Mileage

36,000 mi

I AM REQUESTING THAT DOT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THE DRIVER'S CONTRIBUTION TO A LEAK WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND TO REQUEST THAT DOT NHTSA FORCE NISSAN TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE VEHICLE IS 2007ALTIMA 27K MILES THIS LEAK CAUSES LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. WHEN ENOUGH BRAKE FLUID IS LOSS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS NOT ABLE TO GENERATE ENOUGH PRESSURE TO SQUEEZE THE BRAKE PAD TO THE BRAKE ROTORS. END RESULT IS THAT THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE CANNOT STOP THE CAR (NO BRAKES!!!). THIS POSES SERIOUS DANGER TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR, ITS PASSENGERS AND THE PUBLIC. PLEASE FORMALLY INVESTIGATE AND WHEN FOUND VALID, FORCE NISSAN TO DO A RECALL. MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: IT STARTED WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT TURNING ON THEN AFTER A FEW MINUTES, TURN OFF. ALL THE WHILE MY BRAKES STARTS TO DIMINISH. I LOOKED THE BRAKES SYSTEM AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS LOW. TOPPED IT OFF AND EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL.AROUND 60 DAYS LATER, BRAKE LIGHT AGAIN TURNED ON AND A FEW MINUTES TURNED OFF. SAME PROBLEM. I HAD IT CHECKED WITH A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC. HE??S CONCLUSION IS THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER HAS A LEAK AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. A 5 YEAR OLD CAR WITH 27K MILES SHOULD NOT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT NISSAN NEEDS TO ADDRESS WITH A RECALL BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS SERIOUSLY HURT DUE TO LOSS OF BRAKES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10451424

Incident

Mar 3, 2012

Mileage

27,000 mi

MY BRAKE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON WHILE DRIVING. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE SAID THAT I AM LEAKING BREAK FLUID FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE IS IN REFERENCE TO THE ACTION #PE11020. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450618

Incident

Mar 7, 2012

Mileage

60,000 mi

BRAKE PROBLEM LIGHT CAME ON THEN WENT OFF AFTER THE CAR WARMED UP. MY BRAKES FAILED TO WORK, THE PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. COME TO FIND OUT THE BRAKE FLUID HAS LEAKED OUT OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE NISSAN DEALER SAID HE HAS SEEN THIS BEFORE ON 2007 ALTIMA VEHICLES. THE BRAKE PROBLEM LIGHT SHOULD HAVE STAYED ON, THIS IS VERY MISLEADING AND VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE THE LIGHT GO OFF AFTER A WHILE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450485

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

Mileage

70,000 mi

"BRAKE" LIGHT COMES ON AFTER 5-10 SECONDS WHEN I FIRST START TRAVELING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND THEN IT GOES OFF. I NOTICE THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS. IT APPEARS FROM THE MAINTENANCE MANUAL THAT THE BRAKE FLUID IS LOW AND NEEDS TO BE FILLED UP. I DON'T SEE A PROBLEM THERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449750

Incident

Jan 5, 2010

06/30/09 (24,999 MILES): THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR TWO-THREE DAYS BEFORE THE PEDAL AUTOMATICALLY DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. NISSAN DEALERSHIP REPLACED FRONT CALIPER ASSEMBLY PER NTB08-057A AND REPLACED REAR PADS AND HARDWARE PER NTB08-047A. 01/21/2011: THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSED TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START FOR ONE DAY BEFORE THE PEDAL AUTOMATICALLY DEPRESSED. THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. 02/17/2012 (69,504 MILES): THE BRAKES BEGAN TO SQUEAK AND THE BRAKE LIGHT WAS ON. NISSAN DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING FLUID INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THEY FOUND THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL LOW, CAUSING THE BRAKE LIGHT TO BE ILLUMINATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448379

Incident

Jun 30, 2009

Mileage

24,999 mi

THE DAY I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AROUND DEC 2007, THE BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM TOLD ME IT WAS JUST DUST ON THE BRAKES AND IT COULD BE WASHED OFF WITH A PRESSURE WASHER. THIS PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN SOLVED EVEN WHEN MY BRAKE PADS HAD BEEN REPLACED. I BEGAN TO HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH MY BREAKS A FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN EVERY TIME I WOULD PUSH ON MY BREAK PEDAL, THE BREAK PEDAL WOULD KICK BACK, CAR WOULD JERK, AND I WOULD HAVE TO REAPPLY THE BREAK PEDAL TO STOP/SLOW MY VEHICLE. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPT AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE'S MASTER CYLINDER HAD A LEAK AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND AN EXPENSIVE PRICE FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448253

Incident

Sep 26, 2011

Mileage

70,000 mi

MY BRAKE LIGHT RANDOMLY TURNS ON/OFF REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED I AM GOING. ALSO WHEN I APPLY THE BRAKES, IT IS DEFINITELY A ROUGH AND JAGGED SLOW DOWN, COMPARED TO PREVIOUSLY OWNED VEHICLES. NISSAN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ISSUE, OTHERWISE THEIR REPUTATION MAY SUFFER FROM THIS. I AM HOPING WORD OF MOUTH AND INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH WILL RESULT IN MORE DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS, AND THE NHTSA WILL GRANT A LONG AWAITED RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10448179

Incident

Jan 16, 2012

Mileage

74,019 mi

EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447243

Incident

Jan 23, 2012

2007 NISSAN ALTIMA - MY DASHBOARD BRAKE WARNING LIGHT SPORADICALLY FLASHED ON AND OFF BEGINNING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. I TOOK THE CAR TO A NEARBY NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR A BRAKE INSPECTION. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE, PRIOR TO INSPECTION, SHARED THAT THE WARNING LIGHT MIGHT INDICATE THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER MIGHT BE LEAKING AND THE BRAKES MIGHT BE GOOD. THE SERVICE MECHANIC OBSERVED THAT BRAKE FLUID LEVELS WERE LOW AND DUE TO THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKING INTO THE BOOSTER. THE BRAKE PADS WERE GOOD. THE MECHANIC ADDED BRAKE FLUID. THE DASHBOARD BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING. I WAS QUITE SURPRISED THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER HAD A GOOD IDEA THAT THERE WAS A MASTER CYLINDER LEAK. I ASKED HIM ABOUT IT. HE SAID THAT BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKS WERE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO A DIFFERENT FACILITY FOR ANOTHER BRAKE INSPECTION AND REPAIR, IF NECESSARY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447059

Incident

Feb 7, 2012

MY BRAKE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10446773

Incident

Jan 19, 2012

Mileage

89,000 mi

THE BRAKE LIGHT ON MY CAR CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE BRAKES AND WAS TOLD THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE IS A 2007 MODEL. IT SEEMED TOO NEW A VEHICLE TO NEED SUCH A REPAIR. THE COST WAS 638.95 TO REPAIR IT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, AND STARTED DRIVING IT AGAIN AFTER THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, THE BRAKES WERE WORSE THAN BEFORE. PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THEY HAD INSTALLED THE NEW MASTER CYLINDER, BUT THE NEW ONE WASN'T HOLDING PRESSURE, SO I HAD NO BRAKES. ALL OF THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED FROM MY VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER YET AGAIN. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THE MASTER CYLINDERS WERE NEEDING REPLACEMENT IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL QUITE FREQUENTLY, BUT A RECALL HAS NOT YET BEEN ISSUED ON THE PROBLEM. THEREFORE, I AM ADDING MY COMPLAINT TO THE LIST TOWARD THAT END. *TR

NHTSA ID

10445619

Incident

Dec 12, 2011

Mileage

100,900 mi

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT DISPLAYED AT 48,000, INDICATING LOW BRAKE FLUID. TOPPING FLUID OFF IN MASTER CYLINDER, LIGHT WENT OFF. LIGHT REAPPEARED 2 MONTHS LATER. NOW ADDING BRAKE FLUID EVERY 2 MONTHS. INSPECTION REVEALS LEAKING MASTER CYLINDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444999

Incident

Jul 15, 2011

Mileage

48,000 mi

BRAKE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING. INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS LOW. I HAVE FILLED THE BRAKE FLUID MULTIPLE TIMES BUT IT CONTINUES TO LOSE FLUID. THIS COMPLAINT IS BEING FILED BASED ON CAR FORUMS ON THE WEB THAT THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH A FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER. THERE IS ALSO AN OPEN NHTSA INVESTIGATION FOR THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10444456

Incident

Oct 3, 2011

MY 07 ALTIMA HAS A BRAKING PROBLEM. I PUSH THE BRAKES AT ANY SPEED AND IT HAS A RESIDUAL POP AND JERK. IT BEGINS TO SLOW DOWN AS NORMAL AND THEN IT SEEMS TO CATCH AGAIN AND IT WILL JERK AND BECOME A EXTREME BRAKE. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS INITIALLY AND BLED THE LINES. THAT DID NOT FIX IT. THEY THEN RECOMMENDED THAT I TAKE IT TO NISSAN AND I DID AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND I HAD THAT REPLACED AND THEY REALIZED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS LEAKING AND THEY WERE BOTH REPLACED BUT THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. MY MECHANIC CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS AND IT IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD BUT I HAVE NO RECOURSE BECAUSE I HAVE TO GET TO AND FROM WORK. HE HAS ALSO CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT IS NORMAL FOR THE ALTIMA'S. I READ THAT THERE ARE OTHER ALTIMA'S THAT HAVE A SIMILAR TYPE ISSUES. I JUST WANT THE ISSUE RESOLVED. I HAVE A DISCOUNT ON MY INSURANCE THAT INVOLVES MY GOOD DRIVING AND I CAN NOT APPLY THAT BECAUSE OF THE BREAKING ISSUE. MY INSURANCE MONITORS MY DRIVING AND BASE MY DISCOUNT ON MY DRIVING PERFORMANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442705

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

AFTER NOTICING THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR A COUPLE WEEKS, I TOOK IT TO MY NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY HAD SERVICED A NUMBER OF NISSAN ALTIMAS FOR THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. MY SERVICE ADVISOR MENTIONED THAT THERE IS AN ON-GOING INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT NISSAN MAY ISSUE A RECALL FOR THIS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439796

Incident

Dec 10, 2011

Mileage

32,035 mi