2001 Nissan Maxima Complaint Log

WE OWNED A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA FOR 2 1/2 YEARS. WE PUT AN ALTERNATIVE ON IT AND THEN ON DEC 23, 2005 WE SMELLED SMOKE INSIDE OF THE CAR SITTING IN OUR GARAGE. CAR WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT FIRE. THE MECHANIC SAID THE COMPUTER HAD BURNED UP ON THE CAR & HAD BURNED OUT NUMEROUS RELAYS AND SENSORS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR 3 MONTHS. THE DEALER CHECKED IT AND SAID IT WAS AN O2 SENSOR. WE REPLACED THE UPPER INTAKE, LOWER INTAKE, GASKETS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, FUEL PRESSER SWITCH, O2 SENSORS, A COMPUTER. (ALL THE ABOVE ARE NISSAN DEALER PARTS!!) THE COMPUTER STILL WOULD NOT MAINTAIN THE CODES FOR IT TO PASS INSPECTION SO WE BOUGHT A NEW COMPUTER FROM NISSAN. THE DEALER FLASHED THE COMPUTER AND BURNED THE NEW COMPUTER UP IN HIS DEALERSHIP & NOW CLAIMS WE OWE HIM FOR THE NEW COMPUTER ALSO. WE HAVEN'T EVEN DRIVEN IT OFF THE LOT & HAVE SPENT $3000 JUST IN PARTS NOT INCLUDING THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. THE SALISBURY NISSAN DEALER WILL NOT SEND THE COMPUTER BACK TO NISSAN & WILL NOT WARRANTY THE NEW COMPUTER & MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE DEC 23, 2005. TODAY IS 5/31/06. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER NISSAN. *JB

MY CONTROL ARM ON MY '01 MAXIMA BROKE. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR, MY VIN # ISN'T INCLUDED SO NISSAN WON'T FIX. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A COMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW NISSAN CAN KNOW EXACTLY WHICH VEHICLES THIS RECALL AFFECTS IF MISTAKES WERE MADE. THANKFULLY I WASN'T ON A FREEWAY AT THE TIME. IF YOU HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM, MY CONTACT IS ONEFAIDA@YAHOO.COM. *NM

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH I WENT TO DOWN SHIFT TO 3RD BUT GOT 1ST. I KNOW THIS IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN SO I THOUGHT I WAS IN 3RD GEAR. I LET OFF THE CLUTCH AND THE CAR WENT FROM 70 MPH TO ABOUT 35 MPH IN 3 SEC. I WOULD HAVE WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD IF NOT FOR THE SEAT BELT WHICH WORK FINE. WELL THIS ORDEAL LEFT MY CAR WITH 1 OR 2 BLOWN CYLINDER HEADS, BENT,VALVES WATER OUT TAIL PIPE AND ITS NOT DUE TO THE FACT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A STICK I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THEM SINCE I GOT OUT OF SCHOOL IN 96..CAN YOU TELL ME WHY THIS HAPPENED ? AND IF A IS DEFECT FOUND WILL THEY REPAIR MY CAR? *JB

MY NISSAN MAXIMA (2001) BEGAN TO HARD SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AT APPROX. 55,000 MILES. WHEN I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER (TIM DAHLE NISSAN IN SANDY, UT) AT THE 60,000 MAINTENANCE SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE SHIFTING PROBLEM GOT STEADILY WORSE. THE CAR BEGAN DOING IT RANDOMLY AT ANY GEAR. AT 74,000 MILES I FINALLY HAD TIME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM (AFTER I MADE THEM TEST DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN) AND REPLACED THE CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY IN THE TRANSMISSION. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND DROVE OFF THE DEALER'S LOT AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY HARD SHIFTED FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THREE WEEKS LATER I TOOK THE CAR BACK IN. THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT THIS WAS THE WAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK. APPARENTLY, NISSAN RELEASED A BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, EXPLAINING THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE MAXIMA 2000 TO 2003 (AND OTHER MODELS AS WELL). THE BULLETIN INSTRUCTS THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY, BUT NOT THE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY. I AM LEFT WITH A CAR THAT SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND, RESULTING IN A "CLUNK" SOUND. I BOUGHT NISSAN FOR PERFORMANCE BUT TO AVOID THIS HARD SHIFT I HAVE TO DRIVE SLOWLY, BABYING THE TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT QUIETLY BETWEEN 1ST AND

I HAVE AN '01 MAXIMA SE. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BROUGHT IT TO A DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS AN EMISSION PROBLEM & IT WOULD COST $900 TO FIX !!!! AND I NEED IT DONE BEFORE I CAN GET MY CAR INSPECTED, WHICH IS THIS MONTH. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH THIS CAR. WHEN I BOUGHT IT IT KEPT STEERING TO THE RIGHT, THEY USED MY "ONE FREE" NISSAN ALIGNMENT AND IT WAS STILL NOT RIGHT! IT WAS MY TIRES BECAUSE I HAD TO GET NEW TIRES @ 30K MILES (I HAD BRIDGESTONE POTENZAS, THEY DON'T LAST VERY LONG I FOUND OUT) SO I ENDED UP BUYING COOPER TIRES FOR $200/TIRE. THE PULLING TO THE RIGHT WAS CURED AFTER THAT. I HAVE ALSO HAD A COMPUTER PROBLEM, AN ABS LIGHT PROBLEM, AND HAVE ALREADY HAD MY ROTORS & BRAKES REPLACED AT 30K. I ONLY HAVE 40K ON IT NOW. SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T WANT TO START EITHER. (IT WILL PUTTER AND DIE) ALL IN ALL I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN. I HOPE SOMEONE WILL READ THIS & TAKE IT FROM ME, DO NOT GET A MAXIMA, ESPECIALLY AN '01.

I PARK MY CAR AT WORK AND PROCEED TO MOVE THE SEAT FOWARD FOR MY WIFE. IT DID NOT MOVE; I HAVE A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT HAS A DRIVER SIDE POWER SEAT. THE SEAT TILTS BUT DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARDS.

I HAVE A COMPLAINT ABOUT A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN ITS WIRING HARNESS THAT COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE ECM (ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE) AND THROTTLE BODY INJECTION SYSTEM CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL UNDER 1700 RPMS THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN RPMS DROPPED BELOW THE STATED THRESHOLD I HAVE LOOKED AT THE NHTSAS SERVICE BULLETINS AND COMPLAINT BULLETINS AND THESE WIRING HARNESS SHORTS SEEM TO BE A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH NISSANS VEHICLES ESPECIALLY THE MAXIMA MODEL AND ALSO FIRE RELATED SHORTS. I SPOKE WITH NISSANS COMPLAINT DIVISION AND THEY JUST SAID DUE TO MILES ITS OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT THEIR PROBLEM. AFTER LOOKING AT VARIOUS WEB SITES DEDICATED TO NISSAN PROBLEMS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM EVEN THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT NORMALLY THE ALTERNATOR BURNS OUT BEFORE THE ECM WITH THESE WIRING SHORTS BUT SAID I WAS ONE OF THE UNLUCKY ONES, THE LAST I HEARD WIRING HARNESSES ARE SUPPOSE TO BE STRAPPED DOWN AND NOT MOVING AND PROPERLY WRAPPED AND INSULATED SO VIBRATION DOES NO WEAR THROUGH BUT APPARENTLY NISSAN DOES NOT THINK SO. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND SAFETY DEFECT THAT NHTSA SHOULD LOOK AT.. ALSO I AM STUCK WITH A NINETEEN HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL FROM THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM NOT HAPPY. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SIMCERELY JEFF NELSON NISSAN REF NO.# #4951395

MY SERVICE ENGINE COMES ON EVERY WEEK. I HAVE TO PUT IT IN THE SHOP ALL THE TIME AND THE STEERING KEEPS PULLING TO THE RIGHT

THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT BAR AND SURROUNDING LOWER STRUCTURE STARTED RUSTING AWAY AFTER ABOUT 4-5 YEARS FROM NEW. THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT IS NOW ALMOST ENTIRELY GONE. THE DEALER QUOTED $5400 TO REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REP THAT IF/WHEN THE CORE SUPPORT LET GO, THE ENGINE COULD FALL CAUSING A WRECK.

I HAVE A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA SE 20TH ANNIV. [XXX] AND RECENTLY (ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS AGO) I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY FRONT SUSPENSION - WHENEVER I GO OVER BUMPS OR ANY SORT OF ROAD CRACKS, I HEAR THE BANGING (KNOCKING) SOUND IN MY FRONT SUSPENSION ON BOTH SIDES AND THE STEERING (HANDLING) HAS BECOME REALLY SLOPPY. THIS WEEK I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC BUT I ACCIDENTALLY CAME ACROSS SOME INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OVER 90,000 2001-2002 MAXIMAS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED BY NISSAN FOR FREE FIXING. TO BE EXACT THE SAFETY NHTSA RECALL NUMBER IS 02V146 AND THE DESCRIPTION IS "THE PIN AT THE END OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK (LOWER CONTROL ARM) COULD BREAK WHERE IT IS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME, CAUSING A KNOCKING SOUND AND ABNORMAL STEERING, RESULTING IN DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE AND INCREASING THE RISK OF CRASH. DEALERS SHOULD REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINKS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES WITH NEW ONES. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN." ANYWAYS, THIS MORNING I CALLED NISSAN CANADA AND WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS NOT RECALLED, BECAUSE APPARENTLY WHEN THEY BEGAN RECALLING ON JUNE 24, 2002, THEY DETERMINED THE MANUFACTURING DATE RANGE FROM JUNE 2001 TO JANUARY 2002. MY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN OCTOBER 2000; HOWEVER IF IT HAS BEEN A SAFETY ISSUE FOR OVER 90,000 SAME VEHICLES - HOW ACCURATE THEIR DECISION IS??? ALL I WANT IS TO FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY CAR BUT IN MY CASE NISSAN DO NOT WISH TO COOPERATE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS A WAY TO HELP ME AND TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT ME IS E-MAIL: [XXX] OR CELL [XXX] OR [XXX]. PLEASE LET ME KNOW, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO PROCESS AND RESOLVE THE ISSUE BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR KNOWING WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT IT IS A RECALL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION! *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

LOUD KNOCKING UNDER FRONT OF THE CAR, I REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND NOISE STOPPED FOR A WHILE. THE KNOCKING HAS COME BACK AND THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BE HARD TO MOVE AND SOMETIME JERKS TO THE SIDE. ALSO THE WHOLE TAIL LIGHT GOES OUT, I HAVE CHANGED THE LIGHT BULBS FOUR TIMES ALREADY WITHIN A MONTH.*AK

THE TRUCK WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE STEERING WOULD BE HARD TO STEER. RECALL 02V146000 CONCERNING FRONT SUSPENSION ARM WAS ISSUED. DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE BECAUSE THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. *AK

I EXPERIENCED TROUBLE STARTING THE CAR FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT ALSO DURING THIS TIME THE CAR WAS "HESITATING" AT VARIOUS TIMES BOTH ON ACCELERATION AND CRUISING. ON FEB 3, 2005, AFTER RETURNING TO THE VEHICLE AFTER A QUICK STOP AT THE STORE, THE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER BUT NOT "CATCH" AND START. AFTER TRYING TO START IT AT LEAST 6 TO 8 TIMES, THE ENGINE STARTED BUT THE CEL, SLP AND TC ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON AND STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE NISSAN DEALER AND ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE: "SCANNED OBD2 SYSTEM FOR DTC TROUBLE CODES: HAS CODE P0430. FURTHER DIAGNOSIS DETERMINED THAT CAM SENSOR IS BAD. REPLACED CAM SENSOR, CLEARED CODES AND RECHECKED." MY QUESTION WHICH WAS NOT FULLY ANSWERED BY THE NISSAN DEALER IS WHAT PROMPTED THE MECHANIC TO DO FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS AFTER RECEIVING THE P0430 WHICH ACCORDING THE INFORMATION I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GATHER IS NOT RELATED TO A PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE CAM SENSOR. I WAS ADVISED THAT THE NISSAN MECHANIC HAD A "DECISION TREE" TO FOLLOW WHEN DIAGNOSING. IN MAY AND JUNE OF 2004 THE CEL LIGHT CAME ON I HAD MY LOCAL MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR AND HE DETERMINED EACH TIME THAT AN OXYGEN SENSOR WAS BAD REPLACED THEM. I WILL PROVIDE A COPY OF THE BILL(S) RELATED TO ALL REPAIRS IF REQUESTED. I HAVE 2 QUESTIONS OF NISSAN, WERE THE ERROR CODES DISPLAYED IN MAY AND JUNE OF 2004 IN FACT GENERATED IN ERROR? WHAT INTERNAL INFORMATION DID THE NISSAN DEALER HAVE THAT PROMPTED HIM TO DO FURTHER DIAGNOSTICS TO COME UP WITH A CAM SENSOR FAILURE? *NM

FRONT WHEEL BEARING WENT WRONG AFTER LESS THAN 55K MILES. *NM

THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. DRIVER NOTICED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHOOK. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A PART FOR SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. . *AK THE DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM PART HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED YET. ALL CONTACT WITH NISSAN CORP PERTAINING TO THIS MATTER HAS BEEN IGNORED. *BF *NM

PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS (AIRBAG LIGHT)/O2 SENSORS/ALTERNATOR/STARTUPS. *NM

HIGHWAY DRIVING, CAR JERKS AND SPUTTERS, COULD CAUSE A CRASH SES LIGHT CAME ON, CAR IDLES ROUGH, CAR STALLS REPLACED ALL 6 IGNITION COILS, PROBLEM RECURRED A FEW DAYS LATER. *JB

REAR MUFFLER, AND GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, ROTTED AND LOOSE. *JB

REAR MUFFLER FLANGE WILL COMPLETELY RUST-THROUGH, CAUSING SEPARATION OF MUFFLER AND INTAKE PIPE. EXHAUST FUMES WILL LEAK AT THIS POINT WHICH IS NEAR REAR PASSENGAR SEATING. BOTH MUFFLER AND CORRESPONDING EXHAUST PIPES ARE SOLID AND RELATIVELY FREE OF RUST, HOWEVER FAILURE OF THIS FLANGE RESULTED IN BOTH PIPE AND MUFFLER REPLACEMENT. THIS SEEMS RATHER EXTREME FOR A FLANGE FAILURE. PROBLEM OCURRED WITHIN FOUR YEARS OF OWNERSHIP (CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW). A LETTER WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER, THEY RESPONDED MY STATING CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. MY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE $300. *AK

I BOUGHT A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA BRAND NEW IN JUNE 2001. ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING IN 2004 I EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE RACING. IT DID STOP AFTER A FEW SECONDS BUT I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO MY NEIGHBORHOOD CAR MECHANIC. HE COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT FOUND A DEFECTIVE AIR POLLUTION PART AND REPLACED IT. THE NEXT DAY, WHILE WAITING TO TAKE A LEFT TURN AT AN INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED AGAIN AND WITH ME PRACTICALLY STANDING ON THE BRAKE WE SLID ACROSS THE INTERSECTION HEADED TOWARDS ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY PEOPLE SLOWED ENOUGH FOR ME TO SLIDE ACROSS THE INTERSECTION WITH RUBBER BURNING, ENGINE WHINING, ETC. A FEW SECONDS LATER IT STOPPED. I WAS ONLY ABOUT A MILE FROM THE DEALER THAT I HAD PURCHASED IT FROM SO I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THERE AND PULLED INTO THE SERVICE DEPT. AREA. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T LOOK AT IT TODAY BUT COME BACK TOMMORROW. I SAID THAT I WASN'T ABOUT TO KEEP DRIVING IT WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT I COULD PARK IT IN THEIR LOT AND THEY WILL LOOK AT IT TOMMORROW. I SAID "YOU CAN PARK IT IN YOUR LOT, I'M NOT DRIVING IT." THE NEXT DAY THEY CALLED AND SAID IT MUST BE SOMETHING WITH THE ONBOARD COMPUTER AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE IT, COST $1100 NOT UNDER WARRANTY. WHAT COULD I DO? SO OF COURSE I DID IT AND COMPLAINED BUT IT APPEARS TO HAVE FIXED IT SINCE IT HASN'T HAPPENED AGAIN. I STILL OWN IT. *TR

THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD PULSATE WHEN SLOWING DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY TO PAY A TOLL, MAKING THE CAR DIFFICULT TO STEER. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 30,000 MILES AND WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO COVER THE OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE ROTORS. INSTEAD THEY CHARGED ME $150 TO RESURFACE THE TWO FRONT ROTORS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX, AND THE ROTORS WILL WARP AGAIN JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE A DEFECTIVE PART, AND NISSAN DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

CPST CHECKING CAR SEATS FOUND LATCH ANCHOR ON 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA TO HAVE UNUSUALLY LONG SIDES (? 3CM). LATCH HOOKS FROM CHILD RESTRAINT HAD MIGRATED TO THE SIDE PORTION OF THE ANCHORS. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A PROBLEM OR NOT, BUT THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN IT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND TOWED IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A WORN PART. *AK

WHEN COMING OUT OF AN ANTIQUE SHOP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE GLASS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE EXPLODED AND SHATTERED. GLASS WAS ALL OVER DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT AND REAR SEATS. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SUGGESTED THAT CONSUMER TAKE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE WINDOW. VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PARKED IN A GARAGE AND THE OCCURRENCE HAPPENED IN THE MORNING. IT WAS NOT VERY HOT OUTSIDE. *AK AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, THE CONSUMER WAS THEN ADVISED TO GO TO A AUTO GLASS REPAIR SHOP. THEY DETERMINED THAT NOTHING HAD HIT THE WINDOW. THE REPAIR COST THE CONSUMER $162 DOLLARS. SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT WITH HER WINDOW. *PH

FUEL FILLER PIPE RUSTED. AS A RESULT, WHEN FILLING THE VEHICLE FUEL LEAKED. *AK

I HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED PROBLEMS ON AT LEAST 6 OCCASIONS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR WITH THE ROTORS. EVERYTIME I HAVE THIS FIXED THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY MY DRIVING HABITS WHICH I DID NOT AGREE WITH SEEING AS HOW I HAVE OWNED 3 CARS PRIOR AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED, 3 OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED, AND 2 WHEEL SENSORS. THESE OCCURRENCES HAVE SPANNED OVER 18 MONTHS AND HAVE COST LOTS OF MONEY! THE CALIPERS HAVE LOCKED, AND THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE WHEEL WELL, ALSO. I HAVE TRIED TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM THE DEALER I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM, NO ASSISTANCE FROM THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER IN RALEIGH, AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST - NISSAN THEMSELVES - THEY EVEN LIED TO ME ON THE PHONE AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS SENT BACK TO THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER, WHO HAD THE RIGHT TO COVER THE COSTS, BUT WAS DENYING THE CHARGE. THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER DISPUTED THIS AND IT LEFT ME WITH NOTHING BUT FRUSTRATION AND WITH A LEMON OF A CAR! I PURCHASED THIS CAR WITH LESS THAN 40000 MILES AND CHECKED THE VIN THROUGH CARFAX. I ALSO CHECKED WHAT CONSUMER REPORTS SAID ABOUT THE MAKE AND MODEL. FROM WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED ,AND THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ON THIS SITE, I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN AGAIN, AND FEEL THAT THE ROTORS AND SENSORS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY NISSAN.*AK

BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS FAILED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST. THEN THE LIGHT JUST STAYED ON. *JB *SC

WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM PUMP DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS. *AK

I BELIEVE THE RIGHT FRONT STRUT I PURCHASED FOR MY 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA IS BEING INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED BY KYB AMERICA, LLC (SUBSIDIARY OF KAYABA INDUSTRY COMPANIES). PROPER INSTALLATION OF THE ABS LINE AND THE MAIN BRAKE LINE CAN NOT BE ACHIEVED DUE TO REASONS DOCUMENTED IN THE EXCERPT OF CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN MYSELF TO KYB AMERICA BELOW. THIS MONTH I HAVE BEGUN TO NOTICE SOME DANGEROUS WEARING ON MY BRAKE LINE CAUSED BY IMPROPER MANUFACTURING/INSTALLATION. KYB HAS ONLY RESPONDED TO MY INITIAL FORM FILLED OUT ONLINE WITH A GENERIC AUTO RESPONDER EMAIL LISTING THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION. THE PICTURE I REFERENCEBELOW IS AVAILABLE AT THE WEB ADDRESS: HTTP://WWW.ASTUTEINNOVATIONS.COM/STRUT.HTM THE FOLLOWING IS FROM AN EMAIL I SENT ON APRIL 15, 2004: "THE REASONS I THINK IT MAY BE MANUFACTURED WRONG ARE SHOWN ON THE PICTURE, HERE IS THE MAIN POINTS. "I CAN'T GET THE RETAINER CLIP FOR THE BRAKE LINE ONTO THE KYB STRUT BECAUSE OF A BENT LIP. THE BENT LIP IN THE PICTURE IS REFERRING TO THE OVERALL SHAPE OF THE METAL NOT THE ROUNDED TOP EDGE. "THE REAR ABS SENSOR MOUNT IS THE SAME AS THE NISSAN STRUT BUT THE FRONT SENSOR MOUNT HAS A MOUNT THAT OPENS FACING DOWN. THIS FORCES THE ABS SENSOR TO TAKE A SHARP TURN DOWN IN ORDER TO GET TO THE OPENING OF THE KYB MOUNT. I THINK I MENTIONED THAT MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON BUT IT IS NOW OFF. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME EVEN THOUGH I'M FAIRLY SURE THE ABS SYSTEM IS FINE. I ALSO HAD TO ZIP TIE THE BRAKE LINE TO THE KYB MOUNT BECAUSE OF THE RETAINER CLIP ISSUE & THIS ALSO SCARES ME BECAUSE IF THE ZIP TIES FAIL THEN MY BREAK LINE WOULD END UP DANGLING LOOSELY AND MIGHT GET DAMAGED AS A RESULT (I CHECK THE ZIP TIES EVERY TIME BEFORE I DRIVE THE VEHICLE)." THANK YOU CHUCK CHRISTIANSEN. *AK

CAR WAS INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISION, AND AIRBAGS ON EITHER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

MY NISSAN MAXIMA (2001) BEGAN TO HARD TIME SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AT APPROX. 55,000 MILES. WHEN I REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOOK LOOKING AT IT AND DID A DRIVING TEST AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR. AT THE 60,000 IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE SHIFT FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR. MOST OF THE TIME IT WOULDN'T SWITCH TO SECOND GEAR. NOW I AM HEARING THAT NISSAN HAD A RECALL. NISSAN RELEASED A BULLETIN TO ITS DEALERS, EXPLAINING THAT THERE WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE MAXIMA 2000 TO 2003 (AND OTHER MODELS AS WELL). THE BULLETIN INSTRUCTS THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE CONTROL VALVE ASSEMBLY, BUT NOT THE TRANSAXLE ASSEMBLY. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO GET MY CAR FIXES. I ALSO FOUND ANY PROBLEM THAT I AM KEEP GETTING FROM MY NISSAN EVERY 3,000 A LIGHT SAY CHECK ENGINE.. I TOOK THE CARS TO HAVE CHECK TWICE AND THERE TELL ME IT WAS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE. *NM

APPROX 1 MO AGO MY BATTERY AND BRAKE LIGHT WOULD LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO MECHANICAL EFFECT NOTED. THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR TESTED GOOD AND THE CAUSE WAS UNKNOWN. THEN ONE DAY ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL AT 75 MPH THE LIGHTS CAME ON. SEVERAL MINUTES LATER THE CRUISE CONTROL SHUT OFF BY ITSELF AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. DURING SLOWING TO EXIT THE THE HIGHWAY ALL THE INSTRUMENT PANELS BEGAN 'BOUNCING' WITH UNSTABLE READINGS AND THE ENGINE SEEMED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO DIE. I EXITED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE CAR REQUIRED A JUMP TO RESTART IT. I REPLACED THE BATTERY SINCE ONE CELL WAS PARTIALLY BAD. NONETHELESS, THE BATTERY AND BRAKE LIGHT HAVE COME ON AGAIN. NISSAN INDICATES A NEW ALTERNATOR IS REQUIRED ON THE CAR AT 3 YEARS OLD AND 45,700 MILES. *AK

LEASED 2001 MAXIMA ANNIVERSARY EDITION. COMING OFF LEASE 11/28/03. NISSAN SENDS MAN TO INSPECT VEHICLE. MAN SAYS LIP OF THREE WHEELS ARE SCRATCHED (THEY ARE) AND THAT WE MUST REPLACE THEM AT A COST OF $559.00 PER WHEEL AS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR ON VEHICLE. ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE MAXIMA SE KNOWS NISSAN ENGINEERS DESIGNED IT LOW TO THE GROUND AND THAT AT RECOMMENDED INFLATION OF TIRES THE WHEELS OF THE MAXIMA ARE ALWAYS LOWER THAN ANY CURB IN THE METROPOLITAN AREA OF NEW YORK. IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE A MAXIMA SE AS DESIGNED AND NOT HAVE WHEELS STRIKE THE CURB OVER THE COURSE OF A 3 YEAR LEASE. OUR FAMILY HAD BEEN A LOYAL NISSAN CUSTOMER SINCE OUR FIRST MAXIMA IN 1990. I BELIEVE WE HAVE PURCHASED OR LEASED 5 MAXIMAS, I KNOW WE PURCHASED 2 SENTRAS AND LEASED ONE ALTIMA. NOW THIS IS HOW NISSAN IS TREATING US, WITH GREEDY FINGERS AND A SHAKEDOWN OF OVER $1650.00 TO REPLACE THE 3 WHEELS. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW OF THE WHEEL IF THE NISSAN ENGINEERS DID NOT ANTICIPATE THAT WE HAVE CURBS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THAT VEHICLE TRAFFIC LAW OF NEW YORK REQUIRES ALL DRIVERS TO PARALLEL PARK ON THE STREET. IF THEY ARE GOING TO CHARGE LEASING CUSTOMERS FOR DAMAGE TO THE LIP OF THE WHEEL THEY SHOULD RECALL EVERY MAXIMA SE AND PUT NORMAL SIZE WHEELS ON THE VEHICLES NOT THE ALLOY WHEELS THEY NOW HAVE WITH LESS THAN 2 INCHES OF TIRE TO THE ACTUAL WHEEL. BEWARE OF NISSAN LEASING POLICY. NEVER AGAIN WILL A NISSAN VEHICLE CROSS THE THRESHOLD OF OUR FAMILY DRIVEWAY. THEN TO COMPLETE THIS SHAKEDOWN THEY OFFER TO TAKE $500.00 DOLLARS OFF THEIR "DAMAGE ASSESSMENT" IF WE WILL LEASE OR BUY A NEW NISSAN. EXTORTION! KEEP YOUR CARS WE WILL GET OUR SON ANOTHER TYPE OF CAR. YOU BLEW IT, LOST A GOOD CUSTOMER AND HOPEFULLY THOSE WHO READ THIS MANY MORE CUSTOMERS. *LA

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON APPROXIMATELY 70% OF THE TIME. PURCHASED CAR IN NOV 2000. *LA

CONTROL FOR HEAT & A/C REFUSED TO WORK. THERE WAS N HEAT IN THE CAR AND A/C LIGHT STAYED ON. DEALER ALLEGEDLY REPAIRED SAME AND IT LASTED A FEW MINUTES AND HEAT WENT OFF AGAIN. CURRENTLY SITUATION IS REVERSED I NOW HAVE HEAT BUT NO A/C. COMPLAINED TO NISSAN ON 11/11/03 - COMPLAINT #4329371, & 4/29/04 COMPLAINT #4521901

WITHIN 50,000 MILES ROTERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND HAVE BEEN RESURFACED ONCE. THE FIRST ROTOR REPLACEMENT OCCURRED AT 15, 000 MILES. SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM RANGE FROM SHAKING STEERING WHEEL, HAVING TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO REDUCE SHAKING AND GRINDING SOUNDS THAT OCCUR DURING BREAKING. THE CAR IS DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WITH INFREQUENT CITY STOP AND GO DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED OR RESURFACED THE ROTERS ON ALL FOUR OCCASSIONS FREE OF CHARGE, BUT FAILS TO ADMIT THAT THERE IS ANY DEFECT AND CITES POSSIBLE DRIVING HABITS AS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

WARPED ROTORS RESURFACED ONCE 18,000 MILES AGO BECAUSE OF HEAVY VIBRATION IN STEERING ON BRAKING (CLOSE TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF CAR). EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AGAIN AND DEALER CLAIMS IT'S DUE TO DRIVE HABITS AND REFUSES TO SERVICE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE WARPED ROTORS CAUSES YOU TO HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN WHICH WOULD EXPLAIN THE WEAR ON THE BRAKE DUE TO DEFECTIVE ROTORS. I DO MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING SO BRAKES NOT USED EXTENSIVELY. NEED TO LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOME COMPONENT IS CAUSING THE ROTORS TO OVERHEAT AND WARP AND NOT A RESULT OF HEAVY BRAKING. SPOUSE EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM ON 2002 PATHFINDER WITH 22,000 MILES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS I THINK THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS TRYING TO ATTRIBUTE TO THE CONSUMERS' DRIVE HABITS. LET'S NOT WAIT FOR SEVERE INJURY TO OCCUR BEFORE TAKING ACTION.*AK

ALMOST EVERY 10,000 MILES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. ON 7/18/2003 VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO RESURFACED THE ROTORS ON THE FRONT AND BACK. *AK

MY CAR IS A 2001 MAXIMA IT CAME WITH TOYO TIRES FROM THE FACTORY. I GOT A FLAT AND WENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED THEY WOULDNT FIX IT BECAUSE THE TIRE AND THE OTHER TIRES ON THE CAR ARE DRY ROTTED. THE TIRES HAD 23,000 MILES ON THEM AND WERE QUITE WORN NOT WHAT YOU WOULD EXPECT FROM A PREMIUM TIRE. THE LAST TIME THE CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICING THE TECH TOLD MY WIFE THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.. I CALLED TOYO AND THEY SENT ME TO THIER DEALER IN NAPLES FLORIDA. THE TECH THERE CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRES WERE IN FACT DEFECTIVE. HE CALLED TOYO WITH THE TREAD DEPTH AND INFORMED THEM OF THE DRY ROTTING. THEY SAID THEY WOULD GIVE ME A ADUSTMENT ON THE TIRES BUT WOULD HAVE TO SEE THEM. WELL IT HAS BEEN TWO MONTHS AND I STILL DONT HAVE THE ADJUSTMENT CHECK. I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT EITHER ! *AK

ROTORS WARP AND CAUSE STEERING TO SHAKE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED - ON MY MAXIMA I HAVE NEEDED TO HAVE THE DISKS TURNED 3 TIMES (1ST TIME AT 13K MILES) AND THEN THE ROTORS REPLACED BEFORE I HAD 30K MILES ON MY CAR. NOW AT 44500 I NEED TO GET THE DISKS TURNED AGAIN. I HAD A 98 MAXIMA BEFORE THE 01 AND NEVER HAD TO GET WORK. *NLM

EVERY 15000 MILES FRONT BRAKE ROTOR HAS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WARPING. CONSUMER OWNS TWO VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE/MODEL, BUT DIFFERENT YEARS, AND THEY ARE BOTH SUFFERING THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

THE ROTORS MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THEM TO WARP. WHEN THE ROTORS WARPED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THE FASTER VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE WORSE THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THIS COULD RESULT IN CONSUMER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP RESURFACED THE ROTORS, BUT THEY WARPED AGAIN WITHIN 17,000 MILES. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD SEVERAL 02 SENSORS REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED AROUND 60,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 120,000 MILES. WHEN TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY TRAVEL 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED FOR THE SPEED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 150,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

EVERY 3,000-6,000 MILES BRAKE ROTORS BECOME WARPED, CAUSING A SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHILE WHILE BRAKING. NISSAN, ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM WITH THEIR PART, WOULD REPAIR ROTORS OR REPLACE THEM, BUT IT WAS ONLY A TEMPORARY REPAIR, AS THEY WOULD BECOME WARPED AGAIN AFTER A FEW THOUSAND MILES. NISSAN HAS NOW REFUSED TO REPAIR/REPLACE NEW ROTORS THAT WARPED ONLY AFTER FEW THOUSAND MILES.

I AM EXPERIENCING BRAKE ROTOR WARPING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE DEALER REFUSES TO EVEN INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. *JB

FRONT ROTORS HAVE FAILED THREE TIMES WITHIN 60,000 AND NISSAN SAYS THAT THIS IS DUE TO DRIVING HABITS, I.E., ROTORS GET HOT AND THEN FAIL. REFERENCE # 4029350 PERJUDY EXT. 3773. DEALER HAS REPLACED ROTORS EACH TIME AND I FIND NO FAULT WITH DEALER WITH THE EXCEPTION THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING THIS; OTHER THAN THE DRIVING HABITS AS EXPRESSED BY THE NISSAN REP. JUDY. THIS CONDITION IS DANGEROUS AND CAUSES THE CAR TO BE BOUNCE WITH LOSS OF CONTROL A VERY REAL POSSIBLITY. FOR THE SECOND REPLACEMENT, A STATEMENT IN THE FOLLOWUP TO NISSAN WAS MADE THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS SERIOUS. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN IN THE CITY OR UNDER CITY CONDITIONS WHERE BRAKE PRESSURE OCCURS OFTEN; THE MILES ARE HIGHWAY MILES AS WE LIVE IN THE COUNTRY; WE HAVE A PAVED ROAD TO THE HOUSE SO ROAD CONDITIONS ARE NOT A FACTOR. THE RESPONSE BY NISSAN IS A "RUN-AROUND" WITH THE SAME VERBAGE AND REFLECTS THE NISSAN REP'S ATTTEMPT TO DEFUSE ANY COMPLAINT. IN LOOKING AT THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATIONS, THERE ARE SEVERAL REFERENCES TO ROTOR FAILURE: NISSAN SAID THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS. IN FACT, THE NISSAN DEALER (ANCIRA-SAN ANTONIO, TX) INDICATED THAT I SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN CONCERNING THIS SITUATION. I DID AND AM NOT SATISFIED THE LEAST WITH THEIR RUNAROUND AS I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS CONDITION OF AT LEAST THE VEHICLE WHICH WE HAVE.

POWER SEAT DRIVER SIDE DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD AND UP OR DOWN ETC. *TR

MY ROTORS HAD TO BE TURNED AT 17,000 (11/30/2001) AND 32,000 (11/15/2002) MILES DUE TO VIBRATION ON BRAKING. THE SERVICE REP CLAIMS IT IS DUE TO THE ROTORS WARPING DUE TO HEATING UP AND CLAIMS IT IS DUE TO DRIVING HABITS. I DRIVE PRIMARILY HIGHWAY MILES AND LIMITED CITY DRIVING AND THIS REASONING DOESN'T SEEM LIKELY. ESPECIALLY TWICE. I'VE ALSO OWNED A HONDA ACCORD (112,000 MILES) AND A TOYOTA CAMRY (70,000 MILES) AND NEVER HAD ANY SUCH PROBLEMS. THIS MAKES ME QUESTION THE CLAIM THAT IT IS MY BRAKING HABITS. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN TRYING TO APPLY THE BRAKES THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE AND A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED TS