And speaking of telling 50 people...Nissan sucks...

Between K and me and our immediate family, we have purchased 9 Nissan vehicles
over the last 25 years, all but 2 purchased new from Nissan dealers (two were
"college cars"). While some have been generally decent enough cars, a series of
recent situations have persuaded us that not only will we never buy another
Nissan, new or used, we would strongly encourage others not to do so.

While I cannot and will not say that I believe Nissan builds an inferior product
(at least insofar as vehicles go), I can say that I don't think they build a
superior product, either. More importantly, their customer service and
willingness to correct their own serious mistakes is non-existent. If you
happen to get one of the models that has issues, you are screwed insofar as any
assistance or corrective measures from Nissan beyond those they are legally
forced to do.

The current issue is with an early 2003 Maxima (purchased new, our third one)
that has a design flaw in which a poorly designed "Idle Air Control Valve" fails
prematurely (this vehicle is now on its 4th IACV) and while that is bad enough,
in doing so, it damages the "Engine Control Module" (the ECM or main vehicle
computer). This vehicle now needs its 3rd ECM, at about $1500.00. Nissan's
response? "Tough **** - it's out of warranty now..." (the same response as the
2nd failure, inside the time warranty, but with less than 2000 miles out of the
mileage warranty and a little over 40,000 since the 1st failure). An in-law's
Infiniti-badged vehicle of the same basic model had 2 such failures, both under
warranty. When they replaced it and a Titan truck (which had its own set of
issues - I've heard horror stories about rust issues on Nissan trucks), they
went with Acura and Dodge.

The bottom line is that we'll never buy another Nissan and I'd encourage others
to think long and hard before buying one. A little research will reveal that
when Nissans have issues, they tend to be _expensive_ and Nissan will do
absolutely _nothing_ once the vehicle is 30 seconds or 30 feet out of warranty,
even if their faulty design led to the issue.

Friends don't let friends buy Nissan,
R

On Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:56:04 -0500, wrote:

Between K and me and our immediate family, we have purchased 9 Nissan vehicles
over the last 25 years, all but 2 purchased new from Nissan dealers (two were
"college cars"). While some have been generally decent enough cars, a series of
recent situations have persuaded us that not only will we never buy another
Nissan, new or used, we would strongly encourage others not to do so.

While I cannot and will not say that I believe Nissan builds an inferior product
(at least insofar as vehicles go), I can say that I don't think they build a
superior product, either. More importantly, their customer service and
willingness to correct their own serious mistakes is non-existent. If you
happen to get one of the models that has issues, you are screwed insofar as any
assistance or corrective measures from Nissan beyond those they are legally
forced to do.

The current issue is with an early 2003 Maxima (purchased new, our third one)
that has a design flaw in which a poorly designed "Idle Air Control Valve" fails
prematurely (this vehicle is now on its 4th IACV) and while that is bad enough,
in doing so, it damages the "Engine Control Module" (the ECM or main vehicle
computer). This vehicle now needs its 3rd ECM, at about $1500.00. Nissan's
response? "Tough **** - it's out of warranty now..." (the same response as the
2nd failure, inside the time warranty, but with less than 2000 miles out of the
mileage warranty and a little over 40,000 since the 1st failure). An in-law's
Infiniti-badged vehicle of the same basic model had 2 such failures, both under
warranty. When they replaced it and a Titan truck (which had its own set of
issues - I've heard horror stories about rust issues on Nissan trucks), they
went with Acura and Dodge.

The bottom line is that we'll never buy another Nissan and I'd encourage others
to think long and hard before buying one. A little research will reveal that
when Nissans have issues, they tend to be _expensive_ and Nissan will do
absolutely _nothing_ once the vehicle is 30 seconds or 30 feet out of warranty,
even if their faulty design led to the issue.

Friends don't let friends buy Nissan,
R


Make sure you get your plugs cleaned/changed when they change the
valves. We had a very similar problem with our Subaru. Had an O2
sensor that kept failing at $160 a crack. After our third sensor
change the mechanic yelled at us for not getting the plugs done too,
this after he had done the same job twice already. Talking to our
regular mechanic (who doesn't feel comfortable working on Subes) it
came out that they should have checked the plugs the first time we
brought it in. He said that was SOP.

YMMV, of course.

Geo.

On Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:30:34 -0500, georgecleveland
wrote:

On Wed, 24 Mar 2010 07:56:04 -0500, wrote:

Between K and me and our immediate family, we have purchased 9 Nissan vehicles
over the last 25 years, all but 2 purchased new from Nissan dealers (two were
"college cars"). While some have been generally decent enough cars, a series of
recent situations have persuaded us that not only will we never buy another
Nissan, new or used, we would strongly encourage others not to do so.

While I cannot and will not say that I believe Nissan builds an inferior product
(at least insofar as vehicles go), I can say that I don't think they build a
superior product, either. More importantly, their customer service and
willingness to correct their own serious mistakes is non-existent. If you
happen to get one of the models that has issues, you are screwed insofar as any
assistance or corrective measures from Nissan beyond those they are legally
forced to do.

The current issue is with an early 2003 Maxima (purchased new, our third one)
that has a design flaw in which a poorly designed "Idle Air Control Valve" fails
prematurely (this vehicle is now on its 4th IACV) and while that is bad enough,
in doing so, it damages the "Engine Control Module" (the ECM or main vehicle
computer). This vehicle now needs its 3rd ECM, at about $1500.00. Nissan's
response? "Tough **** - it's out of warranty now..." (the same response as the
2nd failure, inside the time warranty, but with less than 2000 miles out of the
mileage warranty and a little over 40,000 since the 1st failure). An in-law's
Infiniti-badged vehicle of the same basic model had 2 such failures, both under
warranty. When they replaced it and a Titan truck (which had its own set of
issues - I've heard horror stories about rust issues on Nissan trucks), they
went with Acura and Dodge.

The bottom line is that we'll never buy another Nissan and I'd encourage others
to think long and hard before buying one. A little research will reveal that
when Nissans have issues, they tend to be _expensive_ and Nissan will do
absolutely _nothing_ once the vehicle is 30 seconds or 30 feet out of warranty,
even if their faulty design led to the issue.

Friends don't let friends buy Nissan,
R


Make sure you get your plugs cleaned/changed when they change the
valves. We had a very similar problem with our Subaru. Had an O2
sensor that kept failing at $160 a crack. After our third sensor
change the mechanic yelled at us for not getting the plugs done too,
this after he had done the same job twice already. Talking to our
regular mechanic (who doesn't feel comfortable working on Subes) it
came out that they should have checked the plugs the first time we
brought it in. He said that was SOP.

YMMV, of course.

I appreciate the advice, but this is a known flaw/issue - the IACV motor shorts
and some flaw in the circuitry causes some circuit in the ECM to fry - there is
no preventative maintenance, no warning, no nothing - the IACV goes and takes
the ECM out with it. Here's the first link google turned up on the subject:

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Re...model=Maxim a

It was a fait accompli when this thing, and all like it, left the assembly line
- hell, before it made it there - the bavit flange was left unconnected to the
cannuter valve in engineering. And the sad thing is that I'd have not
particularly faulted Nissan for the flaw itself - suffice it to say that modern
cars are complex - it's the absolute refusal by Nissan to in any way address the
issue after thousands - yep, thousands - of failures. There is cottage industry
doing circuit repair on these. Had we been the sole customer with the issue,
that would have tempered it, but Nissan has decided to do what's best for it,
and we've decided to do what's best for us. Moreover this is not the only issue
with Nissan's lack of support that I've seen complained-of. I cannot speak to
the accuracy of those, but I'd have to guess there is at least a kernel of truth
in them at the very least. We'll never buy another Nissan - period, end of
discussion done with 'em - and I'd strongly suggest that any and all stay away
from them - as always, YMMV.


TC, and remember, friends don't let friends buy Nissan,
R

On Mar 24, 5:56*am, wrote:
Between K and me and our immediate family, we have purchased 9 Nissan vehicles
over the last 25 years, all but 2 purchased new from Nissan dealers (two were
"college cars"). *While some have been generally decent enough cars, a series of
recent situations have persuaded us that not only will we never buy another
Nissan, new or used, we would strongly encourage others not to do so. *

While I cannot and will not say that I believe Nissan builds an inferior product
(at least insofar as vehicles go), I can say that I don't think they build a
superior product, either. *More importantly, their customer service and
willingness to correct their own serious mistakes is non-existent. *If you
happen to get one of the models that has issues, you are screwed insofar as any
assistance or corrective measures from Nissan beyond those they are legally
forced to do.

The current issue is with an early 2003 Maxima (purchased new, our third one)
that has a design flaw in which a poorly designed "Idle Air Control Valve" fails
prematurely (this vehicle is now on its 4th IACV) and while that is bad enough,
in doing so, it damages the "Engine Control Module" (the ECM or main vehicle
computer). *This vehicle now needs its 3rd ECM, at about $1500.00. *Nissan's
response? *"Tough **** - it's out of warranty now..." *(the same response as the
2nd failure, inside the time warranty, but with less than 2000 miles out of the
mileage warranty and a little over 40,000 since the 1st failure). *An in-law's
Infiniti-badged vehicle of the same basic model had 2 such failures, both under
warranty. *When they replaced it and a Titan truck (which had its own set of
issues - I've heard horror stories about rust issues on Nissan trucks), they
went with Acura and Dodge.

The bottom line is that we'll never buy another Nissan and I'd encourage others
to think long and hard before buying one. *A little research will reveal that
when Nissans have issues, they tend to be _expensive_ and Nissan will do
absolutely _nothing_ once the vehicle is 30 seconds or 30 feet out of warranty,
even if their faulty design led to the issue.

Friends don't let friends buy Nissan,
R

Agree Ive a friend who bought a Nissan titan and also had some major
"issues." ie bizarrely archaic 4 wheel set up, etc. The trucks have a
tough look that belies their wimpy performance, and fatal flaws, in
Western conditions. Too bad because i confess to a fondness to that
rack on their SUV. Good looking shell, ****full electro/mechanics.

Dave

On Mar 25, 11:50*am, DaveS wrote:
On Mar 24, 5:56*am, wrote:





Between K and me and our immediate family, we have purchased 9 Nissan vehicles
over the last 25 years, all but 2 purchased new from Nissan dealers (two were
"college cars"). *While some have been generally decent enough cars, a series of
recent situations have persuaded us that not only will we never buy another
Nissan, new or used, we would strongly encourage others not to do so. *

While I cannot and will not say that I believe Nissan builds an inferior product
(at least insofar as vehicles go), I can say that I don't think they build a
superior product, either. *More importantly, their customer service and
willingness to correct their own serious mistakes is non-existent. *If you
happen to get one of the models that has issues, you are screwed insofar as any
assistance or corrective measures from Nissan beyond those they are legally
forced to do.

The current issue is with an early 2003 Maxima (purchased new, our third one)
that has a design flaw in which a poorly designed "Idle Air Control Valve" fails
prematurely (this vehicle is now on its 4th IACV) and while that is bad enough,
in doing so, it damages the "Engine Control Module" (the ECM or main vehicle
computer). *This vehicle now needs its 3rd ECM, at about $1500.00. *Nissan's
response? *"Tough **** - it's out of warranty now..." *(the same response as the
2nd failure, inside the time warranty, but with less than 2000 miles out of the
mileage warranty and a little over 40,000 since the 1st failure). *An in-law's
Infiniti-badged vehicle of the same basic model had 2 such failures, both under
warranty. *When they replaced it and a Titan truck (which had its own set of
issues - I've heard horror stories about rust issues on Nissan trucks), they
went with Acura and Dodge.

The bottom line is that we'll never buy another Nissan and I'd encourage others
to think long and hard before buying one. *A little research will reveal that
when Nissans have issues, they tend to be _expensive_ and Nissan will do
absolutely _nothing_ once the vehicle is 30 seconds or 30 feet out of warranty,
even if their faulty design led to the issue.

Friends don't let friends buy Nissan,
R

Agree Ive a friend who bought a Nissan titan and also had some major
"issues." ie bizarrely archaic 4 wheel set up, etc. The trucks have a
tough look that belies their wimpy performance, and fatal flaws, in
Western conditions. Too bad because i confess to a fondness to that
rack on their SUV. Good looking shell, ****full electro/mechanics.

Dave-

I've got a '94 Maxima that had injector problems soon after I bought
it with about 97k miles on it five years ago. A mechanic I spoke with
recently said they were famous for this problem. A rather expensive
fix at about $1,800 (if memory serves) but it has perfrormed flawlessy
(and inexpensively) since then. Odometer currently reads 157,363.

g.
who supposes that some is better as others.