Problem - The Sentras commonly do not meet Nissan Specs for rear alignment. Many are off about 1.2 degrees or about 3/8 inches for Toe In. Symptom - excessive rear tire wear demonstrated by diagonal wear lines and load tire noise. Effectively hidden during the warranty period by rotating the tires. Refer to Honda Service Bulletin 08-001 for a good explanation and pictures. Honda has a similar problem that they owned up to and are correcting. What does that say about Nissan?
Dealer - I have never seen this problem before. Response - it is well documented in various forums and Nissan Technical is aware of the problem. Dealer -Adjustment coverage is only for 12K/12 months. Response - rear alignment is not an adjustable item so is covered for 36 months. Dealer - problem is caused because tires not rotated. Response - the fronts don't show the wear, diagonal wear is caused by alignment. Dealer - the problem can not be adjusted. Response - that is the 1st step for applying the lemon law. Dealer - it will cost you $79.95 for me to check the alignment. Response - look at the tires, it is a part defect problem, do what you need to do to do the analysis for free under warranty.
Repair - Dealer can replace the rear axle but make sure that they also have the necessary aftermarket shims and technical ability to shim the spindle into alignment if needed. The replacement axle is not expected to be any better than the 1st axle.
If you are out of warranty then find a good shop specializing in alignmkent and suspension repair. Installing the spindle shims is not complicated.
Sucks that the dealer is trying to weasel out of it. If it's in Nissan's own technical briefs, I think there is some sort of dealer petition that can take place, but only if it's a particularly cooperative dealer. I forget exactly how the process works.
That said, I'm going to add this info to our trouble areas thread.
« Re: 2007 Sentra, 2008 Sentra, Rear Alignment problem (wilchappell)
10:21 AM 10/30/2008
I seem to be having the same problem, rotated my tires and noticed the front ones, from the back, were worn to the tread wear bars, after only 12000 miles. This was my second rotation so I find it strange that the first 6k didn't wear the first two tires.
I have to wonder if it's just really poor tires. Looking them up on the manufacturer website, they are stated as OEM only with no wear guarantee or anything.
I took it to the dealer and they said they'd take it to a tire shop. I got it back a day later and they said they'd give me two new tires for free! When I asked if it was alignment they said the tire shop could only conclude that it was poor tire pressure. Considering the pita the tpms system is, that's not even possible, every time that thing goes off I double check, and it might be 1 psi off!
Now that I have two new tires on the front, I've noticed the original two I have left appear to be wearing quicker as well, at 15000 I can tell a difference. Something is definitely wrong here.
14 posts
2008 Nissan Sentra SE-R
Stuart FL
6-23-2008
« Re: 2007 Sentra, 2008 Sentra, Rear Alignment problem (michaelahess)
7:12 PM 10/30/2008
Had my SE-R for exactly 1 year on this coming Monday (Nov. 3), and with 24,000 (a lot, I know) miles on the car, the wear bars are showing on the ContiProContact tires that came with the car. During this period, I've had alignment done 3 times (once a dealer, 2x at national chain that rhymes with Plires Tus). I am not sure if this normal length for these tires since they are considered all-season performance tires and are a little softer compound than regular passenger tires or if this has to do with the alignment issue stated previously. Anybody able to clear up my concerns?
91 Nissan Sentra - final mileage 164,283 (no engine problems, radiator taken out by road debris) 08 Nissan Sentra SE-R
« Re: 2007 Sentra, 2008 Sentra, Rear Alignment problem (GetThatThingISentra)
5:10 AM 10/31/2008
Many Nissan Sentra rear axles are mismanufactured with a huge toe in. Nissan actively discourages/forbids delearships to put in shims to correct the rear alignment. Specific Nissan Sentra calibrated shims can be obtained from rockauto or NAPA. Look under suspension parts. Shims are about $13 each. There is significant negative camber by specification on the rear so tires should be rotated. If the rear tires show a diagonal wear pattern then it is toe misalignment. See Honda Service bulletin 08-001 for pictures and Honda's fix for a similar problem. Changing the rear axle does not fix the problem and the dealer will refuse to do further work to fix the problem. It becomes the customer's problem. Working with the dealer (Hoselton in my case) is a worthless waste of time. After their repair, my "front" alignment was way out and the alignment sheet that I received a copy of was proven to be horribly incorrect. Nissan does not provide repair instructions for rear toe alignment nor are their Nissan part numbers for the shims. Warranty for adjustable alignment is only 12K miles. For defective parts like the axle it is 36K miles Find a good repair shop with a John Beam optical alignment system and bite the bullet and get Nissan's poor quality repaired. email me if you want the timeline and actions since 9/19 that will end with a proper alignment at a qualified shop on Nov 5th. wilchappell@yahoo.com
« Re: 2007 Sentra, 2008 Sentra, Rear Alignment problem (gotak)
6:03 AM 11/6/2008
On 11/5 my Sentra was correctly repaired by Phil's Automotive in Ontario NY. The rear wheel alignment was finished with a shim to the axle on the right rear. It was reconfirmed again by Phil's that the front alignment as received back from Hoselton after Hoselton replaced the rear axle and tried to align the car was tremendously off so a full 4 wheel alignment was performed. I also had Phil's replace the 2 rear tires which were pretty bald because of the misalignment inherent in the car as purchased. The handling is better, the tire howl is gone. Phil's did a very good job of making my car right after Hoseltons (dealer) couldn't finish the repair and Nissan not acknowledging it as a Nissan problem. I'll put together a letter showing all of my attempts to get Nissan or the dealer to make my car meet Nissan specs since Sept 19th and will copy in the key people unable to help me - Hoselton Nissan GM, Mark Allen (Nissan Regional Consumer Affairs 866-799-1690 x1417), and Tiffany Madden (Nissan Customer Service 800-647-7261 X41676) Nissan still would rather pay $1,000+ in warranty replacement of the rear axle which does not fully correct the problem than document work instructions to insert $13 shims to align the axle for about a 1/2 hour job per side plus the cost of a 4 wheel alignment. So I feel that Nissan should owe me - $40 for Phil's to confirm that the car was very out of alignment after the Hoselton repair. $13 for the calibrated shim for the Sentra that is easily available. $40 for Phil's to install the shim $80 for Phil's to do a good 4 wheel alignment $80 prorated tread wear for the Nissan original alignment problem
If you have similar problems, you now have enough information to know what to do. If you want to see how I came to the conclusions that I did then just start googling 'Nissan Tire problem' and variations.
« Re: 2007 Sentra, 2008 Sentra, Rear Alignment problem (wilchappell)
6:07 PM 3/4/2009
I finally got the dealer to admit to the problem, after spending $80 on a four wheel alignment. This is after I originally reported it to Nissan at 14,000 miles. Now it has 24,000 miles and has gone through four tires.
Car goes in Friday to get shimmed, then I will have to convince Nissan to pony up the $80, and a new set of tires.
Funny thing, one of the dealership technicians made a comment about having seen something from Nissan about this, but then the service manager "checked her computer" and said there was nothing about it.
Nissan is just hiding this so they don't need to pay for it since it's a "cheap" car.
1 posts
2008 sentra 2.0
detroit lakes mn
3-21-2009
« Re: 2007 Sentra, 2008 Sentra, Rear Alignment problem (michaelahess)
6:08 AM 3/21/2009
About the same here. Rear tires shot at 20k. Had to presuade the dealer to replace the rear axle. That took 3 weeks. I also called Nissan 1. Just insist that the car meets Nissan factory alinement specifications. They had it on the alinement rack 5 times. Now it's not scary on ice. Also picked up 3-4 mpg. Go figure. Still have to see about tire reimbursment. . . .
Just be firm. You paid good money for that car. This is my 4th Sentra. Tires should last at least 60-80k.
« Re: 2007 Sentra, 2008 Sentra, Rear Alignment problem (michaelahess)
10:49 AM 4/4/2009
Talked with the Nissan lady, said the amount I requested was more than she could give out so it's going to her supervisors for approval.
I also filed a safety compaint with the NHTSA, once the shims were put in, I could drive on ice perfectly, no more jerking back and forth threatening to throw me off the road!
MPG also went up 2-3 for me, Nissan should owe me gas money for the lost milage over 25k miles!
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Man, So what have done???