SUBJECT:
NISSAN PATROL TURBO DIESEL PROBLEM - major safety
concern
" I am writing
on behalf of myself and three other colleagues at CSIRO Forestry and
Forest Products in Canberra with a major concern relating to a rear
wheel detaching from our Patrol Turbo Diesel Station wagon (2002 model)
on the Hume Freeway on Friday 5 November while returning from Benalla
to Canberra. Fortunately, the driver was able to control the vehicle
which was traveling at 110 kmh at the time, and bring it to a halt.
In trying to determine a possible reason as to why this may have occurred,
we thought that there was a possibility we had not fully tightened
the rim after a flat tyre we got on 10 Oct, but we recall this being
tight as two of us checked the nuts. We also had driven nearly 3000
km after this flat tyre before the wheel fell off. When
the incident occurred, I was able to get a tow for the vehicle back
to the Yass NRMA depot. At this location we were informed of three
similar wheel loss incidents on Patrols, when discussing the repairs
with the mechanics. The mechanic also mentioned that the rims can
be incorrectly seated on the hub, due to a lip on the alloy rims which
can appear tight after changing the tyre, but then later work loose.
Does this sound feasible to you?. Since then we also have discovered
another CSIRO colleague at CSIRO Land and Water is also aware of another
case. We have major safety concerns about a recurrence of this problem
and are wondering if you are aware of this problem occurring previously
on the Nissan Patrols. Our vehicle is fitted with alloy wheels; does
this make any difference?. As
this incident could have resulted in the death of three people, we
are very keen to ensure everything is done to stop it happening again."
Peter Leppert
FOLLOW-UP
EMAIL - SUBJECT: NISSAN PATROL / MITSUBISHI PAJERO - alloy
wheels coming loose
" Hi there
- I have also come across alloy wheels coming loose - the problem
on mine is quite simple - the wheel nuts have a tapered shoulder and
were designed for steel rims. The Alloys fitted were designed for
nuts with a flat washer (shoulder) and the use of the wrong wheel
nuts compresses the alloy stud hole and eventually work loose.
The second problem I came across on a mitsubishi pajero also related
to alloy wheels coming off - after market alloys were fitted, but
no one had looked carefully at the ridge running around the hub -
this shoulder protruded and prevented the alloy rim from sitting hard
against the hub. As a result, no matter how you tightened the wheel,
with use the alloy wore on the ridge and then came loose. Solution
- fit a machined spacer the same thickness of the ridge so the alloy
rim seats against the hub across its full width. Hope this helps"
K Jensen -
|
SUBJECT:
HYUNDAI SANTA FE PROBLEM - paint
"I recently
purchased a 2002 Hyundai Santa Fe, I noticed a small patch of crazed
paint on the roof which I hadn't picked up prior to purchase. After
discussion with a paint shop they suggested that it was caused by
bird droppings and to do that much damage had probably been left on
for several days. I like to keep my cars clean and regularly waxed
which I did a week after I bought it. I had to go out early, about
6am, car nice and clean...when returned I noticed a very small amount
of bird dropping had glanced the car near the rear door, I immediately
removed it and to my horror discovered that the paint had already
crazed, this was after only 4 hours and it has done it again on the
bonnet.
I called Hyundai and they said that it isn't covered by warranty and
basically 'hard luck' The man I talked to said that I should carry
a damp cloth with me when I drive. What happens if you are on a 5
hour journey and you get bird droppings on your car but do not realise
until you stop, well that's not our problem was the answer. I am well
aware that bird droppings are very corrosive, but I had a 1972 HQ
covered in them for about 6mths and it never touched the paintwork
let alone 4 hours! So what's the deal, all new paint is no good? After
researching this on the web I have found that this problem is becoming
a major issue with all car manufacturers and they are getting away
with it. I'd appreciate it if anyone else out there, especially Hyundai
owners would like to get in touch with me about it." Martin
Rogers -
|
SUBJECT:
KIA CARNIVAL PROBLEM
"Our Kia
Carnival 1999/2000 model. Blew its gaskets at 51,000 kms (replaced
under warranty due to known faults). At 77,000 kms has just blown
both front and back heads on the engine. It is at our cost now as
the warranty has run out. It was known that the head gasket size was
incorrect yet they did not recall these models. The quality of the
car engine is disgusting and Kia should be ashamed. These are not
the only problems we have had with our car. What a shame to waste
such a well designed car! After these repairs I plan to sell my car…I
can only stand so much!" Trevor Smith -
|
SUBJECT:
NISSAN MAXIMA - economy ***
GOOD NEWS ***
"This is
not a complaint. I have a maxima sedan it will be three years old
in November. I have just returned from Burleigh Heads on the Gold
Coast where I have a holiday apartment. I have been driving to and
from Burleigh on a regular basis for 20 years and I would like to
inform you of the consumption of fuel I recorded on my trip home last
week. 7.7 litres per 100 k's is the best so far normally it is 7.9
and 8.I. I had the 50.000 service at Southport . Driving speeds were
110 when posted and 100 where posted so I was not nursing the Car.
I bought this car after having a Honda Legend for about four years
and I have not been disappointed. Thank you Nissan. Jack Smith."
|
SUBJECT:
RENAULT SCENIC PROBLEM - Mentone Motor
Group
"My Renault
Scenic has been "playing up" for nearly two years. The Mentone
Motor Group assure me each time that the problem has been sorted out
but they continue to bungle every attempt. The car at one stage would
accelerate on its own and was like a lethal weapon. It surged forward
at other times and is now only after being serviced 4 weeks ago beginning
to stall again. Their customer service is atrocious. I travel around
45 minutes to get to the dealership from Baxter to Mentone and I work
in Moorooduc. Once I was told that I couldn't have a "courtesy
car" because the workers needed it! It is nigh on impossible
to get public transport to work, my school being almost in the middle
of nowhere with a couple of houses nearby, an antique shop and a fire
station! A minor complaint of a clicking noise in the back window
has meant numerous returns. The funniest being how they put one part
in upside down not once but twice! I could spot the error and I've
got no idea about cars but only "factory-trained Technicians"
work on your car. Below is their "Renault Customer Charter"
and I use that term loosely. On at least two occasions I have been
rung by an independent firm asking my opinion about the dealership
and service etc. Both times I've given them a razzing but even then
nothing is followed up. I will never buy another Renault or recommend
one to another soul. I just hope that the 23 kids I teach go home
and tell their parents, who got to work and tell their colleagues
who in turn go home and tell their spouses who tell their workmates
and so on not to mention the other 20 teaching staff who will go and
speak to their spouses one of whom owns the Bob Jane outlet in Moorabbin
and keep that message of DON'T BUY A RENAULT, THEY SUCK! going. It's
a shame I thought it was a top car when we got it. We bought a Subaru
Forester at the same time. Not one thing wrong with the Subaru, two
recalls (at least they own up to problems) but the Renault has been
an expensive mistake." Dianne Pring -
|
SUBJECT:
MG TF160 PROBLEM
"I have just
bought a new MG TF160 and have had nothing but problems with it since.
It has been 3 months now and I still have problems with it. I just
received my vehicle back yesterday and there are still problems with
the car. Besides a NEW chip on my gearstick knob, the doors still
so not stay open on slight inclines and the 3rd Gear is still not
correct. They told me that they believed that there was nothing wrong
with the 3rd gear but I seem to have lost complete confidence in them
after all this time. I
am, to say the very least, extremely upset, angry and disappointed
with this car and I wonder if all MGs are the same. My advice is don't
buy one ... Basically the following was continuing problems I still
had:
Trim and instrument console squeaks excessively. Central Locking does
not open the driver’s side irregularly. When slotting the gear
stick into third gear there is still an excessive sound. It sounds
like the teeth are not engaging properly or something is loose. This
has not occurred in other MGs I have driven. Rubber seal on driver
side is still not sealing properly – on the weekend water was
entering the vehicle – leaving watermarks on the leather seats
and door. When accelerating in 2nd gear, the exhaust system rattles.
Sounds metallic. This usually occurs after I accelerate after going
over a speed hump or slowing down then speeding up in 2nd gear. Loud
clunking sound occasionally coming from the bottom of the vehicle
– It sounds like a large rock has hit the bottom of the car
– but this was happening on smooth roads. When putting the driver
side’s windows up, the car’s horn sounds quickly. This
occurs sporadically. When the window closes there is a loud clicking
sound when it touches the rubber seal. This happens sporadically When
the window is closing there is a clicking sound (sounds like a sticky
sound) from the rear of the glass Left rear suspension squeaks when
going over bumps on roads Door is still not fixed. Does not stay open
on slight inclines. Seatbelt light went on when closing my window
Seat springs are loose and are squeaking still ..."
Marshall Kim -
|
SUBJECT:
NISSAN PULSAR PROBLEM - air condition
"I have a
complaint. My daughter bought a 2001 nissan pulsar N16. The air con
stopped working soon after. We live in a smallish town, Ulladulla
NSW. I am a panel beater and went though the system as much as I could.
I took it to a local auto elec, he did not have a wiring diagram for
it, repco/ auto one/etc did not have a repair manual for it. I deal
for my spare parts thru tramps of Nowra. I did not buy this car off
them though. I rang them and explained my situation, I need a wiring
diagram, could they email or fax me a copy. They said they could not,
as it against nissan policy, and they could jeopardize their franchise.
I tried everywhere for a copy of a wiring diagram, then rang them
back. They said I could come up and "sight" their book at
their premises. Well. this was better than nothing. I drove the 60
km's up there and was mucked around for over 1/2 an hour , before,
they said. ohh, we can't find our book , go check with spares. I did
that, they said it is on CD, not a book. Then service found their
CD, and the manager perused the back of the jewel case, and stated.
Ohh, we can't let you look at this!!!!! I had dealings with this guy
before and he was not the person who I talked to on phone, although,
he said it was him on phone telling me to drive up. I was disgusted.
I will never buy off tramps again and probably never buy another nissan."
Keith Taylor - Lake Conjola Motor Body repairs.
|
SUBJECT:
NISSAN X-TRAIL PROBLEM - fly by wire
"My business
partner and myself have both purchased series 2 Xtrails - Manual.
As you change gears going up, the revs hold in for too long like you
have your foot on the accelerator. As they run a fly by wire set up
I asked the local dealer only to be fobed of by a know all (know nothing
mechanic) who treated me like a fool. I am also a mechanic and know
quite well how the fly by wire set up works.He tells me all fly by
wire systems do it.
I know the SAABs dont coz I have been working on them for ages. Any
ideas where I can look for more info. I thought maybe there was a
software upgrade maybe to rectify the problem; not that I would like
the guy I spoke to to touch my car in a hurry" Anthony
Tydd
|
SUBJECT:
NISSAN PULSAR PLUS - paint ***
GOOD NEWS ***
"As an owner
of a March 2000 Pulsar Plus I wish to bring to your attention a matter
concerning paint quality/thickness which has lead to a small, but
irritating, rust problem on the boot area directly below the stop
light strip of our vehicle.
Background - The motor vehicle, until last year, was fastidiously
looked after, i.e. washed and detailed weekly, serviced by our Nissan
dealer as per the servicing requirements and garaged at home. I initially
discovered signs of "bubbling" under the paintwork in this
area of the boot around May 2003. The vehicle had not been in accident
which could have exposed the body area to the elements thus initiating
the rusting process, and we do not live close enough to the coast
to allow salt contamination of the vehicle. Despite the vehicle just
being out of the 3 year warranty I approached my local dealer, Cleveland
Nissan and spoke with the dealership warranties section. My intention
then was to see if this was a common complaint and secondly to ascertain
whether we had a case for a warranty claim as it was obvious to me
that it was some form of design defect. The answer I was given by
Cleveland Nissan was that "I'm not aware of any other instances
of rust in the boot/light area of other Pulsars, and as the 3 year
warranty period had expired (only by a matter of weeks then) we had
no claim". Furthermore he said that despite the fact that we
had no claim they could arrange for the restoration AT OUR EXPENSE!
There was no other avenue for us to take it any further. I then decided
that I would have to cop it sweet and as I did not have the ready
cash to have it repaired myself. As time went by, I purposely looked
at every other Pulsar of the same vintage to see if they also had
a similar rust problem, but to no avail. Many commented to us re the
rust problem much to their amazement as they could see how well the
car was kept and its condition.
Situation Now - Last year I sold the Pulsar to my son, so it's still
in the family. He has recently received quotes to repair this rust
area from local panel beaters as he considers it to be an eyesore
and he wishes to maintain and protect his asset. The costs quoted
for these repairs range from $330 to $468, so you can see it is not
a large claim. The disturbing comments coming from these professionals
during examinations of the affected area is that "It's most unusual
for this to occur", and one in particular who said for us to
initiate correspondence with Nissan as it would appear that the rust
was due to "inadequate paint coverage / not enough coats in this
recess area". Even if this rust was only discovered now some
4 years since manufacture, I and others feel that if the paint work
was done completely to specifications then it should not have failed
so early under almost ideal conditions. Then again, If the paint in
the boot/light area was to specifications, then one could look at
a design fault as being the cause of the rust. We seek Nissan's official
view on our complaint. We are only too happy to have the vehicle inspected
by Nissan, or your representative, with a view to satisfactorily dealing
with this problem" John Collins (Address
& Email provided)
-----------------------------------
RESOLUTION -----------------------------------
"Over the
past weeks I have had some fruitful talks with Nissan, both locally
and at Head Office in Melbourne. Whilst Nissan were reluctant to accept
that the rust appeared because of a manufacturing defect, they were
however prepared to make a pro rata goodwill payment to us. It took
a bit of "pushing our case" by us and we thank the customer
relations department at Nissan Australia for their generosity. It
would be fitting therefore if this "good result" is acknowledged
thru your mediums" Thanks, John
|
SUBJECT:
NISSAN MAXIMA ST 2004 PROBLEM - tyres
"Bad road
noise on rough surface, due to hard wearing tyres. I feel they should
be replaced with a softer tyre. Thank you" Charles.T.Douglas
|
SUBJECT:
NISSAN X-TRAIL PROBLEM - tyres
"I am the
very happy owner of a Nissan X-Trail ST. I have driven it for about
60,000kms and am X-tremely pleased with it....except for one thing...the
tyres. It came fitted with Highway tyres and I want to fit some more
robust tyres. The size is 215/70R15 98H. I have found, after enquiries
at Goodyear, Beaurepaire and Tyrepower that there are no All-Terrain
tyres made for this size. The few tyres this size that exist are all
Highway. This seems to be a strange design error for a car that is
advertised to be able to go anywhere etc. I would be happy to be shown
to be wrong and I will be very interested to know your recommendation
for alternative tyres which will answer the needs of 1. Me and my
need for more robust, all Terrain tyres ; 2. The car and its specifications
and road safety requirements ; 3. The Nissan warranty conditions ;
4. The car insurance requirements. I look forward to hearing from
you as I am keen to get the car newly shod with stronger more off
road tyres" Yours sincerely Joan C. Ryan.
|
SUBJECT:
NISSAN X-TRAIL PROBLEM - speed sensor cable
Comments removed
|
SUBJECT:
FORD BA GHIA PROBLEM
"After many
months of research I decided to purchase a new ba ghia six cylinder
, first mistake! My vehicle acceleration appears to be faulty when
doing 60 k it decides to automatically drop down the revs, not a good
feeling, also the brakes appear to have a pumping action under load
ford come up with good solution take a skim from the break pads or
something ! Good idea if you like replacing the pads on a regular
basis . Also I have blown 2 head light bulbs, almost forgot about
the rear tyres completely bald at 21000 k when I phoned ford I got
a stock reply this is most unusual never heard of this before must
be the way you drive it , what about the fuel the car uses city driving
13.4 country driving 13.1 I have always endeavoured to purchase aus
cars next time I will look else where." Regards unhappy ba owner
|
"Soon after
I qualified as a surgeon, in April '03 I bought a Holden Monaro, which
I used to commute from Sydney to Goulburn. I enjoyed driving the car
but I believe this particular car and the experience I have with Holden
was bad luck. The car was delivered to me with a block of wood in
the right front wheel suspension. It was also missed when the car
was inspected at 1000km. It was discovered at approximately 2500km
when my car broke down and I called NRMA to fix it. The dealer at
Sutton Homebush admitted that they forgot to remove this and the block
of wood was used for transporting the car and should have been removed
prior to delivery ... read in full
|
