10.0

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
56,950 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. buy something made in the US (1 reports)
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problem #1

Aug 262011

Altima SL 4 cyl

  • CVT transmission
  • 56,944 miles

This started in November 2010, just took it to dealership and 2 miles from home I thought my purse hit the shift, it dropped like it was in 1st gear. Mind you, going downhill with curves and I'm losing power. Got to bottom of hill and got off side of road, stepped on gas and it just stalled. NO WARNING LIGHTS had been on prior to this. Finally took off long enough to get home, couldn't make it into driveway, was in front lawn. Went and got the CVT recall letter and called the dealership. They said it was not the CVT, gosh they have senses that can feel and see 20 miles away! Had it towed over there. Next day they tell me I need a new battery for an outrageous amount of money. I said the lights were bright, everything worked electrically, it couldn't be the battery. Older cars would tell you that the battery was not charging or it would crank over hard, some indication...I had none...I could have been killed. All they found was that it had "low voltage" and they could find nothing wrong. No problems for another 9 months, then in the passing lane going up a hill, lost power again, I had just enough to get back into the lane and off the side of the road. Stalled couldn't get it started, called AAA, but a friend showed up and got it started and took right off. Told the local garage about it and they said they had the same problem with theirs, step on the gas, nothing, according to them it was the fuel sensor. They ordered me one from California, a weeks wait. They put it in and it ran fine, but I kept smelling something hot and it didn't feel like it had much power going up hills. Took it back to them and they said they had "nicked" the sensor when putting it in. I was scheduled to go to NC so I had to rent a car for $300. They didn't charge me anything for their mistake. Then I was just coming back before Hurricane Irene from Wildwood, NJ. My neighbor drove my car, her daughter, myself and my 9 yr. old granddaughter are in the car on the Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway and around Philly at about 75 miles and hour. Get 10 miles from my home and my neighbor is turning from the light at the intersection and the car slowed and I thought she was pulling over to get coffee. She said "something is wrong with your D... car!" It had no power. I thought here we go again and then I just shuddered..what if we had a loss of power on those other highways going 75 mph, traffic flow and tractor trailer trucks behind us, there would have been a tremendous pile up and for sure the 4 of us or more would be DEAD. I was thankful that God got us to this safe intersection before it went but I was furious that it was happening again. NO indication of loss of power. It didn't stall, but she had to put on the flashers and drive like it was in 1st gear up the hill on the shoulder of the road. Then it took off again, like nothing was wrong, but then it did it again, got off the road onto the shoulder, then it took off again and we got home safely.

Called Nissan and the woman that I had dealt with before in service that was nice, couldn't understand why I was so upset "Calm down" she told me. We could have been killed in this freaking Nissan and she wants me to calm down! Said there was no loaners in and THEY were at the mercy of the people bringing back the loaners. Uhhh, I think those people are at the mercy of the dealership to get their cars fixed to bring back the loaners. Called AAA AGAIN, thank goodness I am a member especially with a Nissan. My granddaughter and I rode over with the tow truck and pulled into the dealership. People looking at the Nissans and look up to see my Nissan, NOT SMASHED, but just being hauled in....wonder if they changed their minds. Told the woman in the service department about the sensor I had put in it and she said I shouldn't have done that, it messes up their warranty work. OMG...what was I supposed to do? They obviously didn't fix it the last time and this garage was right in my town, so maybe it wasn't the fuel sensor either, but don't tell me I can't get it fixed where I want. Then my brother was telling me that his Nissan Altima same year as mine, but he leases, just last week went to a theme park, came out and the car wouldn't start, can't even open the trunk. Luckily someone Jump started his car and he headed home. His mechanic said the one cell is low in the battery, he has 3 mos. to go before lease is up. He's going to put in a new battery and then put the old one in before he takes it back. My other brother has a Nissan Tundra and was traveling in NC on an 8 lane highway and he lost power, the Nissan garage took 2 hours and decided he needed a new battery. Again, no one had any indication that the battery was low, just quit on them. My one brother was luckier, it wouldn't start in a parking lot, my other brother could've been killed just like us in heavy traffic. Is it the battery? Auto Zone says the battery is only to start the car, and the alternator does the rest. Others say that battery is constantly going with the flashing security and locks, etc.

Nissan is either playing dumb or are just plain dumb. Will I buy another Tokyo piece of crap? NO NO NO. Mike Rowe, here I come for my Ford. So right now I'm driving their loaner car, which needs brakes and rotors badly (that should tell you something about this service department). I'll wait to see what they tell me this time. I can assure you that it won't be anything covered under the warranty. I'm just glad that God has watched over me all 4 times when that car has lost power. AMEN.

- Darlene O., Moravia, NY, US