Transfer case poll

[Eric L.]

Ok, since no one has done it yet, I'm starting a poll to see how widespread this AWD transfer case failure is.

Vote in this thread ONLY if you have an AWD Murano, since FWD does not apply for the transfer case. Also add a text post below telling us how many miles you had at the time of failure and the model year. No need to list mileage if you haven't had this problem.

If you originally voted no, but subsequently had a transfer case leak or failure, PM one of the moderators and they can adjust your vote to the other category.

[WrenchGremlin]

I have an Feb-03 AWD MO and at ~80K miles I noticed the oil burning smell from the right front. Transfercase was cracked and needed to be replaced.

[Tyler_Canada]

Mine failed at 84k miles, with no apparent precursor.

[jaak]

Vehicle was about 2.5 years old, transfer case cracked, leaking fluid. Going by memory, I'd say it was around 47,000 Km. Took it in, Dealer said, when this happens, the transmission is often damaged as well. (Interesting comment, this was obviously not the first one they'd done or even the second.) Requested replacement of both transfer case and transmission. Nissan Canada said, no, replace transfer case only. Work done, including changing the controller and switch to provide less AWD functionality, and in an attempt to protect the under spec'd transfer case. It continued to leak, Dealer said they'd go back to Nissan Canada and request the repair be completed as originally requested.

Didn't hear anything for about a month, lept at trading it in on a 2006 Dodge Magnum SRT8. Dealer called me another month later with "Your parts are in, we can get the transmission replaced." I suggested they call the Dodge dealer... They said, they'd just cancel the order. (Good to know they were looking out for the next owner... NOT!)

The Dealer confirmed by their comments, and Nissan confirmed with the retrofit of the "updated" controller and AWD switch, that the transfer case design is not robust enough for this vehicle.

Turn around time on the repair was unsatisfactory. It will (unfortunately) be a very long time before I purchase another Nissan/Infiniti product. If Nissan and their Dealers' response was more appropriate and in a reasonable amount of time, I would still recommend their products. The dealer I took this too, is within walking distance of Nissan Canada headquarters.

[jaak]

Here's what it looks like when it's leaking. The dirt accumulates due to the lubricant on the case, and is flushed off where most of it is actually leaking. Much of what's around will also be wet from lubricant.

Don't assume yours isn't leaking, without doing a visual inspection. You can see this by turning your wheels all the way to the right and looking in behind the drivers side front wheel.

It is not a bad idea to check this periodically. I keep my driveway quite clean and noticed the drops of fluid. I could see after a while that you could run out of fluid at which point the wear will be accelerated until it fails.

[Enforcer]

jaak, any idea where the crack or leak was?

[Tyler_Canada]

In his case it was a leaky seal.

[rrossig]

Mine looked excactly like Jaak's pic after several non-productive trips to two dealers. After having the car for most of Jan. 06 (45k mi approx) the transfer case was ultimately replaced. But not before trying several times to replace the seal between the xfer case and the transmission.

I still get the smell now and then and make sure a request to check it is in the record at every oil change. They continue to say there's no smell or leak.

I'll be taking pictures of it again as it approaches the end of the warranty. If the leak is visible it will be replaced one more time, or traded.

[Stoker]

I was lucky as I noticed a small amount of oil on the flexible coupling on the exhaust pipe that was right below the transfer case. They replaced a leaking gasket and it has been good since then. Had 65000 Km on the MO

[theguest]

'05 BLK MO SL AWD 19,000mls. CRACKED TRANSFER CASE (yes 19,000 mls)

[jason1234]

Mine failed on me 2 weeks ago right in the middle of a vacation 3000 kms from home. I was at a red light, and when it turned green, I accelerated heavily like I normally do. There was a bit of snow on the ground - not too much. After reaching about 40 km/h, I heard a loud "wack, wack, wack" repeating itself at a fast pace. I pulled over right away thinking I may have had a flat tire (I've never had one before - don't really know what it sounds like). Got out, and didn't see any flat tires or anything caught under the car. Got in and started driving again. There was a very loud "clunk" that happened once every 10 feet or so. I pulled over and did a more detailed inspection of the underside of the car and didn't see anything. No leaking or obvious mechanical failure. I left the car overnight and had it towed to the closest dealer the next morning.

Dealer said the differential was likely the cause. They sent me off in a rental car, and 5 days later I got a call saying it was ready. I don't have the paperwork in front of me right now, but I'm pretty sure it said they replaced the transfer case assembly, some seals, and gaskets.

My Mo: 2005 SL with 75,000kms.

[Dave N]

I have an '04 SE that we purchased in March '04. The transfer case developed a leak in Dec of that same year @ 12K miles. Sent it in to the dealer for replacement of the seals but that didn't fix the leak. Second trip to the dealer and they replaced the transfer case, but that still didn't fix the leak. After another couple of trips to the dealer, I wrote a lemon law letter to Nissan but they refused the buy-back. By this time, the transmission developed a strange condition where at low speeds it would chatter - almost like rough-cut gears engaging each other and you could feel each cog engaging and disengaging.

They offered to dispatch a "technical specialist" who worked with me and a different dealer (my choice because I lost all confidence in the first dealer). After replacing the transfer case again, the leak was still there. As a final attempt to fix the problem, they replaced the CVT and the transfer case, and the passenger side driveshaft. This finally fixed the problem.

The technical specialist determined that the first dealer screwed up the installation of the transfer case which somehow damaged the CVT.

I guess this is the long way of saying that my first transfer case cracked somewhere around the 12K mile mark, and the rest of it was dealer/mechanic ineptitude.

Dave

[Indiana_Mike]

My leaking transfer case occurred at 49,000 and 2yrs old on a 2003 model.

I have previously posted describing this event because the dealer and NNA tried to stick me with the repair bill even though I was still within the drive train warranty. Claimed that I did not perform required maintenance. Considering that this is a sealed unit and the seal failed, not much to maintain on it.....

Anyway, after a threat of legal recourse, NNA started back-pedaling and paid for it.

[njjoe]

Originally posted by Indiana_Mike
My leaking transfer case occurred at 49,000 and 2yrs old on a 2003 model.

I have previously posted describing this event because the dealer and NNA tried to stick me with the repair bill even though I was still within the drive train warranty. Claimed that I did not perform required maintenance. Considering that this is a sealed unit and the seal failed, not much to maintain on it.....

Anyway, after a threat of legal recourse, NNA started back-pedaling and paid for it.

Mike-

It is a shame that sometimes Nissan makes you jump through hoops to have a major repair covered under warranty.

-njjoe

[DavidSMCA]

OPPS... I don't have AWD and I voted "yes" on the poll. But, I did have a leak from my transmission. It was fixed..(under warranty), @ 39,500 miles.
David