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Nissan Pathfinder - front-end problem
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Anonymous Poster
brroses@hotmail.com
May 4, 2006, 10:41 AM
Post #1 of 8
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Nissan Pathfinder - front-end problem
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I purchased a new 2004 Nissan Pathfinder in March 2004.
At 5600 miles (February 2005) I noticed the front tires were wearing unevenly. Took to my deal and was told everything was OK and the tires showed no uneven wear. At 7900 (May 2005) miles the both front tires were quite worn on the inside edge. My dealer now tells me I need an alignment that is why the tires are worn. After much discussion as to why they did not notice this just 2300 miles before they performed an alignment for free. I still had the problem with the worn tires to deal with but the service manager would do nothing saying it was due to the alignment (hard to believe the tires were so badly worn after only 2300 miles since the last inspection when they were said to be Ok by the dealer. I spoke with the owner of the dealership and he said Nissan USA would do nothing but he would split the difference with me as follows:
Take my full size (new) spare and use that for one front tire, he would take a tire off a new vehicle in his lot as the other front tire and the less worn of the original front tires would become my spare...I agreed to the "compromise". (The dealer did not do the alignment again when he switched the tires saying it was fine).
Now at 12500 (March 2006) miles my front tires are once again quite worn in the same way (that is only 5,000 miles since they were replaced and the alignment done). I took it to the dealer and they say they see nothing wrong but I should get an alignment. After much discussion again they agreed to perform the alignment for free. This time, though they would do nothing about the tires.
I spoke with Nissan USA who reviewed the dealers records and they say there is nothing I can do unless I take the car to another dealer and that dealer finds something wrong. Since the car was just aligned, again, I highly doubt there is anything to find.
I need your opinions on how to proceed. Is this not unusual? How can the a vehicle the manufacturer advertises as an "Off-road" vehicle have its alignment go out so easily? This car has only been driven on smooth pavement. Should Nissan be responsible for the tires as I believe something has been wrong since purchase and continues to be so.
My biggest problem may be I can not use the lemon law here in NY State since the car is older than 2 years (although as you can see we do not use the car much since it only has 12,500 mile on it).
Your opinions and help are much appreciated.
Barry
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 4, 2006, 1:42 PM
Post #2 of 8
(3011 views)
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Re: Nissan Pathfinder - front-end problem
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If properly aligned it shouldn't be needing tires so quickly. Not all alignment problems will cause a car to pull one way or the other but can wear out tires. Guessing that all Pathfinders are 4WD and they will wear out tires faster than a regular car but NOT that fast!!
Tires (except snows) have a rating # for expected mileage. That # is NOT the expected miles but a rating compared to other tires. 400 or better should last 30K or more depending on your driving habits and the roads you use. I bet you alignment is still off. Certainly watch tire pressure and rotate often with these vehicles.
You may want to get the alignment checked at an indepentant shop and I'd bring it up with whoever did it last with the low miles you have. Just a thought, T
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carjunky
Enthusiast
May 4, 2006, 9:46 PM
Post #3 of 8
(3008 views)
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Re: Nissan Pathfinder - front-end problem
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Barry That stinks,
What type of lemon law last for only two years.... I'm said to say it but it must be a busy place for american made cars....
Toms right, tires at the least are good for 20,000 to 30,000 miles easy..... most are good for about 50,000..
When your tires wear inside out, I would think your car is running pigeon toed... (tires pointing towards each other ) which will cause the inside of the tires to wear much fast, and down to the white threads.... I know because I just had this fixed on my car.... it's because the tires are designed to go straight and a miss aligned car in a sense is trying to go sideways.....
Now what i think you said was that the dealer would have fixed this for free, before needing the new tires, now all they will do is realign the car... I would think that after 3 times they would have gotten it right...
I would double check with a lemon law lawyer on the 2 years.... if you kept receipts and can show that the dealer messed up within that two year period you may be able to get some of the expenses paid....
In the mean time I would take it to another dealer, or local mechanic and have them look at it.... It maybe be that when your truck is in the air your tires are good... but when the trucks weight gets on them it could cause them to come inward... pigeon toe.... Which would mean either trouble with the shocks or struts.... which could have been the orginal problem to begin with, and it was either missed or purposly over looked due to the expenses...
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 5, 2006, 1:57 AM
Post #4 of 8
(3006 views)
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Re: Nissan Pathfinder - front-end problem
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Barry,
I plow snow with a Chev 2500 with four snow tires and it does eat them up. I rotate them all the time and that helps. But I expect that with the use it gets and it does little regular driving - apples and oranges about that.
Your car needs help and there are "Lemon Laws" about this stuff. CarJunky is right that you check. Dealer problably never even checked your alignment or found stuff they didn't wan't to pay for. It's not fair play. Good luck - and let us know how you make out, T
PS: With a real alignment you get a print out of where it started and another that it was in specs when they are done and the limits.
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
brroses@hotmail.com
May 5, 2006, 9:05 AM
Post #5 of 8
(3002 views)
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Re: Nissan Pathfinder - front-end problem
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Thanks to all very much for your kind advice. I will let the group know how it all works out.
Just anoys me that Nissan USA will not do anything because the dealer says everything is OK. A little common sense tells you something is wrong.
Thanks again,
Barry
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carjunky
Enthusiast
May 5, 2006, 12:41 PM
Post #6 of 8
(2994 views)
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Re: Nissan Pathfinder - front-end problem
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Hi Barry one of the things on the drawing boards for this site is looking to fix those "Type" of dealers... There are many good dealers and mechanics out there that get looked down at for the small group that cause troubles like this.
I would have another dealer lok at it..... and if they see something wrong maybe you could file a complaint to nissan about this.
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
brroses@hotmail.com
May 8, 2006, 5:52 AM
Post #7 of 8
(2988 views)
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Re: Nissan Pathfinder - front-end problem
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I did file a complaint to Nissan USA. They contacted the dealer who, of course, told them nothing was wrong with the vehicle. They then told me to take the vehicle to another Nissan dealer to check for problems. Since the first dealer had just done another alignment I told them that would be useless. I did contact another Nissan dealer to make an appointment but once I told them what was going on they said there would be nothing for them to check and basically declined to look at the vehicle.
I had to put new tires on so I took the vehicle to Mavis Tires. When the tech at Mavis saw the wear on the tires he told me my alignment was off. I explained that the vehicle had just been aligned 10 miles ago but he offerred to check it anyway (for $20). Guess what...the aligment is off according to the Mavis alignment machine (I have the print-out).
I am going back to Nissan USA with this information.
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