Slipping/grinding when releasing brake after being stopped in D

[basteagow]

My brand new 2009 Altima 3.5 SE has been doing something since day one that my old 2008 Versa started doing after about 15k miles.

When I'm stopped in drive and let go of the brakes and the transmission kicks in, there's a single thump that can be heard and felt before the car starts moving. The thump is loud and strong on downhills, slight on level ground, and non-existent on uphills.

If I let go of the brakes very slowly to find the exact spot where the thump happens and hold the pedal there, the thump repeats continuously and turns into what sounds like a slipping or grinding noise. This can be sustained indefinitely without the car moving.

I took the car to the dealership today and demonstrated the problem to a service advisor. He said that he couldn't "fix that noise," that it's normal, that it's not the transmission (and proceeded to explain how it can't slip because it's a CVT), that he could replace brake parts but it probably wouldn't help, that he could call Nissan but it wouldn't make sense considering the car otherwise "shifts and drives fine," and to bring the car back should the noise get worse.

This doesn't feel normal to me, and the fact that my old Versa started doing the exact same thing after 15k miles concerns me. What do you guys think? Should I try a different dealership?

Thank you!

[Ranga14]

I have the same issue although it doesn't do it every time and it depends on how quickly you release the brake I believe. I believe it's pretty normal.

[marlin29311]

Does it only happen when you first put the car into D? Or does it happen multiple times when you're driving?

[basteagow]

It happens all the time--it's not the VDC/ABS self-test.

[jungleboogie]

mine, much like most cvts, i'm sure, only does this when going from P, R and D.

virtually has nothing to do with the brakes or the pressure applied to them.