[crlovel]

Hi all,

First time poster. I've been Googling all morning, and can't find what I'm looking for. There is a common issue in Nissan Versas with the intermediate steering shaft (TSB NTB-09-127) where it makes a clunking noise when turning.

Has anyone else had this issue, and was it covered under the powertrain warranty? I have an 09 with 33,000 miles that is just out of warranty - of course. I also tried using the forum search, but couldn't find info on the issue.

Sorry if I put this in the wrong subforum, and thanks for your help!

 

[crlovel]

So the clunking persists, but my Versa left a gift on my driveway the other morning:

This has been an adult-owned and driven car. The miles are low. I have NEVER, in all of my 25 years of driving, had a car just up and blow a coil spring. Chevy, Ford, Toyota, Dodge, not once. The service manager confirmed the part being defective and told me to contact Nissan corporate, which we did. After a lengthy back and forth with a rude customer service rep that lasted about two weeks, I was pretty much told to piss off, they weren't going to handle it. Even after I told them they were losing an SUV sale when I replace my Trailblazer, her response was "oh well, can we help you with anything else?" Never again. Now I just want to be rid of this thing. I should have bought a damn Kia for a secondary small car.

 

[crlovel]

I've already contacted the BBB. Next up, I'll be filing a complaint with the NHTSA. There just seems to be the possibility that there might be something inherently dangerous about coil springs just up and snapping, yanno? This car only has 33,000 miles on it! I take it easy when it drives, I have a perfect safety record, I keep up with maintenance. It's not like I'm playing Dukes of hazzard with this thing, it's just a damn Nissan!

 

[crlovel]

Nissan got back to me the other day after posting to Facebook and hashtagging the photos. Pretty quickly, actually. This was their response:

Considering the frequency in which this part is breaking, and on low mileage cars, and the safety concern that exists, it is appalling to me that Nissan is not handling this the way they should.

 

[crlovel]

Good news. Even though complaints via "new channels" such as Twitter, Facebook, and this forum did nothing to change Nissan's mind about covering this defective part, a tried and true "old channel" worked. I filed a report with the Better Business Bureau. Last week, we were contacted by Nissan's Arbitration Dept, and they immediately Fed-Exed a check covering the entire repair.

 

[crlovel]

I have a 2010 Versa HB and it makes a noise when turning the wheel. Not a clunk, but more like a rubbing sound. I called the dealership and they said there is no way of knowing the cause without looking at it. Also, they said my warranty has expired and it might be covered under the powertrain warranty. I think it may just need lubrication somewhere. The steering wheel does not feel like it is resisting. Just making a noise.

That would be the intermediate steering shaft.