[trickyd]

All,

I love my 2006 SE.

However, I have received the WORST maintenance on it from my local Nissan Dealer. Tony Graham Nissan in Ottawa ON, now to top it off.....

Recently I had some noise issues coming from my rear (of my Xterra's rear), a consistent humming, louder at higher speeds. After having the truck for 2 days, just to diagnose the issue. I was told the my whole rear axle and rear differential unit would need to be replaced.

I was a little surprised, and asked if this was normal issue with Xterra's, the answer I received was - normal wear and tear.... at 60k????!?!?!?!? i responded...

Regardless, this is among many other issues I have had with the dealership, including taking it in to get my heater fixed, picking it up and finding out they forgot to fix it... anyways I digress..

I took the Xterra in for the day and left it hoping to have it back that evening. To my surprise I did.

On my way home I began to hear a rattle... coming from the rear end. The noise progressed. When I brought the truck home look what i found.

Now, please excuse my terminology, I do not work on cars/trucks and am obviously not a mechanic.

on either side of the rear diff. are two arm/shocks that come down, the bolts that connect them to the rear assembly - the one on the left is not even on, the one on the right i can turn with my hand - its as loose as can be.
Please see the pix for reference, and to correct my terminology.

NOW.... I am obviously furious at the lack of professionalism of this firm, i have had too many issues with this dealership in the past. my question is, can i even drive this baby to the shop? or should i have them come pick it up on a flat bed? have them fix it... then what?

I am absolutely furious.

Any help or thoughts is appreciated. Also does anyone know the store manager?


=-TrickyD

 

[Drake]

I would contact the better business bureau (or Canadian equivalent), report that dealer immediately as well as make a call to your local news station. Some stations love to go in and drag businesses through the mud. And absolutely call the dealership and have them come pick it up.

It sounds like that guy is running a chop shop rather than a friggin' dealership.

Hate to hear about your troubles man... let us know how this turns out.

 

[gixxersixxerman]

YEah like Drake said............. if this was me I would be having them pick it up, I would have a rental till it was fixed, I would have a talk to the tech that worked on it, I would have a talk with the dealership's owner, gm, and service manger, and service writer.... i worked at a dealership and when MR. Green ( the owner) got involved the customer always came out happy and the gm, service manager, and writer didnt have good days for getting him involved in something that they should handle..... he'll make sure you get treated right, he is not about to let his buisness get thrown through the mud for some lazy ass tech not wanting to do his job.... i take things like that very seriuosly becuase my kids ride in my truck and if someone jeprodizes thier life becuase of lazyness or incompatance then something will happen, and ive got my way the 2 times something similar has happened to me.... in fact becuase the dealership that i bought my X from wanted to sell it to me with dry rotted and bubbled tires they got me new one and i got my timing belt and tune up done at no charge........ the hell with the chain of command it takes alot less time when you just start at the top lol

 

[json3904]

agreed... i would call them in the morning and have a tow truck on the way at the same time....


p.s. make sure its a flat bed so the X isnt on the ground being drug back to the dealership.....

 

[Duke]

Here is what I done

I am mailing the following letter to my dealer which I HAD great trust in.
Please note that I am nice.

Today as a prudent man would do I took my wife’s 2007 Xterra to a third party to check out why her tires are cupping and what was causing the vibration.
Your service department on August 23, 2008 was unable to tell me or your general manager of this dealership.
Pretty simple problem to fix:
All tires were out of balance which we paid for on August 9, 2008 during it’s one year check and we were told was rechecked on August 23, 2008.
It also needed a wheel alignment which I am totally lost why your dealership failed to check that?
Right front wheel was found to have no weights on it at all!
Left front was out 1.25.
Right rear was out .75 inside and 1.50 outside.
Left rear was out 1.0 inside and 1.5 outside.
Alignment was adjusted Toe .3 to 6.6 which is a perfect alignment.
Caster Camber was okay.
People trust your dealership to be experts in repairing Nissan products and pay very good money to have you repair their vehicles. It appears this may not be true?
Plus to be told as a customer to live with it by a service writer, well that is way out of line and shows a disregard towards your customers.
I have all the proof I need to see you totally failed in this matter and now have to guess what other work was not done right. Plus to add insult to injury since August 23, 2008 when you set the vehicle security system, the horn does not honk and you have to check the doors to see if they are locked.
I also paid $139.95 to correct a problem you could not fix, could not tell anyone why it was happening and to have your wheel bouncing redone.
So, you do what you feel is right and fair in this matter and we will be waiting for your reply. If no reply is forth coming or unfair, then we will do what we feel is fair and right.

 

[TN4x4Xterra]

Well-written letter and that would definitely more likely get a response back from Nissan offering some attractive benefits for you and your wife....or at least at that extent.

 

[soccerbrace]

Make them buy me another X and call it good

 

[trickyd]

On the flat

Thank you all very much... I realize i was venting a little last night.


I called first thing this am., and well the GM does not get in until 1pm today.... Hardworking as you can see.

However a Service Manager stepped up and sent a Flatbed on it's way, and just left now with the Xonboard.


ps. do you guys subscribe to the Xterra group on Flickr?

http://flickr.com/groups/xterra/

I am looking forward to speaking with the manager.

Thanks again for all of your feedback.

TrickyD

 

[Drake]

It's understandable and feel free to vent all you want. That situation could have been avoided if they would've done the work right the first time. I'd definitely find somewhere to make a review about their service department so others don't fall victim to half-ass repairs.

Hope it works out in your favor bro and welcome to CX btw.

 

[Duke]

Yahoo.local

 

[k1w1t1m]

Plus to add insult to injury since August 23, 2008 when you set the vehicle security system, the horn does not honk and you have to check the doors to see if they are locked.

Have you tried the instructions on the fob for the horn honk? You can turn it on and off.

 

[k1w1t1m]

I hope they fix it for you properly this time. At least by the sound of it they just replaced the axle. Some people have done great battles to get that fixed at far lower mileages.

 

[Duke]

Have you tried the instructions on the fob for the horn honk? You can turn it on and off.

Hold both buttons for 2 seconds.
Lights will flash twice.
Horn will honk once.
Thks.

 

[jeddedly]

first time posting and its too bad its a negative one but what can you do. I took my truck in to have my engine manifold replaced9warranty) and to see why i was only getting 300km per tank. Forget the fact that they took a whole 2 days for a 4-6 hour job but when i finally drove it home it was having the exact same rattle. When I took it back i was told that they would look again but not under warranty and the mileage I was told could be expected since it was an older car, Its a 2003!!!! Plus too top it off there was a leak in my power steering system and my A/C had a cracked line?? after taking it to a 3rd party it was confirmed that there wasnt a leak in either system and the tune that was supposedly performed 3 months before (when i bought it) was obviously never carried out after seeing the spark plugs and wires come off. After that I called nissan canada to register a complaint that the work that was done on my truck was not complete and that the dealer was providing false service documents. A week later they called me back and very matter of factly told me that the matter was not a warranty issue and they would be happy took take another look at it at my cost. When asked about the false service statements I was told that the issue was not a warranty issue again. After 5 minutes of this they said there was nothing they could do for me and since my warranty was up in 4 weeks I could take it anywhere I choose for service. Guess that told me where I stood in their eyes. Too bad its such a damn good truck. so im with ya trickyd and duke!! but like i said whattya gonna do.

 

[alpine spirit]

Choices... you have em... http://ottawa.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=146&bbb=0117&firm=18748


Walkley Nissan Ltd‎ - Write a review
1850 Bank Street, Ottawa, ON K1V 7Z8, Canada‎ - (613) 521-6262
Website‎ - Directions‎

Graham Nissan‎ - Write a review
155 Robertson Road, Nepean, ON K2H 5Z2, Canada‎ - (613) 596-1515
Website‎ - Directions‎

417 Infiniti Nissan‎ - Write a review
(Exit the 417 at Innes Rd.), 1599 Startop Rd., Ottawa, ON K1B 5P5, Canada‎ - (613) 749-9417
Website‎ - Directions‎

Gatineau Nissan‎ - Write a review
1299 boulevard La Vérendrye Ouest, Gatineau, QC J8T 8K2, Canada‎ - (819) 243-5454
Website‎ - Directions‎

Hull Nissan‎ - Write a review
959 St Joseph, Gatineau, QC J8Z 1S8, Canada‎ - (819) 776-0100
Directions‎

Smiths Falls Nissan‎ - Write a review
211 Lombard Street, Smiths Falls, ON K7A 5B8, Canada‎ - (613) 283-4000

 

[dezurtrat]

Also make sure they changed the diff breather out!

 

[jeddedly]

They actually called me the other day and asked why I havent sent in my Custumer Satisfaction Survey??????? Couldnt believe it.
What is this diff breather that your talking about though??

 

[json3904]

it is a hose connected to the diff that allows it to breath so to speak.....

 

[dezurtrat]

What is this diff breather that your talking about though??

It's a small vent that allows the build up of air pressure within the diff to be released. This vent pushes air out when the gear oil gets hot and builds the pressure up inside the diff. When the diff cools off such as when parked for a while, it depressurizes. When they ship the new axles to the dealer there is a plug in there. The dealer has to remove the plug from the new axle, take the breather from the old axle and install it on the new axle.

Here is a pic that I found over at thenewx.org. This is a stock breather that should be located on the back of the rear axle on the top on the passenger side.

it is a hose connected to the diff that allows it to breath so to speak.....

Yes, on some cars it's actually a hose. I have no idea on the gen ones. It may be a hose indeed. My girlfriend had a Rodeo that had a hose. On my gen 2 it's the vent shown above.

 

[Duke]

After sending the letter I posted here I have not heard zip.
I have posted some reviews about my dealer, one on Yahoo.local.
What really made me mad was the service writer patting me on the back and saying,"live with it."
I am calling Nissan today, then my lawyer.
I felt I had a good dealer, but it appears I was wrong.
Plus they are calling to try and sell me another new car!
Told them no thanks and that I am looking at a Lincoln Navigator due to their poor service.
Again, no calls about their poor service when it is stopping them from making a sell.
I am looking for another new SUV for the record.
Dealers, do they smoke crack or what?