G35x complaint letter to Nissan
#1
04-26-2009, 07:56 AM
Join Date: Mar 2007
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G35x complaint letter to Nissan
I sent the below letter to Nissan. Don't know yet if I lit a fire or if it will just get ignored.
Any advice?
Any advice?
Sirs,
You should know that I'm not very happy with my G35x. There are
several problems with the car and working through the dealer has been
less than satisfactory. This is my first Infinity, and it has had
more problems than any other new car I've owned.
The problems are:
The front window -- There is no rock chip and I don't believe I struck
anything. I parked the car in the sun for a couple of hours. When I
came back, there was an 18" crack right down the center, from the top
to under the rear view window mount to about the center of the window.
The dealer says he would be happy to fix it: $900 for the glass and
$200 for labor. I am convinced the window cracked because of latent
stresses from manufacturing and installation, not because of use. I
don't think I should have to eat the $1100 cost for this.
The tire pressure sensors -- A bit over a month ago, I heard some
minor thumping while taking the kids to school. The pressure warning
wasn't on, so I figured I must have picked up a piece of tar or
something. I dropped the kids off and got on the freeway to go to
work. The right rear tire shredded within a couple of miles. The tire
pressure warning never came on until the tire was actually missing. I
had the car towed to a Kaufman and picked up a new set of tires. The
tire pressure sensors are a safety feature that should actually work,
not just be a checklist item on the sales sheet. I think the dealer
should be be willing to test them and prove to me the are actually
working. Right now I can't trust those sensors.
The electrical system -- Last fall, I went out of town for a
week. When I got back, the car wouldn't start. The battery appeared to
be dead. I was stuck at the airport after a long trip. I was tired so
just I called AAA for a jump and ignored it. A couple of weeks ago we
left the car in the garage for a week and went on vacation. Again, the
car wouldn't start. I hooked up a battery charger, it read 5.6V, but
for some reason the battery wouldn't take a charge. This time I called
Infinity. When the tow truck driver came out, he was able to jump the
car instead of dragging it out of the garage. Dealer checked computer
codes and did a battery test, but didn't find any problems and
wouldn't change the battery.
Right now, I have to assume that if I take a trip for a week or more
the car won't start. That leaves me with either taking a shuttle to
the airport -- at $100 a pop plus the hassle, taking my wife's minivan
-- which she doesn't like, or assume I will have call somebody for a
jump or tow at the end of any business trip. None of these are
acceptable for any car, let alone a new luxury car.
Dealer up-sells -- I was unhappy with the service when the car was
towed into the dealer. I reminded them twice on the phone about the
air-bag recall, but they seem to have forgotten to do the test. They
didn't find anything wrong with the electrical, and I get the feeling
they didn't try hard to find anything. What I did get was a $500 15K
maintenance and a phone call. The service manager said that my tires
were badly feathered and I needed an alignment and new tires. I told
the service manager that the tires were less than a month old and the
last guys had already upsold me into an alignment. His response was
"You didn't do that here." I asked if the car really needs an
alignment every two weeks and the response was "I'll have to check on
that." I know times are tough on dealers, but when a new car needs to
be towed back to the dealer, I think the first order of business
should be to fix it -- not generate revenue. Also, if you are going
to do an up-sell, at least have it based losely on reality. The dealer
apparently looked at the computer, and decided that anybody doing a
15K maintence must have badly feathered tires and need an
alignment. Neither was remotely true for my car -- but nobody actually
looked at the car.
What I would like would be:
I like the power and handling of this car a lot. I appreciate the
styling and all of the cool toys in the tech package. You do
understand however that the G37 isn't currently at the top of my list
for my next car.
Sincerly --
You should know that I'm not very happy with my G35x. There are
several problems with the car and working through the dealer has been
less than satisfactory. This is my first Infinity, and it has had
more problems than any other new car I've owned.
The problems are:
The front window -- There is no rock chip and I don't believe I struck
anything. I parked the car in the sun for a couple of hours. When I
came back, there was an 18" crack right down the center, from the top
to under the rear view window mount to about the center of the window.
The dealer says he would be happy to fix it: $900 for the glass and
$200 for labor. I am convinced the window cracked because of latent
stresses from manufacturing and installation, not because of use. I
don't think I should have to eat the $1100 cost for this.
The tire pressure sensors -- A bit over a month ago, I heard some
minor thumping while taking the kids to school. The pressure warning
wasn't on, so I figured I must have picked up a piece of tar or
something. I dropped the kids off and got on the freeway to go to
work. The right rear tire shredded within a couple of miles. The tire
pressure warning never came on until the tire was actually missing. I
had the car towed to a Kaufman and picked up a new set of tires. The
tire pressure sensors are a safety feature that should actually work,
not just be a checklist item on the sales sheet. I think the dealer
should be be willing to test them and prove to me the are actually
working. Right now I can't trust those sensors.
The electrical system -- Last fall, I went out of town for a
week. When I got back, the car wouldn't start. The battery appeared to
be dead. I was stuck at the airport after a long trip. I was tired so
just I called AAA for a jump and ignored it. A couple of weeks ago we
left the car in the garage for a week and went on vacation. Again, the
car wouldn't start. I hooked up a battery charger, it read 5.6V, but
for some reason the battery wouldn't take a charge. This time I called
Infinity. When the tow truck driver came out, he was able to jump the
car instead of dragging it out of the garage. Dealer checked computer
codes and did a battery test, but didn't find any problems and
wouldn't change the battery.
Right now, I have to assume that if I take a trip for a week or more
the car won't start. That leaves me with either taking a shuttle to
the airport -- at $100 a pop plus the hassle, taking my wife's minivan
-- which she doesn't like, or assume I will have call somebody for a
jump or tow at the end of any business trip. None of these are
acceptable for any car, let alone a new luxury car.
Dealer up-sells -- I was unhappy with the service when the car was
towed into the dealer. I reminded them twice on the phone about the
air-bag recall, but they seem to have forgotten to do the test. They
didn't find anything wrong with the electrical, and I get the feeling
they didn't try hard to find anything. What I did get was a $500 15K
maintenance and a phone call. The service manager said that my tires
were badly feathered and I needed an alignment and new tires. I told
the service manager that the tires were less than a month old and the
last guys had already upsold me into an alignment. His response was
"You didn't do that here." I asked if the car really needs an
alignment every two weeks and the response was "I'll have to check on
that." I know times are tough on dealers, but when a new car needs to
be towed back to the dealer, I think the first order of business
should be to fix it -- not generate revenue. Also, if you are going
to do an up-sell, at least have it based losely on reality. The dealer
apparently looked at the computer, and decided that anybody doing a
15K maintence must have badly feathered tires and need an
alignment. Neither was remotely true for my car -- but nobody actually
looked at the car.
What I would like would be:
- A new window, or somebody to convince me that the window was actually hit (while sitting still in my work parking lot).
- Find and fix whatever is wrong with the electrical system.
- Somebody to convince me the tire pressure sensors actually work.
- Somebody to complete the air-bag recall maintenance.
I like the power and handling of this car a lot. I appreciate the
styling and all of the cool toys in the tech package. You do
understand however that the G37 isn't currently at the top of my list
for my next car.
Sincerly --
#2
04-26-2009, 08:53 AM
My take,
Insurance would be your liable party for the broken window. A bird, a thrown rock from a car, a baseball from a kid, whatever could have easily caused a broken or crack window. A lot more easy for me swallow than a defect in the manufacturing process. Sadly you have no proof and it seems to be a very improbable event especially given its an 07.
The tire pressure senors are not designed to be a blow out early warning system. Just simply to inform you of low pressure so that you can address it. It is not instantaneous from what I have seen, either direction. I had my tires filled up during an oil change and when I was given the car back the light was on. He checked the pressures just to be sure and said give it a few minutes that happens all the time with TPS. It corrected itself shortly after. My guess is that it checks pressure on an interval of maybe 2-5 minutes or something.
Your battery situation in my opinion is very much something the dealer should address. I have read about that situation happening to more than a few people if I am not mistaken. And of course they should do any recall.
I would go to a different dealer as they sound like they aren't very good, but some of your issues appear to be a bit of a stretch to pin on the dealer. Not trying to be rude, just my 2 cents.
Good luck and I hope Nissan takes care of you.
Insurance would be your liable party for the broken window. A bird, a thrown rock from a car, a baseball from a kid, whatever could have easily caused a broken or crack window. A lot more easy for me swallow than a defect in the manufacturing process. Sadly you have no proof and it seems to be a very improbable event especially given its an 07.
The tire pressure senors are not designed to be a blow out early warning system. Just simply to inform you of low pressure so that you can address it. It is not instantaneous from what I have seen, either direction. I had my tires filled up during an oil change and when I was given the car back the light was on. He checked the pressures just to be sure and said give it a few minutes that happens all the time with TPS. It corrected itself shortly after. My guess is that it checks pressure on an interval of maybe 2-5 minutes or something.
Your battery situation in my opinion is very much something the dealer should address. I have read about that situation happening to more than a few people if I am not mistaken. And of course they should do any recall.
I would go to a different dealer as they sound like they aren't very good, but some of your issues appear to be a bit of a stretch to pin on the dealer. Not trying to be rude, just my 2 cents.
Good luck and I hope Nissan takes care of you.
#3
04-26-2009, 09:36 AM
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#4
04-26-2009, 09:58 AM
#6
04-26-2009, 04:56 PM
i've heard of windshield cracking due to stress.. my windshield was hit with a baseball and didn't have a single straight crack but more of a spiderweb effect in a circular pattern, so I'm not sure what kind of thing could hit and cause a straight crack down the middle unless the glass was poorly constructed IMO
#7
04-26-2009, 07:03 PM
Join Date: Mar 2007
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I really do think it was a stress crack. There is no chip at all and the work parking lot is pretty secure.
Only thing notable is that it was warm that day and I parked in the sun for a couple of hours. Crack wasn't there in the morning, but it was there in the afternoon.
The crack follows right along the base of the rear view mirror mount.
As for the other stuff, I'd blow off one thing or another, but there is a cumulative effect of one thing after another with this car. IIRC lemon laws don't apply after the first year and usually say something like returning to the dealer to fix the same issue three times.
Must be gremlins.
Only thing notable is that it was warm that day and I parked in the sun for a couple of hours. Crack wasn't there in the morning, but it was there in the afternoon.
The crack follows right along the base of the rear view mirror mount.
As for the other stuff, I'd blow off one thing or another, but there is a cumulative effect of one thing after another with this car. IIRC lemon laws don't apply after the first year and usually say something like returning to the dealer to fix the same issue three times.
Must be gremlins.
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#8
04-26-2009, 09:34 PM
Who'd you send the letter to? You should go to Nissan USA's web site, go to the PR section, and see how their e-mail addresses run (e.g. bob.hope@...).
Then look at "about Nissan", find the names of the relevant US execs who might be able to help (e.g. VP of US Operations, or whatever), then send the letter to them. That way you're getting to someone who has the power to actually make this happen.
Good luck!
Then look at "about Nissan", find the names of the relevant US execs who might be able to help (e.g. VP of US Operations, or whatever), then send the letter to them. That way you're getting to someone who has the power to actually make this happen.
Good luck!
#9
04-26-2009, 09:38 PM
tire pressure sensor won't come up for abit of time if it actually dies or taken off. Ask anybody who replaced the tires and did not put the sensors in.
Windshield well it can happen from too many things. You can't really hold Infiniti for that. If you were driving it and nobody was front of you. That would be a better case. In parking lot when nobody can see it. Not sure.
Battery when you get to well equiped cars what still monitoring things it happens. It happen with other manufactured cars too. Alarm system, Garage door opener, keyfob, etc I usually leave my spare keys in the garage in a key cabinet. It is actually 2 feet from the door. I baraly using that key and I replced the battery in the fob 2 times. I moved the cabinet away from the car and now the battery is fine in the fob.
Have you tried to disconect the battery when you leave for a week?
Hope everything goes well for you and sorry to hear your trouble.
Windshield well it can happen from too many things. You can't really hold Infiniti for that. If you were driving it and nobody was front of you. That would be a better case. In parking lot when nobody can see it. Not sure.
Battery when you get to well equiped cars what still monitoring things it happens. It happen with other manufactured cars too. Alarm system, Garage door opener, keyfob, etc I usually leave my spare keys in the garage in a key cabinet. It is actually 2 feet from the door. I baraly using that key and I replced the battery in the fob 2 times. I moved the cabinet away from the car and now the battery is fine in the fob.
Have you tried to disconect the battery when you leave for a week?
Hope everything goes well for you and sorry to hear your trouble.
#10
04-27-2009, 07:03 AM
A few of us have the power drain/battery dead problem. My dealer said it is normal and that I should disconnect the battery after a week. My G is mostly a weekend car--I am not going to disconnect the battery every week! I ended up getting a battery float charger that I can connect without raising the hood. But I shouldn't have to do it! After 5 days, the voltage is seriously down but the car may or may not still start--definitely weak.
#11
04-27-2009, 08:05 AM
A few of us have the power drain/battery dead problem. My dealer said it is normal and that I should disconnect the battery after a week. My G is mostly a weekend car--I am not going to disconnect the battery every week! I ended up getting a battery float charger that I can connect without raising the hood. But I shouldn't have to do it! After 5 days, the voltage is seriously down but the car may or may not still start--definitely weak.
How stupid does that Dealer think people are, if he expects them to believe that bull crap.
#12
04-27-2009, 08:13 AM
#13
04-27-2009, 08:25 AM
Word of advice, keep that letter short and precise. You are better off trying to get your foot in the door first, then have them contact you for details, rather than giving them all the details and having them toss the letter for being too long.
Face the facts, these are busy executives, so give them the chance and means of easily picking up on your points while scanning through the letter. If one must, follow the rule for effective PowerPoint presentations... no more than 6 bullets, explanations can either come at the end, or after the fact.
Face the facts, these are busy executives, so give them the chance and means of easily picking up on your points while scanning through the letter. If one must, follow the rule for effective PowerPoint presentations... no more than 6 bullets, explanations can either come at the end, or after the fact.
#14
04-27-2009, 10:26 AM
#15
04-27-2009, 10:29 AM