Rear axle seals leaks. Please report.

While the "Seal Issue" may be valid, consider the two largest causes of leakage from differentials.

Overfilling
Lack of Venting


When checking the differential for fill, the vehicle should be on a LEVEL surface. The fluid should be just below the fill port, not flowing out.

The vent should be checked frequently to make sure it is not glued shut from mud and road dirt. (Personally, I am changing mine to a vent tube that will be routed up alongside the bed)

Oldfordowner said:

While the "Seal Issue" may be valid, consider the two largest causes of leakage from differentials.

Overfilling
Lack of Venting


When checking the differential for fill, the vehicle should be on a LEVEL surface. The fluid should be just below the fill port, not flowing out.

The vent should be checked frequently to make sure it is not glued shut from mud and road dirt.

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Oldfordowner,

I have changed the final drive oil twice myself, but I'm sure I did not overfill, and the vehicle was on a level surface (my garage). However, I have never checked the breather vent. But the axle has never been through water or mud... and not much moisture to speak of based on the weather past year in South Texas...

Add me to to the list, but I had a Truetrac installed about a month ago at 14000 miles. My driver side rear seal is starting to leak. I reused the old seals, when I should have read the service manual first and had them install new seals with the Truetrac. My breather vent looks ok.

Just happend to be under the truck today and noticed something greasy on the left rear plate behind the brake disc.. Guess my seal is leaking. Went ahead and submitted a report to the NTSHA.. Until now I was not aware this was issue with the Titans.....

I just had one replaced. I installed a vent tube on my axle back in February or March. I ran the rear end about three months without any venting after a rear end repalcement. The techs forgot to put the vent on the new rear end. I suspect this is why mine failed.

They fail because they are weak seals. If we don't get Nissan to step up and fix this problem like they did with the brakes, we're all going to be paying out of our own pockets when the warranties expire. REPORT IT !!!!! They need a new and improved seals.

My second seal is being replaced today. I reported both to that fed agency

pass side started leaking a couple days ago...its at the dealer now......sucks to be in a sentra!! no power!!! lol

got_titan said:

pass side started leaking a couple days ago...its at the dealer now......sucks to be in a sentra!! no power!!! lol

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Seems to me, from all the posts, that the pass side is the first to go. Then the driver's side a little later. Please report it.

Got my complaint registered. I am still waiting on the truck to finish getting repaired. They took it in as soon as the parts got in, but had to out source to a machine shop for the new bearings to get pressed in. I will post details once I get the truck back.

If the leak is like the one if the first picture, and goes on to long without being detected, can the rear diff be in jepardy?

I just noticed yesterday that my drivers side seal is leaking. It is running down onto the brake disc. I am going to take it to the dealer tomorrow. I just found out about this problem today after searching this website. I am going to report it. This is a safety issue since it is leaking onto the brakes. The leak happened really fast since I had just changed my spare tire about 500mi before that and it was dry then, now all of a sudden I have oil on my brakes.

Mine is leaking on passenger side. Its all over the inside of the wheel.

I got 77,000 Miles so no warranty for me. Anyone know how to replace these seals? Any special tools needed?

ucf_motorcycle said:

Mine is leaking on passenger side. Its all over the inside of the wheel.

I got 77,000 Miles so no warranty for me. Anyone know how to replace these seals? Any special tools needed?

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I would check with the service manger first. This is a wide spread problem and just maybe you could get a goodwill repair. I think someone said the cost is around 400.00. That's why need to get these all reported. We need a recall because it could be a safety problem. Wheel bearing has to be drilled off and a new seal and new bearing pressed back on.

I guess I'll try. Just not sure how to go about asking for a free repair on a vehicle that is way out of warranty that I bought used from a private seller.

I could see how it may work if I bought it from a dealer and had service done there before. I'm going out of town for 2 weeks maybe this will be recalled by the time I get back like the brakes were.

Submitted mine. Complaint #10169371. Looks like 16 reports so far.

According to the warranty bill when I got my 2nd one replaced last week its just about $400

kartman said:

According to the warranty bill when I got my 2nd one replaced last week its just about $400

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Ya, my service guy said somewhere around $500 if I was paying. Glad there's a 5yr. 60K warranty on power train, (I was over 36,000 miles on my RR leak). I got the 100K extended warranty too, so $50 maximum if over 60K, but I went ahead and filed with the feds under the 2004, model year.

Has anyone with the vent tube mod to the tail light, or accordian mod had a failure yet?

swarren1 said:

Ya, my service guy said somewhere around $500 if I was paying. Glad there's a 5yr. 60K warranty on power train, (I was over 36,000 miles on my RR leak). I got the 100K extended warranty too, so $50 maximum if over 60K, but I went ahead and filed with the feds under the 2004, model year.

Has anyone with the vent tube mod to the tail light, or accordian mod had a failure yet?

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I have the vent tube mod but I drove the truck for 4 months without a axle vent valve after my axle assembly replacement. Nissan forgot to put it back on. I did the vent tube mod after I noticed it was missing (Thanks to Titan Talk). This may be why mine failed. Anyone else have a similar story?