The Lemon IndexGrinding when you brake usually means the pads are worn down and metal is touching the rotor.
Fix soon. Get it checked soon. Metal-on-metal braking stops worse and ruins rotors quickly.
Brake pads worn down to the backing plate. Then: a stone or debris caught between the pad and rotor; a seized caliper or a pad stuck against the rotor.
Owners describe this in 3,595 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Nissan Armada.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 Nissan Armada | 68 | 26% |
| 2004 Nissan Armada | 53 | 11% |
| 2005 Nissan Armada | 52 | 14% |
| 2022 Volkswagen Atlas | 34 | 13% |
| 2002 Toyota Sequoia | 30 | 5% |
| 2005 Honda Odyssey | 24 | 3% |
| 2009 Dodge Journey | 24 | 2% |
| 2008 Nissan Armada | 24 | 15% |
| 2003 Honda Accord | 21 | 1% |
| 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan | 20 | 1% |
| 2021 Volkswagen Atlas | 20 | 3% |
| 2008 Honda Accord | 17 | 1% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2006 Nissan Armada · 26% 2008 Nissan Armada · 15% 2005 Nissan Armada · 14% 2022 Volkswagen Atlas · 13% 2004 Nissan Armada · 11% 2024 Volkswagen Atlas · 6% 2002 Toyota Sequoia · 5% 2004 Toyota Sequoia · 3%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of grinding noise when braking
- Brake pads worn down to the backing plate
- A stone or debris caught between the pad and rotor
- A seized caliper or a pad stuck against the rotor
- Rust on the rotors after the car has sat (this usually clears in a few stops)
- A worn wheel bearing
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with grinding brakes?
Fix soon. Get it checked soon. Metal-on-metal braking stops worse and ruins rotors quickly.
Get help right away if the noise is constant and loud; the car takes longer to stop; the brake warning light is on.
Of the 3,595 complaints describing it, 4% mention a crash, 0.8% say the car was towed and 1% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: service brakes, hydraulic (57%), service brakes (31%), power train (7%), electrical system (6%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 38,000 miles.
Most reports by make: Chevrolet (523), Ford (477), Nissan (375), Toyota (328), Dodge (210).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (brakes repairs): the middle half ran $324 to $732, typical $500, from 57 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Squeaky brakes Car shakes when braking Car pulls to one side when braking Brake pedal goes to the floor Brakes not working ABS light on
Quick answers
What causes grinding noise when braking?
Grinding when you brake usually means the pads are worn down and metal is touching the rotor. Common causes: brake pads worn down to the backing plate; a stone or debris caught between the pad and rotor; a seized caliper or a pad stuck against the rotor; rust on the rotors after the car has sat (this usually clears in a few stops); a worn wheel bearing.
Is it safe to drive with grinding brakes?
Fix soon. Get it checked soon. Metal-on-metal braking stops worse and ruins rotors quickly.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Nissan Armada, Toyota Sequoia and Honda Accord. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 57 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $324 to $732. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup