2004 Nissan Titan Exterior lighting Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN TITAN. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE DRIVER COULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE IS PRESENTLY BEING HELD BY THE HWY PATROL. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TAKEN FOR BRAKE REPAIRS 7 TIMES AND WAS RELEASED TO THE CONTACT SAYING THAT THE BRAKES WERE FINE. PRIOR TO THE CRASH THE BRAKES HAD FAILED IN OCTOBER AND THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THERE WAS STILL SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND WAS FIRED FROM HIS POSITION. DURING PRIOR FAILURES, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAS REPORTED THE FAILURES TO NISSAN WITH NO RESOLUTION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83,000. THIS IS THE SECOND COMPLAIN THAT THE CONTACT HAS FILED. THE PRIOR INCIDENT REPORTED WAS 10/07 UPDATED 01/24/08 *BF THE DEALER STATED PERFORMED RECALL DEALING WITH SEAT BELT, HEATING AND A/C IS INTERMITTENT, VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING AND REAR TAILLIGHTS INOPERABLE. UPDATED 01/24/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10213962

Incident

Dec 20, 2007

Mileage

83,000 mi

WHEN USING DIMMER SWITCH CHANGING FROM LOW TO HIGH BEAM OR HIGH TO LOW BEAM, I HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL OR I WILL TURN THE LIGHTS OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND ITS VERY DANGEROUS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10160932

Incident

Feb 18, 2006

HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT, WHEN CONTROL STALK IS TOUCHED TO DIM LIGHTS, OR USE THE TURN SIGNAL. HAS HAPPENED OVER 10 TIMES.

NHTSA ID

10120834

Incident

Jan 1, 2005

Mileage

7,000 mi

I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN TITAN. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS ON THE END OF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH AND HAS SOME SLIGHTLY RAISED RIDGES. I HAVE ON AT LEAST FIVE OCASSIONS ACCIDENTLY TURNED OFF THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN GOING FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM OR WHEN MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN. THE LIGHT SWITCH TURNS VERY EASILY AND AS MY FINGES SLIDE OVER THE KNOB IT TURNS THE HEADLIGHTS TO THE OFF POSITION. A VERY DISTURBING AND FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER HAVING TRAVEL ALL OVER THE U.S. AND SEVERAL EUROPEAN COUNTRIES AND THIS IS AN UNNERVING EXPERIENCE AT NIGHT. I HAVE COMPLAINTED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TO NISSAN (REFERENCE # 4853986) BUT ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SWITCH WORKS FINE. I ALSO KNOW ANOTHER TITAN OWNER AND HE HAS HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT WILL GET SOMEONE KILLED OR INJURED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10110767

Incident

Feb 10, 2005

2004 NISSAN TITAN, THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS A TURN KNOB ON THE END OF THE SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH AND IT TURNS VERY EASY. IT HAS A PROTRUDING EDGE ON THE TURN SWITCH TO PROVIDE YOUR FINGERS WITH TRACTION TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF. PROBLEM IS OFTEN WHEN YOU GO TO DIM THE LIGHTS (THE DIMMING IS DONE BY PULLING THE SIGNAL LIGHT LEVER TO YOU) THE SWITCH TURNS SO EASY IT OFTEN TURNS THE LIGHTS OFF. I AM A 53 YEAR OLD DRIVER THAT HAS DRIVEN MILLIONS OF MILES IN BOTH PASSENGER VEHICLES AND HEAVY TRUCKS. A NUMBER OF TIMES THIS FAILURE HAS HAPPENED AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE NO LIGHTS I FIND THIS VERY VERY DANGEROUS. MY CONCERN IS NOT FOR MYSELFSO MUCH BUT FOR A INEXPERIANCED DRIVER PANICING WHEN THE LGIHTS WENT OUT AT HIGH SPEED IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT LIKE AS IT HAS WITH ME AND NOT HAVING THE ABILITY TO CALCULATE WHAT THE FAILURE WAS FAST ENOUGH TO TURN THEM BACK ON BEFORE CAUSING A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10102489

Incident

Aug 30, 2004

Mileage

500 mi

I OWN A 2004 NISSAN TITAN WITH 3000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE INADVERTENTLY TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS OFF WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AT LEAST 10 TIMES IN THIS TIME FRAME. THE REASON FOR THIS IS A COMBINATION OF A LARGE TWIST KNOB AND A WEAK DETENT TO HOLD THE SWITCH IN THE ON POSITION. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED DEFECT IN MY SWITCH, RATHER A DESIGN DEFECT OF ALL TITAN SWITCHES AS I HAVE LOOKED AT OTHER NEW ONES ON THE NISSAN DEALER'S LOT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ON-OFF TWIST KNOB IS LOCATED AT THE END OF THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH SO WHEN YOU EITHER TURN THE TURN SIGNAL ON OR FLIP THE SWITCH FORWARD OR BACK WITH YOUR FINGERS TO CHANGE THE LIGHTS FROM BRIGHT TO DIM THE SWITCH IS VERY EASY TO TURN OFF BY ACCIDENT. WHEN THIS HAPPENS ON A DARK ROAD IT IS VERY ALARMING AND I FEEL MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE TWIST KNOB IS SO LARGE IN COMPARISON TO OTHER SWITCHES OF THIS TYPE THAT THERE IS TREMENDOUS LEVERAGE TO ACCIDENTLY TWIST IT IF YOU DONT GRAP IT EXACTLY IN THE CENTER. NISSAN HAS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG AND I AM THE ONLY ONE BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT. I OWN AN AUTOMOBILE REPAIR BUSINESS AND HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE AND SINCERLY BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THIS SWITCH WHICH WILL LIKELY LEAD TO SOMEONE LOSING THEIR LIFE AS THIS TRUCK BECOMES MORE POPULAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10091376

Incident

Mar 31, 2004

HEADLIGHT SWITCH DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH RESISTANCE TO ROTATING. I HAVE TURNED OFF HEADLIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES WHEN SIGNALING A LANE CHANGE OR USING DIMMER SWITCH. *LA

NHTSA ID

10073289

Incident

Feb 28, 2004

Mileage

1,850 mi

THE DESIGN OF THE HEADLIGHT ON/OFF SWITCH IN THE SHARED HEADLIGHT/TURN SIGNAL STALK HAS ALLOWES ME TO INADVERTENTLY TURN OFF THE HEADLIGHTS WHEN PUSHING UP OR DOWN ON THE STALK TO USE THE TURN SIGNAL. IT SEEMS THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH PROVIDES TOO LITTLE MECHANICAL RESISTANCE.

NHTSA ID

10073092

Incident

May 13, 2004

Mileage

1,300 mi