BLAM!!! when the front hits a small bump and other things...

6412 Views 15 Replies 5 Participants Last post by BluV3R18, Apr 16, 2011

khank

Discussion Starter · Apr 15, 2011

I have a 2007 Versa S sedan, purchased February of that year.

After 6K miles things began to happen.

1. I have a "binding-clicking" sound coming from steering wheel area when turning - the dealership mechanics say can't hear it or feel it, so nothing is wrong but something is wrong. I guess I must be loosing my mind and feeling in my hands.

I don't care what they say there is a design flaw in the steering arm.

2. Another thing. It sounds like the entire front end is going to fall off when I go over a bump - it doesn't matter if the bump is big or small. The dealership said there was a recall or something last fall and replaced the front suspension and now its worst then before.

Wonder if its the springs??? What a joke!!!!

3. I have replaced my hub caps two'n half times all away around because the little plastic clips which hold the hubcap on the rim break off.

A mechanic at the dealership said they change the plastic formula for the 2008 hub caps (FYI to me).

I tried to have the dealership replace the hubcaps at no avail. Call the corporation, they wasted two weeks to finally tell me "tough-luck".

My opinion is I didn't design those hubcaps and you would think Nissan, who has built millions of cars would know how to design or build a hubcap with plastic clips which wouldn't break after only removing the hubcap once or breaking after hitting a bump. Then have the gull to charge $94.00 hubcap (set of two) which is simply a bad plastic formula - then do nothing about it - customer service????

4. Rear tail light bulb replacement. What a pain. Nissan doesn't tell you that the tail light assemble has "clip" inside the unit, which unit slides into on side of the vehicle - and you have to "pry straight back" on the edge of the assembly to dislodge from the clip device (you feel like the you nearly have to break the assembly before it slides back) - supposedly this is only on the first time after that its easy to remove.

Any comments or suggestions?

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robj80

· #2 · Apr 15, 2011

khank said:
I have a 2007 Versa S sedan, purchased February of that year.

After 6K miles things began to happen.

1. I have a "binding-clicking" sound coming from steering wheel area when turning - the dealership mechanics say can't hear it or feel it, so nothing is wrong but something is wrong. I guess I must be loosing my mind and feeling in my hands.

I don't care what they say there is a design flaw in the steering arm.

2. Another thing. It sounds like the entire front end is going to fall off when I go over a bump - it doesn't matter if the bump is big or small. The dealership said there was a recall or something last fall and replaced the front suspension and now its worst then before.

Wonder if its the springs??? What a joke!!!!

3. I have replaced my hub caps two'n half times all away around because the little plastic clips which hold the hubcap on the rim break off.

A mechanic at the dealership said they change the plastic formula for the 2008 hub caps (FYI to me).

I tried to have the dealership replace the hubcaps at no avail. Call the corporation, they wasted two weeks to finally tell me "tough-luck".

My opinion is I didn't design those hubcaps and you would think Nissan, who has built millions of cars would know how to design or build a hubcap with plastic clips which wouldn't break after only removing the hubcap once or breaking after hitting a bump. Then have the gull to charge $94.00 hubcap (set of two) which is simply a bad plastic formula - then do nothing about it - customer service????

4. Rear tail light bulb replacement. What a pain. Nissan doesn't tell you that the tail light assemble has "clip" inside the unit, which unit slides into on side of the vehicle - and you have to "pry straight back" on the edge of the assembly to dislodge from the clip device (you feel like the you nearly have to break the assembly before it slides back) - supposedly this is only on the first time after that its easy to remove.

Any comments or suggestions?

1. That seems alot of the times is the intermediate shaft on the steering column. Look under your dash and it's a long bar. Mine has some pink paint on it. I can show you a pick if needed.

2. I'm not familiar with a suspension recall but yeah def check the springs as we have two cases now of broken springs.

3. Buy cheap rims from like an altima or sentra with same lug pattern. I got some with tires for $50 on a local forum. Or maybe use superglue on your hubcaps. JK

4. I have a sedan and have swapped out some of the rear bulbs. I think this must be a hatch issue because they were very easy to change.

khank

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 15, 2011

1. I'll check the intermediate shaft - what am I looking for?
2. I'll check the springs to see if they're broken (at the bottom).
3. Thanks for the thought - superglue the hubcaps???? I don't think so - that'll just lead to problems down the road - so basically pay them now or pay them later, but you will pay them is the mentally of Nissan.
4. Have a sedan, and for me what a pain it was to slip out the tail light assembly. Again more bad design.

Also I had a muffler problem - luckily Midas has an inexpensive fix - at about 52K the tailpipe attaching to the muffler "rusted" out. And to replace would have hundreds of dollars because its a "stainless steel" system??? If it is it's cheap - the entire system looks rusted. (I'm going by the Mercedes I have (a 2001) and the system is still silver in color.)

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robj80

· #4 · Apr 15, 2011

I don't think you can see the problem with the shaft. IF some how you can get a hand on it when turning I bet you feel the klunk on it. All I know is people with similar problem had the shaft replaced by nissan and the issue went away.

I was joking about the super glue

. Really though, you can pick up some OEM rims for the price of hubcaps from the dealer. They look better and you will never have this problem again. You should look into it.

I only changed the turn signal bulb in the back. So are you saying you have to remove the entire lamp from the car to change the other bulbs? If that is the case that really does suck. Hope my bulbs never blow.

The muffler thing is common on nissans and any other non luxury make really. I hate rust. I don't think it's stainless at all as my pipes were rusty after the first month of ownership. I wouldn't doubt my muffler falls off by next year.

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khank

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 15, 2011

This weekend I will try and get a "hand" on it to feel the klunk. The mechanics at the dealership tell me it's my imagination - I know there's something wrong - maybe they are just to lazy to check it out.

I don't believe I'm the only person who owns a Versa with these design problems - and Nissan needed to know since this is a simple redesign from their French counterparts, updated and built in Mexico.

Also I need to look the front suspension.

I have an extended warranty which should cover the problem.

Regarding the rear turn signal bulbs on the 2007 S sedan - you have to remove the entire assembly to access and change the bulbs. The other bulbs are simple to replace. There is a "clip" on the assembly which "slides" into a pocket on the body. This "clip" keeps the assemble from "flaring" out from the side of the body. It's a "cheap" solution.

I've come to the conclusion the Nissan Versa is the ultimate disposable automobile. On the side I never received any more gas mileage than 30 mpg on the open road - in city it runs around 25 mpg. I've had checked out several times and at each time the dealership says it's my driving - ugh? I needed to keep the rpm's under 3000 - again ugh?

Always excuses Nissan takes no responsible on their products.

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BluV3R18

· #6 · Apr 15, 2011 (Edited)

Controversy

Driver’s point of view:
Driver claims Versa is falling apart when he goes over bumps and gets low MPG

Dealer’s point of view:
Dealer claims driver is a NFS maniac, drives fast over bumps and that’s why he gets low MPG

It is your word against theirs

Sorry about your problem man...

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khank

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 15, 2011

I hope you're trying to be funny and not condescending.

robj80

· #8 · Apr 15, 2011

Hey khank you had me so curious about having to remove the tail lights in order to change the bulbs I went outside on my work break to take a look. On my 2009 I am able to remove the rear brake bulb and turn signal with ease. I didn't see how to get the reverse bulb out though. There was a wire clip in the way. I don't know if I can take that off and access the reverse bulb.

Makes me wonder if there was a design change from 2007 to 2009?

khank

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 15, 2011

On my 2007 S sedan you have remove the entire tail light assembly to get at the brake light out.

If they improved the design to get your hand in to remove the bulbs that would be a wonderful thing. I couldn't get my hand through the openings or get enough leverage.

You'll need to pull back the truck side covering and remove the two or three bolts holding the assembly in place, try to slide the assembly "straight" out from back of the car.

If it doesn't budge - you'll need to use something to pry out (a piece of wooden dowel or something soft not to scratch the finish) the front edge of the assembly a little to get a better "handle" or "hold" on the assembly and push back to unlock the plastic clip (you might need a rubber mallet for a slight hit) - then be very careful.

There meant be a better way - if so let me know.

This is what I had to go through to get the "brake" bulbs out - and it was a pain or take to the dealership for $40 to do it - plus the cost of $20 bucks for the bulb (what a rip-off).

When my wife gets home with the car I'll grab some shots of the process and post them by tomorrow.

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robj80

· #10 · Apr 15, 2011

Man that does sound like a headache. I'll post some shots up of mine too when I get a chance so we can compare.

I've seen plenty of cars with stupid designs. I had a car where you had to take the battery out to get to the passenger side headlight.

08versailles

· #11 · Apr 15, 2011 (Edited)

khank said:
Also I had a muffler problem - luckily Midas has an inexpensive fix - at about 52K the tailpipe attaching to the muffler "rusted" out. And to replace would have hundreds of dollars because its a "stainless steel" system??? If it is it's cheap - the entire system looks rusted. (I'm going by the Mercedes I have (a 2001) and the system is still silver in color.)

I took picture of pre-muffler pipe during last oil change, cuz it's a known issue. Exhaust systems can have rust for quite a while before they catastrophically fail. Good job keeping an eye on it and researching with Midas! If it does fail [did it fail?], then just stop by Midas for a new pipe. When mine goes, I'm going for the resonator delete and muffler upgrade

resonator
I'm very curious to hear about your 01 Merc. How does it compare to the over-engineered tanks [a good thing] of the early 90s? I wouldn't mind a 20 year old S-class, but tough to find competent reasonable servicing. I'll look for ya in Non-Versa blather thread. 08v

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khank

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 15, 2011

I handle the creative side of Chevrolet Motorsports for 10 years - and test drove the Ford GT for over six months of 500 per day trips checking the vehicle out. Yes I've seen my share of bad and "stupid" designs.

As you know this was originally a French Renault vehicle, I gather Nissan updated the design setup a plant in Mexico and started import the vehicle. I purchased mine the middle February 2007 (when they first came out) - and overall I was happy until little things began to creep up after 6K miles - and the dealership didn't have a clue. Yes, they tried, but I believe they threw their hand up because they didn't know what was going on.

Nissan wanted a "disposable" entry level car, so welcome to the Versa - but I liked it - it was a "solid" body (no squeaking), the seats were opera design to sit higher in the compartment then other makes and models and in Michigan it was the only dealership open on Saturdays (don't go there - a union thing) and I need a car.

For me the Versa was great until this other crap entered the picture.

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khank

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 15, 2011

Tomorrow I'll grab a pix of the muffler fix Midas did for me. The best $40 bucks you can spend (sad to say with prices being what they are). At least there's an inexpensive option.

BluV3R18

· #14 · Apr 15, 2011

khank said:
I hope you're trying to be funny and not condescending.

I was trying to be funny because is Friday :thumb2:
I apologize for the misundertanding

mine has 82,000 miles and I do baby the hell out of her because I know how easy they break :Angel_anim:

my only problem right now is the TPMS light, it is on and I'm out of warranty
when it had warranty I couldn't find any reason to take her to the nissan dealer and say Fix it.
it is difficult to remove the taillights. I guess they did that to make us go to the dealer because the owner's manual doesn't say anything or show any pictures about how to remove it.

ADOversa

· #15 · Apr 16, 2011

So I was reading this thread thinking "it can't possibly be as hard to change the bulb as he is making it out to be!" Then I went outside and looked at mine.

The thing that bugs me about these cars (I don't know if other Nissans are this way too or not) is that to do pretty much anything on them you have to do so much disassembly.

BluV3R18

· #16 · Apr 16, 2011

08versailles said:
I took picture of pre-muffler pipe during last oil change, cuz it's a known issue. Exhaust systems can have rust for quite a while before they catastrophically fail. Good job keeping an eye on it and researching with Midas! If it does fail [did it fail?], then just stop by Midas for a new pipe. When mine goes, I'm going for the resonator delete and muffler upgrade

resonator
I'm very curious to hear about your 01 Merc. How does it compare to the over-engineered tanks [a good thing] of the early 90s? I wouldn't mind a 20 year old S-class, but tough to find competent reasonable servicing. I'll look for ya in Non-Versa blather thread. 08v

This is my Exhaust... Does it look and sound Okay?

2007 82,000 Miles on

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