Nissan recalls 2.1 million cars

[Knightro2]

Just read this at cnn.com
http://www.cnn.com/2010/BUSINESS/10/28/ ... tml?hpt=T2

What's weird is that they are recalling the Cube and Tiida in Japan...but not the Versa in the US. How much does the engine differ in the Tiida/Cube versus the Versa?

[Andrews Chalmers]

Different global suppliers.

[mroxbury]

Nissan is designing more cars, .... electric ones now.

How about debugging the CVT and engine problems first????

I guess the consumer will debug the electric car for Nissan...................?

[Bubs daddy]

What bugs with the CVT? What problems with the engine?

[Knightro2]

I was thinking the same thing. I haven't had any issues after 67k miles...knock on wood.

[jennifersmith006]

I don't know about other cars from nissan but as i am using versa i know how reliable and comfortable it is ..it a best car to have or made by nissan...

[mroxbury]

Lucky for you guys that you got a good Versa. I unfortunately got a lemon.

My CVT makes a whining noise, especially noticeable on deceleration. The dealership says is normal for the CVT.

My car also makes a "clunk clunk clunk clunk noise with vibration" shortly after I leave the curb. The dealership says this is normal as well, and that this is the ABS brakes.

It's hard to believe this because I have a 1994 Infiniti J30 and a 1987 Plymouth Reliant LE, both of which have never made noises like this.

Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks

[mroxbury]

Go to Edmonds .com, Versa Forum and the Altima Forum and you will find many problems with the CVT and/or engines. These poor consumers are trying to debug things for themselves on their Nissan vehicles.

My dealership told me that Nissan aims for 100 % quality, but that there are always some defects, about 7% of their production.

[Francesco]

It is normal for the Versa with ABS to make about 6 thumps/bumps when it first goes through 19MPH after startup; it is the self calibration for the ABS. In my opinion it is noticeable because the ABS unit appears to be mounted to the firewall in the passenger side of the engine compartment which transmits the sound inside the car.

Frank 2009 Versa S sedan with MT-6 and 16900 miles

[mroxbury]

Thanks for your input Francesco... I will monitor my whining CVT, my thumps, my vibrations, my antifreeze odours in the passenger cabin and antifreeze reservoir levels......

It's making for a wonderful driving experience LOL

[Bubs daddy]

Go to Edmonds .com, Versa Forum and the Altima Forum and you will find many problems with the CVT and/or engines. These poor consumers are trying to debug things for themselves on their Nissan vehicles.

Out of how many owners? Tens or hundreds of thousands. Owners who are not on any forum whatsoever and just drive their car. So in fact, there aren't "many problems." Just problems that allegedly happened to someone who signed up on a forum. Alleged problems.

You're assuming all those stories are true. Anyone with a grudge or agenda can post anything on a forum to disparage a car or car company, regardless of whether or not those things actually happened. There's no way to verify these things happened. I mean, it's on the internet, it's got to be true!

If you have a lemon, use your state's lemon laws and get the car returned. Use the warranty that came with your car. For every problem there's a couple thousand owners who don't have any problems.

We've had numerous "owners" who have come on here and on their first post describe some rusting, problem or issue. I suggest take a picture and post up. Let's see the bracket that fell off. Let's see or hear the problem. Never hear from them again.

[Andrews Chalmers]

People have issues with their cars, they ask for help, we try our best to help them.

There's no need to be an unhelpful a**, who instead of giving one bit of helpful advice, rants and raves about posters who have genuine or imaginary problems.

You're being a tad bit defensive, which honestly comes off as insecurity, particularly about a budget econ car.

[frankoV]

It is normal for the Versa with ABS to make about 6 thumps/bumps when it first goes through 19MPH after startup; it is the self calibration for the ABS. In my opinion it is noticeable because the ABS unit appears to be mounted to the firewall in the passenger side of the engine compartment which transmits the sound inside the car.

simply amazing. I've had this problem for almost 3 years / 87km and this is the first explanation -- dealership just said "normal". thanks.

[mroxbury]

Some of you are not being helpful. No one would be writing on the Edmunds.com Forum or on this Forum about "ficticious" problems. I certainly do not have the time for this.

It is easy to understand from an engineering and polymer chemistry perspective that the CVT transmission cannot deliver over the longhaul ( 200,000 - 400,000 km). Contolled variable transmissions have been used in the past on two - cycle engines such as snowmobiles.

As far as rusting on the tailpipe seam of the Versa, unfortunately mine has the rust. My head Service Manager, brought me to the Versa on the showroom floor, he bent down to look at the tailpipe, and said "Oh, this one is rusted as well, - they come that way, - but iyou have warranty for three years."

That is our consolation that it is on warranty for three years.

From time to time I have the distinct smell of antifreeze in the passenger compartment; therefore I am monitoring the antifreeze level in the reservoir.

There are obviously problems with the Mexico plant, and I do not see things getting better once production is moved to India.

As for electric cars, I do not have to much hope for them. They will probably be OK for spins around the neighborhood, but again longhaul will not be there. As for battery replacements ( approximately $ 9000 ), - most of us will choose to get rid of the car before investing $ 9000.00

[Andrews Chalmers]

From time to time I have the distinct smell of antifreeze in the passenger compartment; therefore I am monitoring the antifreeze level in the reservoir.

If possible, I'll get your heater core inspected to see if there's a leak.

As far as rusting on the tailpipe seam of the Versa, unfortunately mine has the rust. My head Service Manager, brought me to the Versa on the showroom floor, he bent down to look at the tailpipe, and said "Oh, this one is rusted as well, - they come that way, - but iyou have warranty for three years.

Unfortunately I've seen some reports of Versas having tailpipe/muffler splitting because of bad wield/corrosion resistance. I dunno if the problem is endemic, but I'll keep an eye on it if I were you.

It is easy to understand from an engineering and polymer chemistry perspective that the CVT transmission cannot deliver over the longhaul ( 200,000 - 400,000 km). Contolled variable transmissions have been used in the past on two - cycle engines such as snowmobiles.

CVT transmissions actually are simpler and likely to be more reliable than traditional automatic transmissions over the long-haul. The current generation of CVT transmissions don't use a silly rubberband, but use a metal chain that is pushed rather than pulled. I'll be far more concerned with other components of the vehicle failing before the CVT does, and I suspect Nissan feels the same way since they've extended the CVT transmission to 10 years or 100,000 miles.

It is hard to diagnose what sort of problem you feel the CVT is having, because you say the CVT whines under deceleration, which could actually be the engine braking feature... and not a problem at all? Could you make a recording? describe it? Does it occur when you're downhilling with the throttle off?

[Promise Land]

There are obviously problems with the Mexico plant, and I do not see things getting better once production is moved to India.

Huh? Why do you think the Versa is moving from Mexico to India?

[Andrews Chalmers]

Huh? Why do you think the Versa is moving from Mexico to India?

Yah it is unlikely that North American vehicles will be manufactured in India, whether passing through the Strait of Malacca, or passing through the Suez then Gibraltar will incur unacceptable costs for the US market.

We shouldn't blame entire countries for production problems, they're always the FAULT of the manufacture & suppliers.

[Bubs daddy]

People have issues with their cars, they ask for help, we try our best to help them.

There's no need to be an unhelpful a**, who instead of giving one bit of helpful advice, rants and raves about posters who have genuine or imaginary problems.

You're being a tad bit defensive, which honestly comes off as insecurity, particularly about a budget econ car.

Nah. Just calling it the way I see it.

[mroxbury]

Billions are presently being invested in India to set up assembly plants by all of the big name automotive manufacturers, including Nissan.

[Andrews Chalmers]

Billions are presently being invested in India to set up assembly plants by all of the big name automotive manufacturers, including Nissan.

For the Indian domestic market and regional distribution. It simply does not make economic sense to ship assembled vehicles from India to the United States for geographic reasons.

[mroxbury]

Mr. Chambers, I appreciate your constructive responses to some of my earlier posts regarding my problems with my 2010 Versa 1.8L SL with CVT. Newest development is that the thumping with vibration(back passenger side) after take off, now makes an additional noise under the front of the car, and yesterday it was accompanied with vibration in the brake pedal.

Unfortunately. the Versa (which is still whisling upon deceleration) does not instill confidence. (Again, on three occasions, the dealership including the President of my dealership and his top CVT expert told me that it is normal for the CVY to be making this whistling noise on deceleration. I think the noise is there all the time, it is just more pronounced when coming to a stop. The car did not make any of these noises for the 1st 3100 km.)

What happened to Dr. Demings 14 points? Has Nissan thrown his philosophy out the window?

Regarding your comment that it does not make good economic sense to assemble cars in India for the NA market, I appreciate your argument; however we have to remember what the Japanese did in the 1950's, - they purchased scrap metal from the US, shipped the scrap to Japan, melted it down, and then formed it into finished automobiles, and then sold these to the NA market. They improved their quality over many years, and slowly increased their share of the NA automobile market. They implemented Dr. Demings teachings and found success.

Over the last number of years, "other" recycled materials from NA have been purchased by China. China then reworks these items (that we have recycled through our municipal waste recycling programs)into other "useful products" which we then purchase at the Dollar stores.

So having India ship cars to the NA market, is not that far a stretch...why not..... they are already selling lots of small products "made in India" at the Dollar stores in NA.

But forget products like cars, and Dollar store merchandise", let's now look at the financial products and the communication products that India is handling.

I always get Indian call centers responding to my questions when I call for information on my banking matters, when I call for information on my Bell phone or internet services, most of the time I get India, etc....

[Silver Eagle]

Versa's made in India, why not, I have a TIIDA made in Mexico and I live in Scotland. India manufacture is good for the European market, in some ways it is more central than Mexico. Most of the components in any car are manufactured all round the world and are assembled in one place be it Mexico, Germany, UK or wherever. For me I don't care where it is built as long as the design is good and the build quality is first class. A Qualty Product is what we want and at a reasonable price and who really cares where it is built.