My Versa is my LAST NISSAN.........Nissan is too stupid to fix it.

[marleyfan]

Since the OP has not posted even a single post since this one I suggest the Mod lock this thread and chalk it up to the work of another troll.

[07Vsdn]

would you send a steak back 20 times until it was cooked right?

sounds bogus to me. after the third try i'd sue under lemon laws.

i know a lawyer suing nissan under lemon laws because of the brakes in his sister's murano.

i also know a former saturn dealership manager who says they had to replace a car under lemon laws for a dash rattle they couldn't fix...

20 times?! too weird...

[Versa Blues]

WOW, lots of commentary. My 1984 pick-up had EVERY Nissan "expert" in New Jersy try to fix it. I even told them and showed them the drive shaft was out of balance. I could balance it with hose clamps and the truck was "smooth". Take the clamps off and you couldn't bear to be in it. There were a multitude of other problems that they DID manage to resolve after about 18 trips to various dealers throughout NJ. But they WOULD NOT replace the drive shaft!!!?? BBB mandated a buy-back. Good thing too. They all rotted out after three years. The Versa, as I said, is not a bad car. I bought it for cheap economy, so I don't expect it to ride like a Mercedes. The right front strut bearing has failed and the damned thing rumbles over small bumps and irregularities in the road surface. The Nissan dealer's "best technician" says it's normal. And I asked the manager to call corporate. He handed me a card with their number and said call yourself. Here we go again !!! Maybe Nissan will actually resolve this, but I have a lot of apprehension. I won't pursue a buy-back. Here in Georgia you have to invoke the Lemon Law before 12k or 12 months. I have 18k on the car. I can buy the part for $95 and I have the tools (and knowledge) to fix it. The job takes about 45 minutes. That will probably be the path of least resistance. Hey, I don't want to get ethnic here...But remember the joke "How many Pollacks does it take to change a light bulb?" I have a better question, "How many Nissan employees does it take to change a strut bearing?" --- Answer: SIX...and counting. My problems are minor compared to many of you. It's just the principle of the damned thing. This is nothing new. I think back in the seventies, there was litigation under way allowing a new car buyer to waive the warranty in exchange for cash. I don't know the outcome..but I assume it never happened.

[07Vsdn]

you are right about the 12 mo. 12k miles limit in GA. However, if your first repair attempt occured before that period ended then you are still good.

"What is the Lemon Law rights period?The Lemon Law rights period is the period ending one year from the date you took delivery of the vehicle, or after the first 12,000 miles of your use—whichever occurs first.

In order for a defect or condition to be covered, you must establish that the initial repair attempt took place within the Lemon Law rights period."

http://consumer.georgia.gov/00...ml#16

[Ever Victorious]

EV, I didn't say it... but x2!!

Speak for yourselves, but none of my Kia/Hyundai products have, "after 90 days", seen the kinds of problems that I have seen with my Versas. Each one of the 3 Kia/Hyundai vehicles I have owned have seen the dealership for warranty repairs ONCE. My CURRENT Versa, which is the LESS buggy of the two, has already seen the insides of my Nissan dealer's service department 4 times. And it's got half the mileage of our Hyundai. That translates to, what, an 8x greater failure rate?

Oh, and I forgot to mention, I've had 3 more problems with the V that I fixed myself... without the dealer's lack of help. And I'm about 2 inches away from ripping off that godforsaken right rear passenger door seal and GLUING it into the channel like Nissan SHOULD have done to begin with, so the damn thing doesn't come out every 8 days! My god, people... 10 cents worth of glue and it would never have come out the FIRST time!

Edit: I expect this to incur SOMEONE'S wrath, but I don't care. I agree with the OP... Nissan has NOT impressed me with quality. I can let the first Versa slide because it WAS in the first batch ever to hit the showrooms. But even after the initial quality and TPMS problems were corrected, my 2nd Versa is still not anywhere near what I would consider quality. And for many of you, that should be a sad, sad note... because I honestly CAN compare it to a Kia and say "wow... I'd rather have the Kia."

The only reason that I'm still driving the V is because it's still able to move under its own power. If it were to die today, or if it were in a wreck, it'd be gone in a heartbeat. I love the interior room and the comfort, but if the car's making me constantly think that something's about to break... at only 26k miles... that is NOT good.

[Versa Blues]

I missed the boat. Never took it in earlier because I was afraid of what the butchers in the Nissan organizations I have experience with might do. You know the 'dominoes game' right? Bring it in with one problem...leave with THREE! I will keep the Versa. Once I fix it, hopefully it will not have additional problems. I can't go trading vehicles on a whim. I made a mistake. No I take that back...Nissan made a mistake by never upgrading their shoddy, incompetent service capabilities. In 1999, Nissan almost went under. Then they took on a new CEO who has turned the company around with a lot of great philosophy. Hopefully, that will trickle down to the service end of things some day. I never mentioned, my dealer installed a "ground effects" package, which was cute. But I didn't realize the package got it's name from the "effect the parts have on the ground" as they are falling off the car !!! I had to do ALL of their work over again...including the painting. They just kept butchering it. I want to hang a sign over the service dept entrance "Butcher Shop". And yes, I hold NISSAN to blame for condoning their "weakest link". NISSAN's warranty is USELESS if they can't fix the damned thing.

[KimberKenobi]

You know, most people make threads when there are problems... but not when there's not problems... I can't be the only V owner who hasn't had any major issues... and only 1 actual thing that needed to be fixed (plastic part on rear seat)... Other than that, the Camel's only seen the dealer for maintenance. (because they wash him and give me a loaner so I can do what I need to do ... it's totally worth it...)

[frankoV]

Only 12,000 km in, Kimber . . . and I'm with your minority report. My only problem has been the piece of rubber on the front window . . . and I might have damaged that myself when I scraped a thick coating of ice off the window.

[crosses fingers] that being said, I am developing a starting shimmy so am thinking motor mounts . . . but will check it out at next oil change.

[srellim234]

Kimber- We've had two warranty repairs. One, a plastic part on a rear seat. Two, a defective battery cell that could happen on any vehicle from any manufacturer. Our weather stripping started coming off the back door last week.

Sometimes you can get in a car and sense that it is solid and well made. Folowing the first week of ownership we've never had that sense with the Versa. Nothing there that really has instilled any confidence in it over the long haul. It rattles and is delivering poorer gas mileage than we expected out of it, and our expectations were very realistic.

We're at the point were we admit we made a mistake buying it and we'd love to get out of the Versa if we were in a financial position to do so.

[shakoz]

sorry but i, too, agree with the op. my heater problem took them 3 tries to diagnose and fix (required putting in a new complete heater system) and when i got it back there was a bad rattle (they fixed, after another trip to the dealership and more time off work) and a creaky dash (which they said was normal and i would have to live with it.) the latest thing i found was a 4 inch slit in the drivers door seal. i have 2500 miles on my car. it has been at the shop 44% of the time i have owned it. neither the owner of the dealership (dirito brothers in concord, ca) or the nissan regional rep seem to think that i should consider that a problem.like you, ev, i am now constantly paranoid when i drive the car. i am waiting for the next defect to surface.

[Versa Blues]

I am sure there are LOTS of satisfied Versa owners who never had a problem. I am a Mechanical Engineer that put myself through college as an auto mechanic. I have been over my Versa with a fine-toothed comb. There is nothing wrong with the car other than a poorly (dealer) installed appearance package and a failed strut bearing (which is not critical to the function of the car yet...maybe in a year or so, when the wheel falls off, the idiots at NISSAN will believe me). So if the dealer never touched it, my car only has ONE PROBLEM and it's relatively minor. I KNOW the car is cheap, but rides well and was everything I was looking for. When I worked as a mechanic, customers ASKED for me because I did QUALITY work and I could TROUBLESHOOT their problems. The Nissan technicians (too many) I have dealt with aren't capable of grasping HOW the systems they fix really work. The are "certified" as in they go to class, take a test. But that only makes them "book-smart", so they talk a good line. Turning the wrench...now that's quite a concept What's missing is APTITUDE. My Nissan technician told me my strut thrust bearing CAN'T make noise because it is ALWAYS compressed. Is that what Nissan teaches? Is there a Nissan technician out there that DISAGREES with this guy's statement and can explain how and when a strut bearing can be noisy? I tried to explain it to the technician and then to the service manager, but they weren't able to understand. Kimber, I hope the "Love Camel" continues to run well. Once the mechanics get their hands on it to do some REAL work, it's all downhill. To add insult to injury, I even printed a thread from this site (different forum, specifically about the strut bearing). I was trying to help when I brought it with me to the dealer. They DID NOT appreciate it, because they would be compelled to simply fix my problem and send me on my way without having NISSAN pay them four several "attempts" first. That's why I emphasized "TROUBLESHOOT" earlier. A real mechanic identifies the problem instead of just changing out parts til he hits on it. So is there a mechanic out there that agrees a strut bearing can get noisy when it fails?

[srellim234]

I am sure there are LOTS of satisfied Versa owners who never had a problem.

You're right, of course. The quality of cars these days is such that you can say that about any car on the road. Otherwise the vendor would be out of business (remember the Yugo?). We've had cars over the years that we didn't have major problems with but I wouldn't classify as exceptionally great cars, either. That's where we are with the Versa.

I know we've been spoiled by a few really good cars that we've had, and that explains most of our unease with this one. We've had major lemons, too (a Toyota Corona and a Dodge Aries wagon come immediately to mind), and I definitely wouldn't put the Versa in that category. It's a middle of the road, nothing exceptional, "we expected better" kind of vehicle for us.

[frankoV]

I feels luckier and luckier, sez he.

Maybe my expectations are low (I don't think so -- I want quality noi matter how much I pay) or maybe I'm just a lucky one (so far looks that way).

I'm hoping for 300km on the car!

[alonsorules8]

Kimber, I'm with you I have only had 2 problems one the fuel pump and 2 the seat back squeak other than that no problems, great car and I love the Renault suspension.

I have more confidants in this car than I ever had in any GM product I use to owned.

BTW I'm fast approaching 15K on my V.

[Peachey]

I am sure there are LOTS of satisfied Versa owners who never had a problem. I am a Mechanical Engineer that put myself through college as an auto mechanic. I have been over my Versa with a fine-toothed comb. There is nothing wrong with the car other than a poorly (dealer) installed appearance package and a failed strut bearing (which is not critical to the function of the car yet...maybe in a year or so, when the wheel falls off, the idiots at NISSAN will believe me). So if the dealer never touched it, my car only has ONE PROBLEM and it's relatively minor. I KNOW the car is cheap, but rides well and was everything I was looking for. When I worked as a mechanic, customers ASKED for me because I did QUALITY work and I could TROUBLESHOOT their problems. The Nissan technicians (too many) I have dealt with aren't capable of grasping HOW the systems they fix really work. The are "certified" as in they go to class, take a test. But that only makes them "book-smart", so they talk a good line. Turning the wrench...now that's quite a concept What's missing is APTITUDE. My Nissan technician told me my strut thrust bearing CAN'T make noise because it is ALWAYS compressed. Is that what Nissan teaches? Is there a Nissan technician out there that DISAGREES with this guy's statement and can explain how and when a strut bearing can be noisy? I tried to explain it to the technician and then to the service manager, but they weren't able to understand. Kimber, I hope the "Love Camel" continues to run well. Once the mechanics get their hands on it to do some REAL work, it's all downhill. To add insult to injury, I even printed a thread from this site (different forum, specifically about the strut bearing). I was trying to help when I brought it with me to the dealer. They DID NOT appreciate it, because they would be compelled to simply fix my problem and send me on my way without having NISSAN pay them four several "attempts" first. That's why I emphasized "TROUBLESHOOT" earlier. A real mechanic identifies the problem instead of just changing out parts til he hits on it. So is there a mechanic out there that agrees a strut bearing can get noisy when it fails?

You, my friend, need to learn how to push the Enter button. Line breaks are everyone's friend.

Thanks

[kc5f]

I'm hoping for 300km on the car!

Gee, I hope you get a whole lot more than that...!

[Versa Blues]

Sorry, I guess I'm "dating" myself here but I was trying to save space here. These days we are burning up storage like there's no tomorrow.

Another thing in my frustrations I didn't mention. I even paid $15 on Just Ask.com for an expert opinion from an "on-line Nissan expert". He told me contact Corporate (already done) and must be something with the strut. When I responded with specific info and questions, I got vague answers.

I DO NOT consider myself an expert, but when people describe their symptons to me, I can usually hit the nail on the head without even seeing the car. These days, if they can't log-in to the diagnostics and get a read-out, they're lost, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, there is no feedback loop to the strut on a Versa.

So I guess I am doomed to listen to my "rolling junkyard" or break down, cough up the $95 for a strut bearing, and dig out my spring compressor.

(Just wanted to let you know that I do know where the enter key is.)

And I still haven't heard from anyone who can explain to me what and how regarding strut bearings. The ability to answer differentiates parts changers from tehnicians.

I rest my case.

[Versa Blues]

You are right. Almost ALL dealer service centers stink, no matter - the brand. If you don't thoroughly understand cars, you are at their mercy...and THEY KNOW IT. They will exploit you, BS you, sell you the Brooklynn Bridge and still drive away with a "BROKEN CAR" AND a broke wallet.

They FIRST WORDS from the mechanic who test drove my car were, "Your wheels are out of balance." That's because regardless of outcome that's MONEY in the dealership's pocket and out of mine. Too bad if it didn't fix the problem. The kid was a salesman, not a technician!

I told him "Don't even go there. I was building "Muscle Motors" before your mama and dad even met. " Probably some of my problems are self-imposed. I just DON'T have patience for BS.

[Ever Victorious]

Sorry, I guess I'm "dating" myself here but I was trying to save space here. These days we are burning up storage like there's no tomorrow.

Two "carriage returns" (hitting the enter key) takes as much space in HTML code as the word "dating" does. Besides, we've got space to burn anyway. We're on the verge of having 1TB hard drives being common in HOME PCs here. Never mind NAS and SAN systems that can have hundreds of TB of space per server.

Quote »I DO NOT consider myself an expert, but when people describe their symptons to me, I can usually hit the nail on the head without even seeing the car. These days, if they can't log-in to the diagnostics and get a read-out, they're lost, I'm afraid. Unfortunately, there is no feedback loop to the strut on a Versa. [/quote]Ooh... I wanna put this theory to the test!

The Borg-Warner T35 automatic transmission on my '64 Rambler American had a slight transmission fluid leak at the rear output seal when I bought it. I ignored it for a while, and then eventually took it in to my trusted service tech (independent shop) to replace the rear seal and, while he was in there, the trans pan gasket.

The thing ran beautifully! For two days. Until it shot a hole in the brand new rear output seal. Took it back in, they said it was leaking from the seal again, and as well from the filler tube neck. They tightened up the filler tube and replaced the rear seal again, and once again worked beautifully... but this time only for ONE day.

I now have probably, oh, a good quart of ATF pooled up on my garage floor. Besides "the transmission is hosed", what's wrong with it?

(this is purely just for bonus points, don't have to take a stab if you don't want to. Could just be fun.)

And for the folks out there keeping count, I discovered ANOTHER problem with the Versa today. My driver's kick panel has popped out a significant amount, like it's almost interfering with my clutch foot. And it won't just pop back in either.

(I mean jeez, at least my mom's Pontiac waited 100k before all the interior crap fell apart)

I've stopped going to my dealer now because the last couple of times i went in for service they fixed the problem immediately, but also didn't write up a service order, so I can't claim to Nissan (or WA state, for lemon law purposes), that the car had to go in for work.

[Bubs daddy]

Well, my Versa has been very reliable and of little trouble. I figured out where a squeaking/rattle was coming from (the shifter surround) and that was fixed. Everything else has been as expected. No other problems.

Economical: 30-33 mpg consistentlyVERSAtile: Use it for all kinds of errands, commuting, long distanceHigh quality: It's whisper quiet on the freeway, the materials are top notch

Again, no problems, it's a year and a half old and we expect to have it for many years to come.

I will echo EV's comments and say I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Hyundai, any Hyundai, today. My experience with them was excellent. Never had one problem with the Sonata I leased. It was a very well optioned car for the money. High quality materials, built very well. I have nothing but good things to say about Hyundai.

[Woogie]

At just shy of 15K, the only issues I've had with Max are the pad on the dead pedal coming off (fixed it with some Gorilla Glue) and a dashboard creak that went away once the weather warmed up. Never did take it into the dealer, but if the problem happens again once it gets cold I'll have it looked at. I thought I had an issue with little black marks on the paint, but they came out with some elbow grease.

So far I've been satisfied with my purchase.

[frankoV]

Gee, I hope you get a whole lot more than that...!

kkm, of course

[KimberKenobi]

I have an admission... Yesterday the Camel started to show signs of the fuel pump hassle... Like needed to be "started" twice in order to catch or stay started...

eep.

The Camel is going home Friday to get looked at... sure I could go back to the dealership here... but I want it to go home. I like that dealership better. Plus I'd like to not have to fight to get **** taken care of... I've already faught with my dealership and proven to them I know something about cars and that I'm not just another stupid woman with a car she doesn't understand...

X.x

[BigMACKenzie]

Hey sorry for the thread jack but Kimber, when you get your alignment done, did they give you an exact number for your Camel toe? lol sorry, there was no other way to inject that into conversation. I'm a bastard. resume Versabashing/defending.

[jacksan1]

I can only wonder whether a competent dealership service would have not only fixed the Versa that belonged to Versa Blues, but also potentially made him a loyal Nissan customer. We all know that any mechanical contraption can have its bad moments. The fact is that it's often how the dealer/distributor/manufacturer respond that actually turns people into either loyal customers or perpetual enemies who tell 250 other people about the bad experience.

If you are listening, Nissan (or for that matter, any other manufacturers who are cruising by here), take your dealer education seriously, especially on customer relations management.

And now for something slightly different: You cannot rebut someone's claim of problems with his/her car by saying that your car is not having any problems. That's like saying that no one can be dead because I am alive.

[Juelze]

So far on my 6spd '07 Versa S:

- BCM had to replaced due to the TPMS issue- Mold smell when running A/C. The drainage tube was checked and found NOT to be blocked. I still smell mold after they sprayed some stuff in it. However, after a few miles/minutes it goes away- Passenger airbag cover/assembly had to be replaced- glove box was rattling, they had to bend something that was tapping against the glove box

All in all, these issues are annoying. However, I never had any mechanical problems with it so far. I would have expected more from my first Japanese/Mexican vehicle, but it's not bad. However, reading some of these reports is making me think about another car instead of a Sentra, which my wife is looking at.

[DejaWiz]

And now for something slightly different: You cannot rebut someone's claim of problems with his/her car by saying that your car is not having any problems. That's like saying that no one can be dead because I am alive.

Yes, but it was also stated by the OP that:1. Nissan is nothing but a cheap imitation of Honda.2. He's had major problems with every Nissan he's owned.3. Nissan won't fix the problems.4. Nissan's Service Division as a whole sucks.

That's condemning everyone's Nissan vehicles and service experiences because of his own perceptions and experiences.... just by points 1 and 4 alone.

I can completely understand VB's frustration and anger due to his run of bad luck. It's no different than how I feel towards GM and Ford. Sure, they might make very decent vehicles, but because of my past experiences with them both, I'll never buy another. I'm not going to piss all over someone else's car because it's of one of those brands, however. To each their own.

[Lanthom]

I guess I get to be in the minority here. The only problems I have had so far is a small vibration after my first oil change and the sunglasses holder clip broke.

They simply had to re-balance the tires and then to fix the sunglasses holder they had to replace the entire headliner but it was covered under warranty. After 9k miles no other problems.

This car is definatly better than the '93 Dodge Shadow that I was driving with the headliner falling, body rusting, no airbag and oil light coming on when you cranked the car, so I can't complain.

[jacksan1]

That's condemning everyone's Nissan vehicles and service experiences because of his own perceptions and experiences.... just by points 1 and 4 alone.

I agree with your premise. Yes, the problem with sweeping generalizations does cut both ways, doesn't it?

[DejaWiz]

I agree with your premise. Yes, the problem with sweeping generalizations does cut both ways, doesn't it?

Certainly does.