2010 Versa Hatchback Turkey

[akjude]

Kona Nissan dealership in Kailua Kona, Hawaii, sold me this car knowing it had a broken motor mount, bad front axle, about 20 parts like fenders, mud flaps, wheel well covers, bumpers, etc. held on with zip ties. The clips were most likely broken by all the vibration from the motor mount, which also wore my brand new front tires out within 6 months. The driver's door handle broke off a month after I bought this piece of crap, and the rubber gaskets around the doors are coming off.. I have never gotten over 23 miles/gallon, and I bought it because the salesman said it got over 30 mpg. Now the hatchback won't open unless my friend with strong hands unlocks it from the inside.

I'm a 64 year old woman with MS, Lupus, diabetes and worst, an artificial knee, so it really hurts to climb across from the passenger side to open the drivers door. When I test-drove the car, there was a crunching sound on tight turns, so they said they'd fix that, otherwise was "as is." When I took it in for that repair, I told them about all the other problems, their attitude was less than helpful; they agreed to fix ONE thing. I picked the axle because the motor mount was the top easy access one.

Since my divorce, I've paid cash for everything or gone without, so when I needed to finance this car, I found out that no credit is worse than bad credit - I'm paying 22%, and have the feeling I'll be paying for this turkey long after it has croaked. In all fairness, I must say I don't positively KNOW they knew about all the problems, but if they didn't, then their service department really sucks. If I didn't live more than an hour away, I think I'd picket the dealership every day. Hey, I'm semi retired - I've got the time...

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Wow that's horrible!
How long has it been since you bought it?
Does Hawaii not have state inspections? I wouldn't imagine yours would have passed.

22% is outrageous. You're better off burning the car and getting a 90s Nissan/Honda/Toyota for a few grand.

[Mr1der]

How long since you bought it?

Hopefully there's a lemon law you can use to file a complaint with the dealer.

Yup, figured HI had one.

http://www.dmv.org/hi-hawaii/automotive ... on-law.php

[akjude]

Thanks for your responses.

The inspections here just check safety equipment - horn, lights, signals, which all work.

I read the requirements for the lemon law. I bought the car used about 8 months ago, have not taken it to the shop or dealer for repairs, it costs too much to even take it in, For example, the dealer wants $150 just to run a diagnostic on the hatchback not opening.. I'm kinda living month to month these days, like a lot of people. Also, there is no useful mass trans here, just a bus that runs around the island twice a day. I live 6 miles up a volcano, it's a long walk down to the store, post office, etc, while meeting the 30 days in the shop requirement, which are all 2 hours away. It's that old rock and a hard place dilemma...

But, I will contact the arbitration people, just in case. Already contacted the manufacturer, who said they would check into buying it back, then said no, take it to the (same, crappy) dealer for repairs at my expense.

Oh, yeah, forgot to mention - the AC only blows hot air, that happened about 2 month after purchase. Hopefully only needs recharging. But any air coming out the vents, no matter what the setting, is hot, and this is Hawaii, folks. Kinda already hot.