Dash rattle headcount

[TO107]

My wife's Versa has got the cold weather dash rattle and it's driving us nuts. Our dealer has been great. They have tried several things to fix the problem but when it gets cold at night the rattle returns. They put felt around all the dash pieces, replaced the top center section and all the dash vents, replaced the filter and and blower motor. I can stop the rattle by putting pressure on the top center section of the dash but they can't seem to fix it.

I'm calling Nissan to discuss this problem. Our dealer says this is not a common issue at their dealership but I know from reading here it is a big problem. I'm looking for a headcount so when I called Nissan I can make them understand this is a big issue and it needs their attention.

Thanks.

EDIT: I would advise everyone to do what I did and call 1-800-NISSAN-1 Monday-Friday if you have the dash rattle. You will need to have your VIN# handy so they can identify you and your car. Let your voice be heard and maybe they will fix this for us all!


Modified by TO107 at 7:33 PM 2/23/2008

[boxcarbill]

Put me down for the dash rattle/creak. (In addition to other dash rattles and noises) it sounds like the windshield to me with it's sharp LOUD single click sound every time I hit a moderate bump. I probably won't try the suggested fixes till the weather warms up.

[matt_a]

My wife's Versa has got the cold weather dash rattle and it's driving us nuts. Our dealer, Tri-cities Nissan, has been great. They have tried several things to fix the problem but when it gets cold at night the rattle returns. They put felt around all the dash pieces, replaced the top center section and all the dash vents, replaced the filter and and blower motor. I can stop the rattle by putting pressure on the top center section of the dash but they can't seem to fix it.

I'm calling Nissan to discuss this problem. Our dealer says this is not a common issue at their dealership but I know from reading here it is a big problem. I'm looking for a headcount so when I called Nissan I can make them understand this is a big issue and it needs their attention.

Thanks.

If you have the same one we had (it sounds like it might be), I fixed it by wedging a small cube of foam between the dash and the windshield glass right in the center. See the thread that I posted about it:zerothread/300711Good luck!!!

[TO107]

Thanks guys. I know there are a lot more people with this issue.

matt_a, I have read your thread and showed it to the dealer. As Ever Victorious mentioned in your thread I'm afraid to put foam in there for fear of cracking the dash in hot weather. The dealer tried some felt tape they use on door rattles in the Quest. I'll remind them of the foam you used.

[lancepdx]

I get a bit of a rattle/cracking sound when the car is cold. It goes away completely once the it is warmed up.

[matt_a]

matt_a, I have read your thread and showed it to the dealer. As Ever Victorious mentioned in your thread I'm afraid to put foam in there for fear of cracking the dash in hot weather. The dealer tried some felt tape they use on door rattles in the Quest. I'll remind them of the foam you used.

I thought about the expansion issue too. The foam I used is not very dense at all. I only used a 1" cube and it's very easily compressed. I wasn't even sure that it would be enough padding to eliminate the rattle, but it was. It's completely gone. We can now drive our Versa and enjoy it without me going crazy and getting frustrated.

[Ever Victorious]

I get a bit of a rattle/cracking sound when the car is cold. It goes away completely once the it is warmed up.

Ditto. And usually it's not even loud enough to make it over the background noise of my radio.

[srellim234]

No dash rattle here but I'm in a warmer climate.

Only rattle right now that's driving me nuts seems like it's coming from the passenger side seat back. I'm going to sit in the back seat and have my wife drive the car around so I can narrow down the real source of that rattle.

[matt_a]

I'm going to sit in the back seat and have my wife drive the car around so I can narrow down the real source of that rattle.

LOL....Been there before. Just be careful. I made myself car sick doing that.

[srellim234]

LOL....Been there before. Just be careful. I made myself car sick doing that.

Is that a testimony to your powers of concentration or a comment about your wife's ability to drive?

[matt_a]

Is that a testimony to your powers of concentration or a comment about your wife's ability to drive?

Both!

[marleyfan]

This, and all problems of unwanted or unpleasant noise, is easily fixed. Bring it into your dealer and they will rotate your stereo volume knob in a clockwise direction. Works every time.

I've been lucky I guess. I haven't had any unpleasant noises in the car (well, unless my wife is in the passenger seat).

[frankoV]

I've been lucky I guess. I haven't had any unpleasant noises in the car (well, unless my wife is in the passenger seat).

[boqibama]

I hate the rattles!!!

[kcourtad]

mine does the same

[jmaclean]

I've also got a squeak in the dash when it's cold. I will investigate further once it gets slightly warmer, as we've had a long stretch of below zero here in Minneapolis. Anywhere around freezing it shows up until the interior warms up.

[zephed]

My rattle started in <1,000 miles. It seems to come from the center piece just above the controls. I can literally push down on it at any given time and create the same noise it makes when driving.Can the dealer really fix this? I get nervous taking things apart thinking they'll be worse when you put it back together.

[achr]

Ditto on the dash rattle/creaking when the car is cold. Kinda makes you wonder if Nissan did ANY cold weather testing on the Versa. It is so damned annoying that I am seriously considering walking away when the lease on my Versa expires next year.

I believe Nissan would also be wise to add a full manual shift mode to their CVT in the Versa, just like in the Altima. As it stands now, the revs dip so low at 40 mph (about 1200 rpms) that a VERY Low frequency vibration, akin to a subwoofer playing a constant note, is set up in the interior. Like the dash rattle, this is also VERY annoying. Depressing their "OverDrive Off button" at this speed makes TOO big of a change in the other direction taking revs up to about 3,000 which creates other disagreeable noises. The quiet sweet spot for this engine is in the 1,800 to 2,400 rpm range. That's why it is SO quiet on the highway with the CVT. Having more control of an appropriate ratio when cruising in town could eliminate this aggravation.

The Versa is an amazing vehicle is so many respects. It is just sad that a couple of easily rectifiable minor glitches mar an otherwise pleasant experience.

[kc5f]

I had an upper-dash creak for the first few thousand miles, but only on one stretch of one highway with very noticeable concrete joints. Since then, it's been quiet.

[boqibama]

TO107, keep us updated after you talk to NISSAN

[07Vsdn]

In the cold our Versa creaks like an old boat!

When it's warm there is only one creak coming from the right side somewhere...

[frankoV]

Wow . . . do I ever feel lucky!

No noise. Nothing. Nada.

Well, except from one little rattle in the rear that I couldn't figure out until I popped the trunk and discovered someone had thrown some stuff in there. Quickly rectified.

[matt_a]

Wow . . . do I ever feel lucky!

No noise. Nothing. Nada.

You should feel lucky. Until I fixed ours, I was about ready to start drilling holes and pumping the dash full of expandafoam! I am soooo glad that noise is gone.

[Juelze]

I have a rattle that is coming from the glovebox and the housing that holds it in place. Everything is tightened down (I removed it once to replace in-cabin air filter) but it still happens when it's cold out. Once it's warmed up it goes away. It's not loud enough to be heard over the radio though. Still, it drives me a bit nuts.

[TO107]

Thanks for all the replies I just got off the phone with Christine from Nissan, she is calling the dealer to discuss everything they've done. Said she would call me back by Monday the 18th at the latest. I told her this is a common, well-known issue on the Versa forum and she said they would do whatever it takes to fix the problem. That's why we bought a Nissan...again.

I'll keep y'all updated on what happens.

[TO107]

Well, so far I'm unimpressed. The call I was supposed to get by yesterday from Christine, the regional rep, didn't happen. I called her number this morning and got voicemail, left a message for her to call. I called 1-800-NISSAN1 and got a rep that said she could send Christine an email and ask her to call me. She also said that our file showed that Christine was supposed to call me by yesterday.

Shift_ disappointment

[boqibama]

most likely they will do is let you bring back you V to dealer again. But dealer has less efficient way to fix the problem like this, I am going to fix it by myself.

[TO107]

True, I may have to fix this myself but we bought a new car with a warranty and I expect them to fix the problem. They need to know this is a major issue with this car so they can find a solution. BTW, she never did call.

The last new car I bought for myself was a '98 Kia...stopped laughing yet? It was cheap and they caught me in moment of weakness.It was a great car. Went back to the dealer one time to replace the front rotors. The only extra service I did was replace two plug wires. Had it for 10 years and 100,000+ miles.

The Versa has 5500 miles and already been back to the dealer more times than the Kia.

Quality control issues so far:*adjust hood because it had to be slammed before it would close*replace black plastic at the corner of the hood (improperly installed)*re-glue the plastic footrest pad (it fell off)*4 times to dealer for dash rattle

My wife loves the Versa but the truth is the truth.

[kcourtad]

well to tell yall the truth ive heard mine rattle once when i got it and didnt think anything of it... then i got my sound system put in and i dont hear a thing till today.... i turned it off for once and i heard a loud bang coming from the motor and the dash started rattlin and now it starting to spread out a little by the small window heres a pic... but the loud bang noise i pulled over and looked around and there was nothing on the road ? looked under the car, opend the hood nothing seemd to be out of place... just has me worried

[frankoV]

Well . . . had a visit from the dreaded dash rattle today, after about 300km of highway driving (which still only gave me 26 mpg US/31 mpg IMP). The rattle disappeared after about 10 minutes and did not return.