WIFE WAS DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT, APPROACHING TURN. BRAKES GAVE A GRINDING SOUND AND FAILED ALMOST COMPLETELY. SHE WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE THE TURN AND ENTER A PARKING LOT WHERE IT EVENTUALLY SLOWED TO A STOP. *TR
2004 Nissan Armada
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Armada years
Owner complaints for the 2004 Nissan Armada are substantially higher than the model-year median of 23.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Armada years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
378 reports with mileage · 86 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 157 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 145 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes complaints
145 reportsI WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP LIGHT WHAT WAS RED. THERE WERE 4 CARS AHEAD OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, MY FEET ALSO HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND ALSO PUSHED IT INTO ANOTHER CAR RESULTING IN A MULTI CAR ACCIDENT. MY CAR SUSTAINED MIN…
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I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION WITH A STOP LIGHT WHAT WAS RED. THERE WERE 4 CARS AHEAD OF ME. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES, MY FEET ALSO HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND ALSO PUSHED IT INTO ANOTHER CAR RESULTING IN A MULTI CAR ACCIDENT. MY CAR SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE BUT TWO OF THE OTHER CARS HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS OCCURRED TO ME WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE OTHER TIME WAS A SIMILAR SITUATION WHERE I WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME. IN BOTH INCIDENTS, I WAS WEARING WESTERN STYLE BOOTS. BUT IT COULD HAVE EASILY HAPPENED WITH WORK BOOTS. I BELIEVE THAT THE PLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDALS, WHICH COULD ALSO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 04 ARMADA, THE RED BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH LIT UP. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP AND INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSED AND THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED, AS INDICATED BY THE GRINDING NOISES UNDER THE HOOD. NOT TRULY GRINDING BUT THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE WHAT AN ABS SYSTEM SOUNDS LIKE WHEN ACTIVE. THIS …
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WHILE DRIVING MY 04 ARMADA, THE RED BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DASH LIT UP. WHEN I TRIED TO STOP AND INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSED AND THE ABS SYSTEM ACTIVATED, AS INDICATED BY THE GRINDING NOISES UNDER THE HOOD. NOT TRULY GRINDING BUT THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE WHAT AN ABS SYSTEM SOUNDS LIKE WHEN ACTIVE. THIS HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. COULD HAPPEN A FEW TIMES IN A DAY OR IT MAY NOT HAPPEN FOR WEEKS OR MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMS TO KNOW NOTHING OF THE ISSUE WHICH MAKES ME VERY SUSPICIOUS. THIS IS A FAIRLY WELL KNOWN ISSUE. THEY WANT TO CHARGE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE FOR A PROBLEM I AM SURE THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX. MEANWHILE MY VEHICLE MAY BE VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I HAVE NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE AS I CANNOT AFFORD REPAIRS, SINCE THEY WILL NOT RECALL THE VEHICLE, AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT. *TR
I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN REGARDS TO THE NISSAN ARMADA BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON WITHOUT WARNING DURING DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE ON AND OFF THE FREEWAY. I WOULD TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE BRAKES LIGHT WOULD GO OFF, RESETTING THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THIS LAST TIME WAS EN…
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I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM IN REGARDS TO THE NISSAN ARMADA BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON WITHOUT WARNING DURING DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE ON AND OFF THE FREEWAY. I WOULD TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THE BRAKES LIGHT WOULD GO OFF, RESETTING THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO NORMAL FUNCTION. THIS LAST TIME WAS ENOUGH AND I FINALLY TOOK IT INTO NISSAN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE BOOSTER, AND IT WOULD BE OVER $1000 TO FIX!! NISSAN NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS FAULTY SENSOR OR PART. ITS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE UNDER THESE CONDITIONS. THANK GOODNESS MY WIFE AND INFANT DAUGHTER HAVE NEVER BEEN IN THE VEHICLE WHENEVER THIS HAPPENED. DO BETTER NISSAN, I'VE HAD NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE OTHER THAN THIS. *TR
THE BRAKES DO NO WORK PROPERLY. THE ABS ENGAGES SPORADICALLY AND THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. THE BRAKING SYSTEMS DOES NOT WORK NORMALLY AND THERE IS A LOSS OF BRAKE FUNCTION. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, THE ISSUE RESETS AND THE BRAKES WILL WORK AGAIN. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. AS I EXITED OFF THE FREEWAY AND TRIED TO STOP THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE AND FAILED ME. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AS MY CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AT ALL, THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO USE THE TRANSMISSION TO SLOW THE CAR BY DROPPING DOWN TO FIRST GEAR. I HAD…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND MY EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. AS I EXITED OFF THE FREEWAY AND TRIED TO STOP THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A TERRIBLE NOISE AND FAILED ME. IT WAS VERY FRIGHTENING AS MY CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AT ALL, THANKFULLY I WAS ABLE TO USE THE TRANSMISSION TO SLOW THE CAR BY DROPPING DOWN TO FIRST GEAR. I HAD MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND THANKFULLY WE WERE NOT IN AN ACCIDENT ALTHOUGH WAS VERY CLOSE AS THERE WERE CARS IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED AT A LIGHT. WHEN I CAME HOME WE CHECKED THE BRAKE FLUID AND PADS AND BOTH WERE FINE. WHEN WE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT REOCCUR. I HAVE MY CAR MAINTENANCE VERY REGULARLY AND THIS PROBLEM STUMPED OUR NORMAL MECHANIC. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AMONG VEHICLES LIKE MINE AND IS APPARENTLY THE BREAK BOOSTER WHICH NISSAN WILL FIX FOR $800. THIS IS VERY DISTURBING THAT A CAR CAN LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF ITS ABILITY TO BREAK JUST LIKE THAT WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THEN AFTER I TURN IF OFF AND BACK ON BE JUST FINE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM AND THE MANUFACTURER NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. I HAVE NO PROBLEM FIXING THE BREAK BOOSTER BUT HOW IS NISSAN ABLE TO INSURE ME THIS PROBLEM WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN? I FEEL VERY UNSAFE KNOWING AT ANY TIME IT COULD RE OCCUR. *TR
BRAKE JUTTER, GRINDING, SHAKING WHEN BRAKING. ABS VDL SLIP BRAKE LIGHTS UP ON DASH--UNABLE TO TURN OFF. STOPPING VEHICLE AND RESTARTING CORRECTS THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES; OTHER TIMES THE LIGHT STAYS ON. BRAKE PADS ORIGINALLY REPLACED EARLY AFTER PURCHASE IN 2005 WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS RARE…
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BRAKE JUTTER, GRINDING, SHAKING WHEN BRAKING. ABS VDL SLIP BRAKE LIGHTS UP ON DASH--UNABLE TO TURN OFF. STOPPING VEHICLE AND RESTARTING CORRECTS THE PROBLEM SOMETIMES; OTHER TIMES THE LIGHT STAYS ON. BRAKE PADS ORIGINALLY REPLACED EARLY AFTER PURCHASE IN 2005 WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS RARELY DRIVEN--THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 36K MILES ON THE VEHICLE--BUT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN PERSISTENT OVER THE YEARS WHEN DRIVEN. LATELY, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE MORE OFTEN AND THE PROBLEM IS CONTINUING AND IT IS MORE APPARENT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BRAKES. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE LIFT GATE AS IT RECENTLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING WHEN PRESSING THE KEY FOB OR EITHER OF THE SWITCHES INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I BEGAN OPENING AND CLOSING THE LIFT GATE MANUALLY AND NOW IT WILL NOT CLOSE SECURELY, I.E., IT IS NOT GETTING THAT FINAL SEAL WHEN CLOSED. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW NO LONGER GOES UP OR DOWN AND DOES NOT WORK WHEN USING THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER SWITCH. FINALLY, THE DRIVER'S SEAT DOES NOT RESET TO THE POSITION PROGRAMMED WHEN THE ENGINE STARTS AND TURNS OFF. I DECIDED TO RESEARCH THE INTERNET TODAY AND WAS QUITE SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS WHO ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR 2004 AMADA. CALLED A LOCAL NISSAN DEALER TODAY AND THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. JUST AS SO MANY HAVE WRITTEN ALL OVER THE INTERNET, THE DEALER SUGGEST THAT YOU BRING THE VEHICLE IN WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT ISSUE IS DISPLAYED SO THAT THEY CAN PERFORM DIAGNOSTIC TEST. *TR
2004 NISSAN ARMADA BRAKE ISSUE. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE BRAKES START GRINDING AND ITS HARD TO STOP, EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. ONCE I AM ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER, I THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES GO BACK TO PERFORMING NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THIS MOST…
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2004 NISSAN ARMADA BRAKE ISSUE. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE BRAKES START GRINDING AND ITS HARD TO STOP, EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. ONCE I AM ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER, I THEN RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKES GO BACK TO PERFORMING NORMALLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THIS MOST RECENT TIME HAPPENED WHILE TOWING A 6500 LB LOAD. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF US. I HAVE DONE QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH ON THE ARMADA AND TITAN FORUMS AND THEY REFERENCE NTP06-040 AS WELL AS A RATHER EXPENSIVE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACEMENT AT CLOSE TO $1000. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO BE RATHER PREVALENT WITH THE ARMADA MODEL. THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN THIS ISSUE WILL OCCUR AND I AM A BIT WORRIED THAT IT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND/OR INJURY. *JB
2004 NISSAN ARMADA BRAKE ISSUE. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE BRAKES START GRINDING AND ITS HARD TO STOP. THEN THE E BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. ONCE I GET PULLED OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IT SEEMS TO BE FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE GETTING VERY NERVOUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WORRIED ABOUT TOWING OR HIGH SPEEDS THIS COULD BE FATAL.…
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2004 NISSAN ARMADA BRAKE ISSUE. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE BRAKES START GRINDING AND ITS HARD TO STOP. THEN THE E BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. ONCE I GET PULLED OVER AND RESTART THE VEHICLE IT SEEMS TO BE FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE GETTING VERY NERVOUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WORRIED ABOUT TOWING OR HIGH SPEEDS THIS COULD BE FATAL. *JB
WHILE TRAVELING ON ROAD (GOOD CONDITIONS) THE BRAKE LIGHT (RED) COMES ON AND A GRINDING NOISE ALONG WITH A MODERATE BRAKING COMES ON WITHOUT DRIVER EVER TOUCHING PARKING BRAKE OR FOOT BRAKE. WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED THE VEHICLE COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP ALONG WITH LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THIS GRINDING NOISE CONTINUES UNTIL THE IGNITION…
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WHILE TRAVELING ON ROAD (GOOD CONDITIONS) THE BRAKE LIGHT (RED) COMES ON AND A GRINDING NOISE ALONG WITH A MODERATE BRAKING COMES ON WITHOUT DRIVER EVER TOUCHING PARKING BRAKE OR FOOT BRAKE. WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED THE VEHICLE COMES TO A SUDDEN STOP ALONG WITH LOUD GRINDING NOISE. THIS GRINDING NOISE CONTINUES UNTIL THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES AND I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICING BUT NO RESOLUTION. THIS IS A GRAVE SAFETY HAZARD. *JB
Official recalls
110V517000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Oct 28, 2010
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDUCTION. THE ECM RELAY MAY ALLOW SILICON VAPOR TO FORM AND, OVER TIME, THE SILICON EVAPORATES FROM THE DIODE MOLDING WHICH CAUSES SILICON OXIDE TO DEVELOP ON THE ECM RELAY CONTACT DUE TO ARCING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE08004 · Side Air Bag NON-DEPLOYMENT
Opened Jan 25, 2008 · Closed May 30, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE AIR BAGS.ALL VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH STANDARD FRONTAL AIR BAGS AND SIDE AIR CURTAINS.INSTALLATION OF THE INCORRECT SRS DIAGNOSIS SENSOR UNIT DOES NOT IMPAIR DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG AND SIDE AIR CURTAIN IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.NO REPORTS OF NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SUBJECT SEAT-MOUNTED SIDE AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED BY THE MANUFACTURER OR BY NHTSA.THE WARRANTY REPORTS CITED ABOVE REPRESENT VEHICLE INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED UNDER THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN AND SENSOR REPLACEMENT WAS REQUIRED IN 32 OF THESE CASES.THE MANUFACTURER REPORTS A TOTAL OF 151 SENSOR UNITS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR ALL PURPOSES.INVESTIGATION DISCLOSED A LOW INCIDENCE OF SENSOR REPLACEMENT REQUIRED UNDER THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO DATE.NO INCIDENTS OF REAL WORLD NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SUBJECT AIR BAGS WERE IDENTIFIED.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS CLOSED.
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