Rear Differential Not Part of Power Train?

[scottso]

Owner of a 2009 Nissan Rogue SL AWD with 74,000 miles on the clock. Only issues I've had up until yesterday was a transmission leak (discovered by dealership during routine maintenance at the 50,000 miles mark; it was the transmission input, I believe), and the unusual reaction by the dashboard sensor lights when one's battery starts conking out. Replaced battery at 65,000 and no problems since then re: warning lights.

A couple of days ago while highway driving, a loud whirring noise manifested itself. It sounded like it was coming from under car, towards rear. It intensified in volume and pitch as we drove home. Upon deceleration there was a whining "down-shifting" type of noise coming from same area.I had a local mechanic take it out for a road test and he diagnosed it as a bad transfer case. I brought it into the dealership the next day. thinking if it WAS the transfer case it would be covered under the extended Nissan powert train warranty. Today the service writer called to say that their tech had diagnosed it as rear differential that had gone bad. As such, it would NOT be covered under said warranty and would cost $2121.11 to replace.

My question to the more learned and mechanically-inclined on this site is: Would the rear differential be considered a part of the power train? I didn't fight with the dealership on it, but the more I thought about it the more I think it might be worth calling NIssan USA consumer affairs to see what their opinion would be. Any assistance/information is appreciated.

[followingnfront]

Anything resonsible for putting power to the wheels is part of the powertrain Id say.

[ImStricken06]

as per the 2009 warranty:
https://owners.nissanusa.com/content/te ... _N_WIB.pdf

POWERTRAIN COVERAGE
• The Powertrain coverage period is 60 months or 60,000
miles, whichever comes fi rst.
• This warranty covers any repairs needed to correct defects
in materials or workmanship.
• Powertrain coverage applies to components listed below,
supplied by Nissan except for those items listed under the
caption “WHAT IS NOT COVERED”.

ENGINE
Cylinder heads and block and all internal parts, rocker
covers and oil pan, valve train and front cover, timing chain
and tensioner, oil pump, water pump and fuel pump, fuel
injectors, intake and exhaust manifolds and supercharger,
fl ywheel, seals, and gaskets.

TRANSMISSION AND TRANSAXLE
Case and all internal parts, torque converter and converter
housing, automatic transmission control module, transfecase and all internal parts, seals and gaskets, clutch cover
and housing, and electronic transmission controls.

DRIVETRAIN
Drive shafts, final drive housing and all internal parts,
propeller shafts, universal joints, bearings, seals and
gaskets.

you are out of the warranty. the extended warranty that nissan gave to people for 120,000miles/10yrs is for the CVT only.

http://www.nissanassist.com/web/CVT/index.php?menu=8
"Nissan has extended the Nissan New Vehicle Limited Warranty for the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to 10 years/120,000 miles (whichever occurs first) for CVT transmission repairs, replacement, and related towing on all 2003-2010 model year Nissan vehicles equipped with the CVT. The remainder of the powertrain warranty coverage for components other than the CVT transmission remains unchanged. All other warranty terms, limitations and conditions otherwise apply."

[scottso]

Thank you both for your replies, and thanks IMstricken for the warranty text.

[ImStricken06]

i am sure you can go to a quality transmission shop, and they could rebuild your "pumpkin" for less than nissan installing a new one. or just find out at your local junk yard how much one is and drag it to your local auto shop, and they will pop it in for a couple hundred.

[rickrogue]

$2000 for reardiff?? kiss my a**.. are they gonna change the whole rear end? hahaha.. that sound is your bearing gone bad due too lack of maintenance and it aint gonna cost $2000 for freaking bearing...

[Rogue One]

If there's any justice, you should make this scottso's avatar!

[kilogram]

you are out of the warranty. the extended warranty that nissan gave to people for 120,000miles/10yrs is for the CVT only.

I don't know about OP's situation, but when I bought my certified pre-owned rogue, the full powertrain warranty was extended to 100k miles in addition to the 120k CVT extension. If he bought a certified pre-owned rogue, he may well still be under warranty. It's worth checking his purchase paperwork.