Worst car ever for service? Or bad company?

[takemorepills]

Problem for Nissan dealerships is that they specialize in poor credit sales for crappy cars. Kinda like a Dodge dealership.

Versa, Sentra, Rogue and of course the penultimate d-bag vehicle, Altima. These vehicles and clientele turn everyone into jerks.

Frontier, Titan and Z owners need to be careful when choosing a Nissan dealership. It's a difficult reputation for Nissan to shake....

 

[Bumflik]

You said it! Lol

 

[offizial]

UPDATE: I finally received my car back on April 24th. First thing I noticed was that the steering is pulling to the left and the left front is clicking in relation to speed. I am thinking it is the wheel bearing. Could anyone give me any tips? I legitimately can not take it back to the dealership. My car already smells like pungent body odor of the service technician who worked on my car for 16 weeks.. I will attach pictures of the repair. This is minus the car (possibly) having a bad wheel bearing that I will have to replace because they somehow did not recognize it.. check out this work coming out of Victory Nissan of Nashville. Also, they blocked me from reviewing after I left a negative review on all forms. Google and Facebook. I think that yelp does not let them do this so my review actually went through with the most recent update.. I have a backup google account that I used to post the most recent update, but it won’t show up if I use my main account.. check out this work. I’m at a loss for words for what I even do at this point.

 

[Katum68]

Try Nissan USA. Then a lawyer.

 

[chadhunley]

You're not bound to one dealership. I would contact the corporate office explain your situation and go to a different dealership in your area. Be persistent.

 

[rcasey86]

I also live in your area and appreciate the heads up on the dealer info. Have not seen many new Z's in person yet but lots of threads of local people.

 

[HAVS]

Unfortunately this could happen with any manufacturer. I had this happen with my brand new F250 Lariat. $100K truck just sitting at the dealership for 3 months. I had to get really mean with the insurance company and the dealership until they both started working together. PS my attorney recommended finding the district service manager for my area and that might have been the real thing that helped.

 

[alienpoker]

I could maybe try to but at this point the insurance is deep into it, so they’d be reluctant. It’s already fixed except for the airbag light, so overall it’s a complete mess at the dealerships fault. I wanted it not totaled in the beginning because I figured it wasn’t so bad. It looks like work on these cars is extremely expensive. Just 2 airbags, and a new quarter panel already around 28k in repairs.

Had a fairly deep scrape on RH rear QTR panel on my wife’s early 2000s BMW Z4. No fault on our part. There was also a DTC error saying “B-Pillar Airbag sensor short” on that side. Must have got knocked, even though our Z4 was stationary and no airbags went off. Collision body shop did the bodywork and paint (Caliber Collision, really nice job) and replaced the airbag sensor in the door.

Then- it turns out “only BMW” can re-program the BCM (Body Control Module computer) to get it to accept the new sensor part. The Repair went from $2700 estimate on just bodywork & paint to $5K+ … The insurance was so far into the repair they paid out the $5K (with my $500 deductible) to repair a car currently worth <$10K.

Sheesh.. you wouldn’t expect a Qtr Panel (fairly deep) scratch could cost that much. I suspect insurance would have totalled it IF all the “extras” were known up front. Overall I felt costs were over-inflated, but couldn’t drive a tiny convertible sportscar with an airbag malfunctioning.

 

[alienpoker]

Stay away from dealership mechanics. Rookies fresh out of Tech school. Paid beans and they have to rush to the next car for sales volume $$$. Find a 50 year old experience mechanic at a mom and pop Auto mechanic or Autobody shop with years of experience and who builds relationships with its customers on a personal level

But they may not have the maintenance software to diagnose and reprogram the ECUs, BCMs & all the 100s of other sensors, computers & control modules. Software can cost $20K pa to license- and every manufacturer can have their own system which needs constant updates to stay current. They may not even license it to mom & pop body or mechanic shops, even IF they will pay. Because they have to train a “Nissan Master-Tech” to qualify. Total scam.

More & more, the Dealerships are simply locking their new cars into their own Techs & Ecosystem. See my post re: BMW shenanigans. The Nissan Z is no different with their Master-Tech “Consult III (3+)” system.

 

[alienpoker]

UPDATE: I finally received my car back on April 24th. First thing I noticed was that the steering is pulling to the left and the left front is clicking in relation to speed. I am thinking it is the wheel bearing. Could anyone give me any tips? I legitimately can not take it back to the dealership. My car already smells like pungent body odor of the service technician who worked on my car for 16 weeks.. I will attach pictures of the repair. This is minus the car (possibly) having a bad wheel bearing that I will have to replace because they somehow did not recognize it.. check out this work coming out of Victory Nissan of Nashville. Also, they blocked me from reviewing after I left a negative review on all forms. Google and Facebook. I think that yelp does not let them do this so my review actually went through with the most recent update.. I have a backup google account that I used to post the most recent update, but it won’t show up if I use my main account.. check out this work. I’m at a loss for words for what I even do at this point.

I can’t speak for the mechanical issues in any detail,, given the info I have. I can say a wheel bearing replacement is straight-forward. It does make me worry about other hidden suspension damage, though. Especially as it is pulling Left.

I’ve studied ACRT (Auto Collision Repair Tech) and this is a total “hack job”. Seam sealer is being used to (maybe) hide a poor repair. Take it to your insurance adjuster and ask for a report saying the mechanic suspension work & the “body panel fit & finish” on the repair is sub-par & is completely unacceptable (to them/you) !

Then - File a “customer complaint” against the Dealership that passed this work with the Nissan Regional Manager for your area. Offer to Provide them with the report above, from your insurance repair expert. If this goes nowhere, ask to be sent to another Nissan Dearlership’s Service Dept to inspect the Repair, and report back to him if they would find it acceptable. Raise holy hell with the Regional Manager to get this addressed. As you are aware- this is unacceptable.
I’m Sorry you will have to go through all this, but imho Nissan (should/will) make it right.

 

[splatrd]

Got involved in an accident Dec. 29, sent car to a Nissan dealership body shop. Left side quarter panel got hit, driver seat and curtain airbags went off. Nissan dealership has no idea what they’re doing atp.

First I got told it would be complete mid February at the latest. Mid feb. Comes along, waiting for a seat cover that’s back ordered. Next week I’m told “airbag light won’t clear” gonna need another new “airbag diagnostic unit” so they went ahead and got one, back ordered, came in first week of march. Check up on car 2 week later, airbag light still won’t clear, dealership saying it “might” need a new wiring harness, they’re trying to bill the insurance for it even though the only way it could be bad is from the repair shop yanking it or faulty from factory. The point it’s “out” according to them is where it plugs into the diagnostic unit, found out after the fact they installed the new back ordered unit, so didn’t even need it in the end. They say the whole harness has to be replaced.

Spoke to another person at the dealership, they’re saying the harness can’t be ordered until insurance funds it. Because of a faulty harness or one that they battered pulling the connector too hard, and they’re trying to put it on the insurance. Now insurance says we’re too close to the 75% total threshold. If this goes through we may have to total it. So just completely stuck in the mud bc dealership won’t admit fault, and insurance can’t pay out something that they know didn’t come from the accident. Dealership just sits on it.
I am forced to come in after work and speak with my insurance lady, head shop tech, head service manager, body shop manager, and a body shop tech. Come to the conclusion to get with service to apply for a warranty because the harness must be faulty. Did that on Wednesday last week. Haven’t heard a word from Nissan corporate who I’ve had an open case with consumer affairs now for an entire month. No word from dealership. Cars just sitting there in limbo and I wish I never even bought it now that I know somebody could hit me, and I’m stuck without a car for 5 months because of Nissan dealerships total incompetence and lack of care. Nissan corporate is even involved, but I’m still stuck without the Z car. So now what? I need to sue somebody for 3 months of backlogged rental car? Just making it a horrible situation.
TLDR: car stuck in Nissan dealership after accident, 4 months later, dealership doesn’t even know what’s going on, lead DTS engineer refuses to come work on it, and I’m stuck without my car.

I worked in a body shop for about 10 years. The main thing I learned was to never go to any Dealership for body work. Just because they sell them, does not mean they know how to properly repair them. Shop I worked at was a service first shop for State Farm at one point. I had to review cars repaired by other shops, mostly dealers for people upset with the results. Where I worked, the owner always inspected, and test drove every car before delivery. If it did not meet his approval, it had to be made right before leaving. Dealerships won't do that. I have seen body technicians fully assemble car before sending to paint so that they can get paid. (They work on commission) That means painter have to tape off moldings and the like. This means subpar paint work likely to fail soon after the repair. I could go on forever explaining the shotty work I have seen. This is also why I never go to dealer for anything other than warranty work.

 

[Bumflik]

But they may not have the maintenance software to diagnose and reprogram the ECUs, BCMs & all the 100s of other sensors, computers & control modules. Software can cost $20K pa to license- and every manufacturer can have their own system which needs constant updates to stay current. They may not even license it to mom & pop body or mechanic shops, even IF they will pay. Because they have to train a “Nissan Master-Tech” to qualify. Total scam.

More & more, the Dealerships are simply locking their new cars into their own Techs & Ecosystem. See my post re: BMW shenanigans. The Nissan Z is no different with their Master-Tech “Consult III (3+)” system.

Facts! So true. Everything you said is on point.

 

[splatrd]

It is! Nissan is bad about it too, in the insurance quote they use MSRP prices, when I, who doesn’t even work with Nissan, can get a 10-15% discount on almost all parts they installed on the Nissan parts website. (If you notice how almost all parts are on sale on the website) I even compared to the itemized repair quote. The dealership is making about 5k in inputting msrp and ordering off that discount. On top of that, taking their sweet time. Now I get a call that the warranty which usually gets accepted in 24-48 hours is still being reviewed after 7 days since I put in the request. Stuck here, could even still get totaled after 4 months. Imagine that! I appreciate your comment though, all I can do is complain!! I wish Nissan had better customer service, stopped robbing people, and stood the f up to be a good company! Starting with I hate to say it but fixing the damn car I bought new!!

This is common practice. The majority of profit comes from the markup on parts. Body shops labor rates are regulated by insurance companies. Back when I was working at a shop, body labor was about $35/hr, paint $40/hr, and mechanical was $45/hr, at a time when mechanic shops were charging $75 and up. Of course this is regional. Independent and dealer shops are able to set their rates to whatever the market will bear. My shop's owner even installed a material tracking system to be sure and cover all the used materials per job. The insurance companies only allow for bear minimums and don't account for everything. For instance, some paints have a minimum amount that has to be mixed due to the toners used. So, if you only have to paint a panel or two, you may still have to make more than enough paint for the job.

 

[offizial]

I can’t speak for the mechanical issues in any detail,, given the info I have. I can say a wheel bearing replacement is straight-forward. It does make me worry about other hidden suspension damage, though. Especially as it is pulling Left.

I’ve studied ACRT (Auto Collision Repair Tech) and this is a total “hack job”. Seam sealer is being used to (maybe) hide a poor repair. Take it to your insurance adjuster and ask for a report saying the mechanic suspension work & the “body panel fit & finish” on the repair is sub-par & is completely unacceptable (to them/you) !

Then - File a “customer complaint” against the Dealership that passed this work with the Nissan Regional Manager for your area. Offer to Provide them with the report above, from your insurance repair expert. If this goes nowhere, ask to be sent to another Nissan Dearlership’s Service Dept to inspect the Repair, and report back to him if they would find it acceptable. Raise holy hell with the Regional Manager to get this addressed. As you are aware- this is unacceptable.
I’m Sorry you will have to go through all this, but imho Nissan (should/will) make it right.

I appreciate all the advice and replies! Unfortunately, my only options were places like caliber collision (who I’ve had issues with in the past before they were rebranded from Price’s) where the exact same thing that happened at this dealership occurred there too. or dealership for body work repairs. I wish there were more independent shops, but in the Nashville area I was having trouble finding a good reputable one.
I actually had a case open with the regional manager from about March 20th on the repair, and it just recently got closed. I ended up replacing the wheel bearing myself and taking it to Firestone for the alignment. I was eventually reimbursed by the regional manager for the wheel bearing and the alignment. Which was very nice of her, and it helped ease my nerves regarding this whole thing.

Everything is great with it now except for the inner seam is still rippled like that as well as the seams along the trunk being slightly off. the body shop who did the work is trying to get me to come back so they can fix it, but it will need a respray and “an adjustment in the hatch latch” I don’t want to leave my car with them for another week.