2013 Altima Noise From Air Duct

[GregLevitzki]

Hello all! My name is Greg L and I have been a loyal Nissan owner since my first new 1996 Maxima. From there to a Pathfinder, another Maxima , Rogue and now six months ago a 2013 Altima, at the same time I bought a new Nissan Frontier Pick up truck . First ever problem is a loud shrill sound coming through the AC ducts. Annoying! After several calls and three visits , even leaving the car for days , they told me the engineer who designed the part came to the dealership to check it out, they just told me, A Vania Lynch from the district office, that it is normal and basically " live with it". Anyone else aware of this sound coming from the power steering pump?? Appreciate any feedback from other owners! Thanks, Greg

[GregLevitzki]

Three times back to dealer. Three ental cars. Factory rep says "live with it" . Smells like a lemon!

[LongBeachCoupe]

I have a loud steering pump, annoying...

[GregLevitzki]

Spoke to Nissan rep, Vania Lynch, told me the noise is the trade off for better gas mileage. Said that is Nissan's official stance and it is in the owners manual ! I didn't read the manual till after I purchased the car. Been to dealer three times and no fix. Going to seek settlement through Georgia's Lemon Law. Saddens me, the way Nissan treated a 17 year loyal customer with 2 Maximas , 1 pathfinder and 1 Rogue the 2013 Alitma and a 2012 Frontier not to mention the friends and family members who purchased Nissan's on our recommendation!

[Ranga14]

I've been reading and hearing about this a lot. I'm hearing really bad things about the new Altimas all around.

I had a friend who actually test drove a new 2013 Altima 3.5 and the transmission gave out during the test drive. Supposedly it has to do with the reduction in weight of the new CVT transmission and it not being able to handle torque well at all.

Nissan really f***ed this one up.

[alphapig]

I can usually hear my PS pump when turning the wheel a lot at a stop

My 914 doesn't have PS at all so it doesn't bother me

[GregLevitzki]

After three trips to the dealer, the car being test driven by a factory rep. Mike Wood, and no repair or replacement available from Nissan , we had to file a claim with the GA State Consumers Affairs office under the Lemon Law statue. Saddened that Nissan , after 17 years of loyal ownership and seven Nissan vehicles, forced me to take this route. As I have influenced friends and acquaintances to purchase Nissan's also, I will advise them of my latest experience with the Company.

[alphapig]

So none of your seven nissans gave you any trouble?

I guess if you want an air tight, sound proof cabin that floats on a cloud of marshmallow pillows then fork over the cash for a lexus.

Until you upload a video of said noise I will remain very skeptical.

I think most econo box owners will agree that occasionally hearing the PS pump is normal.

[LongBeachCoupe]

Alpha, I can vouch for this noise, it is a known issue on the sedans for 2013, it is quite annoying. My 08 AC had no sound issues whatsoever, no rattles, nothing, this noise stinks!

[Ranga14]

So none of your seven nissans gave you any trouble?

I guess if you want an air tight, sound proof cabin that floats on a cloud of marshmallow pillows then fork over the cash for a lexus.

Until you upload a video of said noise I will remain very skeptical.

I think most econo box owners will agree that occasionally hearing the PS pump is normal.

I wouldn't exactly call the highly touted and marketed 2013 Nissan Altima an "econo box" car.

[alphapig]

Alpha, I can vouch for this noise, it is a known issue on the sedans for 2013, it is quite annoying. My 08 AC had no sound issues whatsoever, no rattles, nothing, this noise stinks!

That's quite disappointing!

I wouldn't exactly call the highly touted and marketed 2013 Nissan Altima an "econo box" car.

"Advanced head lights" and "zero gravity seats" don't make it any less of econo-box...

[Ranga14]

A Versa is an econo box dude, have you ever driven one then compared it to mid sized cars such as the Altima, Camery, Accord, etc???

They are miles apart.

[alphapig]

A Versa is an econo box dude, have you ever driven one then compared it to mid sized cars such as the Altima, Camery, Accord, etc???

They are miles apart.

The comparison you are striking is between compact econo-boxes and mid-size econo-boxes.

Altima is closer to Sentra/Versa than it is to Maxima.

[Ranga14]

You and I just have a different opinion on what makes an econo box, when I think of that I think uncomfortable seating, poorly designed interior, pieces that break off of the car or other general problems of which I haven't in anything but the bargain basement cars that the major dealers sell.

[GregLevitzki]

Nissan is not the customer service company they once were. A customer rep. Vania Lynch , told me she was uninterested in my problem and to take legal action!

[Ranga14]

I'd blast all of their facebook pages with this and mention her name. They don't like it very much when people do that, lol.

[GregLevitzki]

My past seven Nissans gave me what they promised. An dependable and inexpensive ride . I didn't expect the Altima to have a PS problem, but after the dealer replacing it , due to the noise they recognized as unacceptable, with a new unit which is producing a louder shrill sound that is a safety issue as it is a distraction, the factory rep., Mike Wood, test drove it and recognized an problem and told the dealer there was no factory fix, but it is an issue and our is particularly loud, then customer service rep. Vania Lynch, the face of Nissan for us, told us "do what you have to do" and "that sound is Nissan's trade off for improved gas mileage" and "it's in the owners manual" , which I didn't get to read until after the purchase, and after asking her about customer loyalty and saying I wouldn't buy or recommend Nissan again her response was "Okay". I figured Nissans going the way of GM in the '80's and '90's in quality dept. and when Nissan hires a customer service rep. who is willing to write off customers with out consideration, the writings on the wall.

[LongBeachCoupe]

twitter yields results with things like this I hear

[alphapig]

You and I just have a different opinion on what makes an econo box, when I think of that I think uncomfortable seating, poorly designed interior, pieces that break off of the car or other general problems of which I haven't in anything but the bargain basement cars that the major dealers sell.

Fair enough, I can go with that definition haha

Vania Lynch, the face of Nissan for us, told us "do what you have to do" and "that sound is Nissan's trade off for improved gas mileage" and "it's in the owners manual" , which I didn't get to read until after the purchase, and after asking her about customer loyalty and saying I wouldn't buy or recommend Nissan again her response was "Okay".

That's just baffling. She clearly doesn't care one bit about Nissan, reputation, etc... just about her job. And her job is to make you go away

All the bean counting has clearly gone to Nissan management's head.

Keep buying Nissans Greg, just buy old ones!

[GregLevitzki]

I'm not familiar with the term "econobox" and never really considered an Altima a crappy model like a versa or Sentra . A $25,000. car is an , what do they call it , Econobox .Maybe that should be Nissan's new motto. Econoboxes for the masses. !

[mmkeller]

You need to get the AZHitman on this.

[Ranga14]

You need to get the AZHitman on this.

+1

[GregLevitzki]

Well it's official! My 2013 Altima is a LEMON and I filed the paperwork with the state of Georgia. Nissan produced a car with a power steering unit that sounds like a whistling hyena and it is so loud and has such an annoying pitch that we must keep the radio volume a a level higher than normal to drown out the unbearable sound. As a long time Nissan owner and a loyal customer, when Vania Lynch , the Nissan customer rep, after our several trips back to the dealer and factory rep Mike Wood test driving the car and no factory fix available , told us "It's the trade off for improved gas mileage" and her being the face of Nissan it appears Nissan , they call them "econoboxes" I've been told, has resorted to "to bad but thats the way it is and you can't do anything about it" tactics!!! Vania Lynch's reply to my statement that "I'll never buy a Nissan again" after seven new Nissan's since 1996, was not the standard " well, I'm sorry to hear that" or I'm sorry you feel that way" or the expected "We'll do everything we can to set this problem right" she replied "Okay". Nissan has zero loyalty to me or you! I'm puAnyrsuing my repairs through the State of Georgia's Lemon Law because Nissan turned their back on me with this , admittedly , by the dealer and factory rep. Mike Wood, problem that Nissan has not addressed but is aware of. Go Nissan. Nissan loyalty is a one way street and it isn't in the customers interest!! I 've been told that Nissan is aware of this noise problem , but our problem is exceptionally loud.

[Ranga14]

Damn, well that sucks, you know, she sounds like a b****, I wonder if this is her?

http://www.facebook.com/vania.lynchbrown

[LongBeachCoupe]

Saying your car is a "lemon" and actually getting it paid out are two different things...
Where are you in the process?

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

This is interesting.

I've long had my skepticism and experiences with Nissan's quality over the past 12 years of ownership, and stories like this turn me off from buying another one ever again. My family's own Nissans, at least 4 of them, have had various minor issues that became a small PITA due to the money involved, that would have otherwise been overlooked and forgotten if Nissan had better quality control OR a more suitable warranty program, that doesn't end at 36k/3yr b to b when I'm just barely breaking the car in...

It's a shame, because their cars USED to be the best reliable bang for the buck for lower middle class folks like me looking for more than just 4 wheels on a brick. That feeling is just lost on me now.