Are Nissan OEM batteries junk?

[TomNJ]

The OEM battery in my Altima 2.5SL went dead last year (little over one year old) from playing the radio for about an hour. The AAA guy ran a check on it and said the battery was no good, but since he then tried to sell me a new battery I ignored him and just had him start the car.

Last week the battery went dead again after not using the car for two weeks. I jumped it and a week later it died again, even though it is less than two years old. So I took it to the dealer for a warranty replacement.

The dealer confirmed the battery was no good, but refused to honor the two year 100% full warranty shown in my Nissan warranty booklet, and prorated it instead. He claims the two year 100% full warranty only applies to “replacement batteries”, that is the new one he just installed, not the original OEM battery, and produced a paper from Nissan showing that the original battery only carries a one year 100% full warranty!

I argued that none of the booklets or literature I received when I bought the car mentions the “original battery” or its warranty and that this amounts to a secret warranty. He called Nissan but they would not budge, so I had to pay the prorated price of 50%.

If Nissan warrants the original battery for only one year, and a replacement battery for two years, what does this say about the quality of the OEM batteries? And why would they provide a warranty booklet that only addresses “replacement” batteries and not the original?

Anyone else having problems with Nissan’s OEM batteries?

TomNJ

[LinkNuc]

Yes I just replaced mine at 30K....wasnt worth the dealing with the retard dealers., 94 bucks At advance auto.;...GOLD starts awesome now, took me 30 min to install at 5 F, and I still went tto work

[Mr.Coupe]

Yeha dude the OEM Nissan batteries are garbage. After I found out about the problems many people on here were having with theirs I changed mine for an Optima Yellow Top Deep Cycle. My car only had 6K miles when I did because I didn't wanna run into these problems.

Ricky C.

[prlwhitecoupe]

I had the same experience my friend. After 2 years my battery went kaput and yes I was playing the radio. It was quite embarrassing, there I was waiting for the parking rate to hit the flat rate in the evening outside my university in downtown Toronto and when it came time to start the car it wouldn't start. Good old Murphy's law....haha my car was all clean and gleeming white and people would look at it...mind you I was not blasting the radio it was just on because I had an hour to kill. Anyways, had to call Nissan and they sent a local tow truck to give me a boost.

Called the dealership next day and considering all the past problems I've had with the car they replaced it with no problems. They ran a test and it completely failed. I soon found out why my electronics were wacky and the radio sounded much louder and crisper after the replacement! At first the service manager said that it might not be covered but then he said it's no problem.

People if there is any advice I can give you guys is to make friends with your service managers! Don't kiss a**, be assertive and threaten to write to Nissan. Mind you the only reason my current dealership has been really good to me is because the previous service manager turned out to be a really helpful old fella and understood, but he retired. He made sure to pass on the word to the next guy who has been helpful so far. If worse comes to worse write a formal letter to customer service to Nissan Canada or US. They will contact your local dealer and speak about the issue. Threaten to boycott Nissan to your friends, and family and that you will put your story in your local community newspaper and see how quickly they say "YES SIR!".

[Throckmorton]

TomNJ,

The dealer is correct. There is a difference between the Original Equipment Battery, and the Genuine Nissan Replacement Battery Warranty.

You simply misread the Nissan Warranty Booklet. Easy mistake to make.

Nissan Warranty Information Booklet

Page 5

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BATTERY COVERAGE

The coverage period is 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. A defective original equipment battery which is unserviceable within the first 12 months and 36,000 miles will be replaced free of charge.

After 12 months but within 24 months and 36,000 miles, you will pay 50% of the replacement battery’s suggested retail price plus any applicable taxes. After 24 months but within 36 months and 36,000 miles, you will pay 75% of the replacement battery’s suggested retail price plus any applicable taxes. Nissan will pay the rest, including all labor to remove andreplace the defective battery.

Page 43

WHAT IS COVERED?Nissan Warrants your Genuine Nissan Replacement Battery as described below except as stated under "What is not covered?" This warranty covers defects in materials and workmanship.

HOW LONG IS THE WARRANTY AND WHAT WILL NISSAN DO

Nissan will replace your battery without charge if it becomes unserviceable within the first 24 months of service. If the battery becomes unserviceable after 24 months of use, Nissan will provide a replacement battery at a reduced price, charging only for the portion of the life of the battery actually used. This is called a "pro-rata adjustment". Nissan will pay for all labor charges in replacing the battery if it was originally installed by an authorized Nissan dealer. This warranty and the "pro-rata adjustment" end 84 months after the date of the battery's purchase or installation, whichever is earlier

If the "pro-rata adjustment" applies, you must pay for the portion of the 84 month warrantable life that you actually used. The amount you pay is computed in two steps. First, the customer pay percentage is determined from the chart shown below based upon the months of actual battery service.

Months In Service Customer Pay Percentage0-24 0%25-32 25%33-50 50%51-84 75%

[LinkNuc]

Agree with Throck. But it wasn't worth my time or arguing. There are three manufactures of batteries. The cheapo from Johnson controls *which also makes nice sum a bizniches* works great 94 bucks...but if you are running a bunch o stuff I'd recommend something 1000 Cranks

Remember only 3 companies make batteries for our cars but are branded different

[LinkNuc]

I belive Nissan uses Johnson Control Regular batteries...the Gold comes with a 8 yeah progressive warranty..keep the receipt. Also called AutoCraft, Interstate and Duralast..Throck, you can help me out here

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Also had my battery crap out on me just over the 2 year mark. I think its pretty ridiculous. There is another thread about this issue around here somewhere, take a look at some of the responses in there also.

[TomNJ]

Thanks Throck. I never noticed that little paragraph on page 5, and the only reference to batteries in the table of contents was for page 43.

It appears that Nissan chooses lower quality batteries for their original equipment than what they specify for replacement batteries. I usually get 5-7 years out of my batteries, so losing this one in less than 2 years was a disappointment.

TomNJ

[Major153]

Nissan OEM battery are the worst. Mine barely lasted 2 years - I had a simliar experience... the dealership wanted me to pay a prorata portion.

Anyways, it's apparent that the OEM battery dies in ~2years.... but that's NOT right!! all my friends are still running on their OEM batteries +3 years. Isn't there some sort of lemon law or battery life threshold that Nissan has to meet?!?! Like c'mon 1~2 years car battery is ridiculous!

[XXplosive990]

mine went out after 30 thousand miles. oem battery is CRAP. but whats worse is that when i bought a new one at autozone it was yellow

[Magical]

We got about 2 years out of ours. Replace at Autozone with an 8 year battery. Dealer wanted $56. to replace on warranty. I figured I did not want another 2 year battery.

[toueyang]

It's not that they are junk. Majority of the cars sit on the factory lots for quite some time before being shipped out. And then sits on dealers lots. With it being hot and cold, it puts a toll on the battery that makes it premature. Therefore that's why OEM batteries seem not to last as long.

[TAMU_QR25DE]

Not sure but, I bought a 2008 altima 2.5SL, 120,000 miles, used. The battery was fine, half and year with me. Stock, old, have blue crystals(CuSO4) on the red end, but never give me probs.
That means their overall quality controll isn't that good.

[AltimaJA10]

My OEM battery died at just under 3yrs. Didn't bother with another Nissan battery but replaced with higher capacity Exide.
IMHO- Most all OEM batteries are crap these days. My neighbor just had OEM batt die on his Honda CRV at only 18mo. I was shocked at how small his battery was. But at least it's light weight

[TAMU_QR25DE]

The OEM battery in my Altima 2.5SL went dead last year (little over one year old) from playing the radio for about an hour. The AAA guy ran a check on it and said the battery was no good, but since he then tried to sell me a new battery I ignored him and just had him start the car.

Last week the battery went dead again after not using the car for two weeks. I jumped it and a week later it died again, even though it is less than two years old. So I took it to the dealer for a warranty replacement.

The dealer confirmed the battery was no good, but refused to honor the two year 100% full warranty shown in my Nissan warranty booklet, and prorated it instead. He claims the two year 100% full warranty only applies to “replacement batteries”, that is the new one he just installed, not the original OEM battery, and produced a paper from Nissan showing that the original battery only carries a one year 100% full warranty!

I argued that none of the booklets or literature I received when I bought the car mentions the “original battery” or its warranty and that this amounts to a secret warranty. He called Nissan but they would not budge, so I had to pay the prorated price of 50%.

If Nissan warrants the original battery for only one year, and a replacement battery for two years, what does this say about the quality of the OEM batteries? And why would they provide a warranty booklet that only addresses “replacement” batteries and not the original?

Anyone else having problems with Nissan’s OEM batteries?

TomNJ

same model same trim, OEM battery not changed for 5 years, it's a used car.
the blue stuff (copper sulfide with water crystals?) are leadking from one node, nothing else, no probs.

[seldomseen]

If/when your OEM battery croaks, get an Optima Red Top battery. Mine lasted me 10 years despite the nasty New England weather.

[ojolly2]

I read some interesting posts today and have a comment regarding Nissan OEM batteries. My 2012 Nissan Murano is 3.5 years old. I took it to the Dealer today for an oil change and asked them to check my OEM battery even though I have had no problem cranking. The tester showed that it should be replaced and they showed to printout to me. The volts were 12.57, Measured CCA was 100, Rated CCA was 550 and gave me a quote for a new battery. I said I will get back to you and came home and checked the acid/water level in all six cells and all were almost dry. I keep distilled water handy and put forty (40) ounces of DW in the cells. I then took my hydrometer battery tester and tested all six cells and all indicated good. I will go to WalMart in the morning to see if their tester shows the battery needs to be replaced or if it is OK. I discovered quite some time ago that the acid/water level is very important in auto batteries. Years ago while at work, my wife called to tell me that the car would not crank. After putting “water” in the cells she called me back to tell me it cranked and started. Good job “Honey.”
Purchased a five year battery for another vehicle from WalMart two weeks ago and decided to check the acid/water level because I have found in the past that even a new battery will not have enough acid/water. I was surprised to find there is a battery cap the length of the battery with a seal covering a portion of the cap and the battery. There are tabs on either end but were very resistive so I didn’t continue. I will inquire tomorrow to see if they will supply the answer but I doubt it. My suggestion is to check the acid/water level on a regular basis. OJOLLY2

[seldomseen]

Purchase an Optima Redtop battery, they are dry cell and will several years.

[groundhogday1976]

I just traded a Versa in on the first of the month. Still on the original five year old battery. I know I'm the only one in this thread with no issues, but people are more prone to post a complaint online than positive feedback.

[ojolly2]

My post on Nissan OEM batteries was not a complaint, I was only trying to alert people to check the acid/water level for a longer life of the battery. If you feel that what I wrote is a complaint, wait until I have HAVE a complaint, and you will see the difference.

[telcoman]

My post on Nissan OEM batteries was not a complaint, I was only trying to alert people to check the acid/water level for a longer life of the battery. If you feel that what I wrote is a complaint, wait until I have HAVE a complaint, and you will see the difference.

Not only should the electrolyte level be checked but tested with a battery hydrometer



http://rimstar.org/renewnrg/measure_bat ... ometer.htm

Telcoman