Hi folks: First post here, hoping for some feedback.
I have a 2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid that I love but that also drives me nuts with vibration at highway speeds. I noticed it shortly after taking delivery on May 28, and took it back to the dealership a few days later. My assumption: tires needed balancing. The mechanic drove the car, felt the vibration (it seems to come from the rear and sort of resonate through the cabin). He road force balanced the tires, told me to try it and if I wasn't happy to bring it back. The vibration was still there (from 60-80mph), so I went back to the dealer. They told me later that they swapped tires and wheels from another Altima, drove my car, still felt the vibration, checked with the NIssan Tech Center, were told about other sporadic reports similar to mine, but said the car is within spec and the vibration is normal. The dealership said they also took out another customer's NAH (with her permission) and it had the same vibration. (My car rides smoothly below speeds of about 50-55 mph.)
I've owned a number of cars over 30 years, from luxury to basic transportation, and I've never had a car do this. Even the loaner '09 Altima they gave me rode smoother. I've filed a complaint with the Nissan Customer Service people since the dealership says they've done what they can do.
Any thoughts on what, if anything, else I should do? Could this be something in the drivetrain or suspension? Should I demand a new set of tires/wheels? (The tires are Contis -- bleh.) If they really did swap wheels and tires and felt the same vibration, that would argue for something else as the cause. Sure, I could push for a Lemon Law fight, but I do like the car. If anyone has advice on other possibilities, I'm open to suggestions. Thanks.
Highway speed vibration on brand new '10 NAH?
Re: Highway speed vibration on brand new '10 NAH?
Same issue for me.
7 repairs and still not fixed.
New set of tires, axles, reprogram of ecu, and the last repair which they flew a guy in for from the Tech Center said exhaust was rubbing suspension and they changed out two more tires.
I finally filed lemon law. Just waiting to hear from Nissan who has not been real fun to work with. Nissan Consumer affairs is horrible to work with!
7 repairs and still not fixed.
New set of tires, axles, reprogram of ecu, and the last repair which they flew a guy in for from the Tech Center said exhaust was rubbing suspension and they changed out two more tires.
I finally filed lemon law. Just waiting to hear from Nissan who has not been real fun to work with. Nissan Consumer affairs is horrible to work with!
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Riken
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:52 pm
- Car: 2010 Altima Hybrid, convenience, performance, tech, blue over black.
Re: Highway speed vibration on brand new '10 NAH?
Yeah, I found Nissan customer service to be relatively unhelpful, though they did send me a letter saying my vehicle is safe. how nice. I might frame it. I think the issue, which for me now comes and goes (but is always most noticeable above 60-65 mph when it does return) is related the drive train. I love the car other than the lumpy/bumpy ride. I can live with it for now, but am not happy with it. Good luck with the Lemon Law effort. Please let me know how it turns out!
Re: Highway speed vibration on brand new '10 NAH?
Tires and wheels must be statically and dynamically balanced. First a bit of history. When buying new Bridgestone tires (5) it took 55 complete balance operations and at least 5 road tests. Back with the tire dealer I asked for proof of the balancing tester as good. Did not happen. Still upset I called Bridgestone and complained they ordered another 5 tires and another local dealer was paid by Bridgestone to install, balance them. They could not balance all 5. Further complaints Bridgestone said go to a dealer in Mississauga they will balance them. Arrived at their location and the tires were finally balanced. It took 3 dealers 3 different balance machines and about 7 guys in total.
The equipment used to balance tire loads and forces must be good, must be verified and kept in proper repair and the person using this equipment must know what he/she is doing.
These mechanics are people, they do not trust us, customers, as to what is taking place. I contacted Infinity and they suggested a complete alignment, a steering rack replacement, a wheel change, a front bearing change...anything but a check with the equipment being used.
I contacted the various company manufacturers that make the testing equipment and every maker stated that the equipment doing the balancing requires to be verified to be true at intervals and they told me that the dealers using this equipment rarely has the equipment verified. That's a major flaw in getting your tire balanced.
Each tire must be balanced as a package with the tire, wheel and rotating member on the car, the hub and braking gear. This is done on all 4 corners of the car.
Diagnosing a vibration is tough with a new car to you. With some history together, you become familiar with the vehicle.
A vibration in the steering wheel at certain speeds can be the tire and wheel set, but also the hub, brake disc and pads should be checked. Vibration takes place with the brake pads interacting with a warped rotor, scuffed rotor or bad brakes.
If your seat vibrates or the floor shakes it may be the rear tires. Rear wheel drive cars have a long drive shaft that can be bent, out of balance and vibrates the car from the floor up.
Diagnosing a vibration requires input from the driver along with the person doing the repairs listening and the company that owns the equipment making sure that equipment is good.
The equipment used to balance tire loads and forces must be good, must be verified and kept in proper repair and the person using this equipment must know what he/she is doing.
These mechanics are people, they do not trust us, customers, as to what is taking place. I contacted Infinity and they suggested a complete alignment, a steering rack replacement, a wheel change, a front bearing change...anything but a check with the equipment being used.
I contacted the various company manufacturers that make the testing equipment and every maker stated that the equipment doing the balancing requires to be verified to be true at intervals and they told me that the dealers using this equipment rarely has the equipment verified. That's a major flaw in getting your tire balanced.
Each tire must be balanced as a package with the tire, wheel and rotating member on the car, the hub and braking gear. This is done on all 4 corners of the car.
Diagnosing a vibration is tough with a new car to you. With some history together, you become familiar with the vehicle.
A vibration in the steering wheel at certain speeds can be the tire and wheel set, but also the hub, brake disc and pads should be checked. Vibration takes place with the brake pads interacting with a warped rotor, scuffed rotor or bad brakes.
If your seat vibrates or the floor shakes it may be the rear tires. Rear wheel drive cars have a long drive shaft that can be bent, out of balance and vibrates the car from the floor up.
Diagnosing a vibration requires input from the driver along with the person doing the repairs listening and the company that owns the equipment making sure that equipment is good.
Re: Highway speed vibration on brand new '10 NAH?
Inital offer from Nissan NA was $5K. And she was going to be gone for 4-6 weeks so needed an answer quick. Still no answer on repurchase or our dollar amount required for me to keep car.
I have had the car a year now, almost 16K miles. Nissan Consumer affairs is a joke. Service manager said he has no clue what is wrong, flew a guy in from California to fix it. Last time said it was the exhaust rubbing......
Going on three months since we filed Lemon Law. Comical at this point... cant figure out why a manufacturer of anything would not repurchase anything they cant fix and admit they have no clue what the issue is.
Sad part is Im still paying for the car and maintaining it and the car shakes on the highway. Maybe this was an exclusive option on my car!
I have had the car a year now, almost 16K miles. Nissan Consumer affairs is a joke. Service manager said he has no clue what is wrong, flew a guy in from California to fix it. Last time said it was the exhaust rubbing......
Going on three months since we filed Lemon Law. Comical at this point... cant figure out why a manufacturer of anything would not repurchase anything they cant fix and admit they have no clue what the issue is.
Sad part is Im still paying for the car and maintaining it and the car shakes on the highway. Maybe this was an exclusive option on my car!