10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 30,564 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
On Friday July 5th 2013 just after getting off the expressway I heard a noise coming from the front of the car. Just as I pulled into the driveway my wheel (rim) broke off. Wow, thank the good lord I wasn't on the freeway. The wheel hub was still attached to the bolts, and the rim broke, upon further inspection the other front wheel has cracks on all five spokes. The vehicle is unsafe to drive, had it towed to the local Nissan dealership in oceanside, California. Why has there been no recalls. It seems there are numerous reports of the same problem. Still awaiting a response from mossy Nissan in oceanside, ca.
- Oceanside, CA, USA
While driving to visit my grandsons on christmas eve, the rear drive wheel broke. The wheel broke from the car and travel down the highway at a high rate of speed. Luckily I was able to slow the car down and get it to the side of the road. I could only sit helpless as I watch the broken wheel bounce down the highway. The wheel came to a stop more than 400 yards. A quote from the chp officer, "it never happens this way. Usually the wheel lands on someone else's car causing a accident." This is the second wheel that has broke on my car. Summer 2011 I had to replace a cracked wheel when getting new tires. The remaining two wheels on the car have been looked at and cracks have been found. Since my insurance will not cover the cost of new wheels, I'm forced to replace them myself. While doing some investigative work, I have found more than a dozen cases just like mine. The tire shop I visited today said they have had 3 other Nissan 350Z - 2006 with the same problem. How many cases have not been reported" Nissan will not take responsibility and recall their bad batch of wheels from 2006. What does it take to make Nissan responsible and recall these wheels"
- Folsom, CA, USA
TL - the contact owns a 2006 Nissan 350Z. The contact stated that the front passenger side wheel rim developed a cracked, which caused the wheel to loose air pressure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who verified the failure and stated to the contact that the failure was caused by a manufacturing defect. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who offered to cover fifty percent of the repair costs. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 75,000. Kmj
- Sugarland , TX, USA
Heard some squeaking from front left tire. I inspected the chrome wheel and found all 5 spokes had cracks in them all the way through. I had the vehicle inspected and found all 4 chrome wheels had cracks and was advised to park vehicle as it was not safe to drive. I contacted the service manager at my dealership and he advised that the rims on my vehicle were sent out to be chromed by someone else other than Nissan causing Nissan not to be responsible for these cracked rims. This vehicle, a touring roadster 350Z was bought new from a Nissan dealership with these chrome rims already on them, this other dealership also happens to be owned by the current dealership I go to. The service manager said the dealership also would not be responsible because they only warranty this for 3years/36,000. My vehicle has less than 19,600 miles on it.
- Gilbert, AZ, USA
On May 11,2010 I had my car towed to the local Nissan dealer on maui. The wheels on our car started to disintegrate and break up causing us to swerve and stop on the road. I was told by the dealer that because the car was out of warranty I would have to purchase new wheels for $5550. The factory rep john hookano, my wife and I met after two weeks of the car sitting at jim faulk Nissan with no follow up call. He showed us that the original wheels were aluminum alloy, and not chromed and stated they must be aftermarket or chromed without factory authorization, he then showed us a bulletin issued from Nissan 2008, stating their position not to chrome the wheels. We purchased a 2006 350Z grand touring special edition which included navigation system, brembo brakes, basically every option including convertible. When I explained I purchased the car new from the dealer in Arizona and they did a dealer trade for it. When it arrived from peoria Arizona's Nissan dealer the chromed wheels were on it. We took delivery at lamb Nissan in prescott Arizona, as is, we changed nothing. When I showed the factory rep a service repair order from when the warranty was in effect, which made reference to the clicking wheels and that we have continued to have issues with the tire pressure monitor system he ignored my comment. The car has less than 36,000 miles and yes the warranty expired. I did purchase an extended warranty in which I was told does not cover wheels. However I believe if the NHTSA inspector looked into this fault would be found with either the manufacturer or the dealer. I contacted lamb Nissan and the general manager ed walsh found the records that indicate I purchased the car with the wheels on it from the original dealer who took delivery of the car, and that it did in fact arrive with chrome Nissan wheels. He said I will credit $1000 to a new set. We emailed Nissan early on and got a response we will be contacted vanessa fiorello Consumer Affairs never returns my email.
- Lahaina, HI, USA
Was hearing noise and took car to dealership and was told that I have 4 cracked rims and should buy new ones for $3067. I was told that yes the dealership does send there rims to be chromed but of course they said they didn't do mine. I told them I didn't do it. Nothing was done to fix the problem, was offered a free tow cause was told car was unsafe to drive. So I am out of pocket almost $1900. The service manager at dealership told me if I wasn't willing to pay the $3067 dollars for new rims that I should start by looking at the junk yard. I have 2 Nissan bulletins reference # ntb92-123A and ntb92-123C which clearly discourages what Nissan is doing regarding the chroming of rims.
- Costa Mesa, CA, USA
I have a 2006 Nissan 350Z convertible. I had the 06 wheels aftermarket powercoated in May 2007. Roughly a month later, I found that one of the wheels had cracked. I bought a replacement wheel, had the wheel powercoated to match the other three. Roughly 4 months later, I discovered two more wheels had cracked. Researching the cause of the cracks led me to the complaints filed earlier on the same wheel being affected by the chroming process. My biggest fear is as we alter the wheels, we are in essence aging the wheel and discovering it to be of substandard quality to begin with. I know of three others who have had atleast one wheel crack after powder coating. 4/9 wheels local to me have cracked and 1/4 in southern California.
- Henderson, NV, USA
Sometimes driving, I hear light crackling noise comes and goes. For 9 months checkup, I mentioned it to dealer. He said they test drove it and everything was fine. On sat evening, 8-25, the front rt side of rim cracked & came out bouncing off freeway! scary & dangerous! we just let the car slide and scrape on three wheels off the next exit. I had spare tire put on & slowly got the car back home, in shock! Monday I had car towed to nearest dealer & they weren't able to fix my car because of the wheels. I didn't know why....but manager there called for my permission to have it towed back to my dealer with all charges paid by dealer. I was disappointed, disrespected, mistreated, & lied to. Bought car in good faith & they lied to me some more! I called nis manuf Consumer Affairs & found out that those rims were dipped chrome! dealer had nerve to give me same rims & try to return car back with damage breaking the discs & lower arm. Also repainted the scraped bumper. Have pics of sloppy work with camera phone. I explained to them I want it fixed brand new like when I first drove off that lot with it and I thought they understood. I still need pro to thoroughly inspect car. Although repairs made, I don't feel safe driving car anymore. I said fix car like when I first bought it- before the defective wheel came off with real rims. He ordered & placed it on my car. Sat night, dealer called to pick car up. I asked for invoice and papers. They said come back mon. Asked them to hand write that the rims are stocked & everything new like wanted so I can drive off feeling safe. They said can't. again I left disappointed. Noticed headlights dimmer than before & one side higher than the other. Mon, told service manager about lights. Response, "we're supposed to just replace wheels." Don't know if I have right wheels or not. I need a new car.dealer not concerned with public safety, only profits. I hurt emotionally & physically!
- Upland, CA, USA
: the contact stated while driving 65 mph on normal road conditions, the front right wheel separated from the vehicle and hit the right passenger door. The chrome wheel center was observed to be still attached to the base with the five nuts. When the other wheels were inspected, cracks appeared in the front and rear wheels on the driver side. The dealer stated the cracks from the wheels were due to the chroming process. Updated 08/29/06
- Simi Valley, CA, USA
- Virginia Beach, VA, USA