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Nissan Maxima: Stolen Headlights!!
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I lost my link a while back; maybe someone has been following this issue?
Steve, Host
My lights have been stolen 3 times in a matter of months!!! At this point, I can't park my car in the street. I've already solicited professional help and our chances look promising.
To join me and get something done, email me as soon as possible.
And if you're soliciting others for a suit or something, well, soliciting is against the rules here. See the Member Agreement linked on the left.
Steve, Host
Still not sure where the stolen headlamp assys. would be going. Perhaps other countries where they are not available yet?
Having said that, however, I believe Nissan is at least trying to remedy the defective design by offering Max owners, for free, the option of installing theft deterrent metal brackets and tagged HIDs (with veh. VIN) to make them harder to sell and pawn off by crooks.
Although the law is that the offering of remedial measures cannot be construed as evidence of prior defective design, it is some indication that Nissan is now acknowledging the problem and is trying to do something about it. This is the right move because Nissan does not want to face potential lawsuits (whether they are with or without merit), and by offering the free fixes, hopes to pacify the irate Max owners and retain them as future Nissan buyers.
Just my two cents; I may be completely off the wall with my comments and observations. Since this is a public forum, everyone is free to express his or her opinion, as long as it is done civilly and in good taste.
Are there anyother cars with HIDs that are being hit? I mean, obviously theives must know that there are other cars out there that also have stnd. HIDs (MB, BMW, LEX, Acura?) I do agree with the addition of VIN #s on HIDs, but here is a problem/question, where on the light should it go? Obviously people arent keeping the headlight housing, just the bulb itself right? Where would they put it so it would be effective?
You had nothing better to do, no doubt.
I hear people complaining about the 19in wheels being stolen too. They are quite expensive you know. So are you going to sue Nissan for putting on expensive wheels? This is ridiculous!
Or what about the windshield wipers, for instance? Which manufacturer has a "design criteria" to prevent their theft. The answer is - noone. Those can be stolen too.
If you live in a high crime area, or can't afford the replacement cost of expensive parts buy a different car! Don't buy a car with HID lights and $900+ wheels (each!). Not too hard to figure that one out.
To put it more diplomatically, regardless of fault or the lack thereof, Nissan is bettering its corporate image by pacifying its concerned customers.
Steve, Host
The question becomes:
At what point in time was Nissan aware of the defect in design in which the front headlights can be stolen in less than 2 minutes (at over $1,450 replacement cost, plus installation, plus repair to damaged panels/hood -- over $3,500 total repair likely)?
Did Nissan inform consumers of the defect in the manufacture and design of its cars prior to purchase by consumers?
Is it reasonable for car manufacturers to make externally facing body parts prone to easy theft? For example, would it be reasonable for the fender, body panels, or other external parts capable of being stolen in less than 2 minutes? Is there something special about headlights so that this standard wouldn't apply?
I am sure that attorneys have looked into the applicability of lemon laws to this issue, though I am sure that is a difficult application given that crime was the cause of loss. However, I believe the correct comparison is to externally facing body parts that are unproperly and unreasonably secured and protected.
You can’t hold Nissan responsible for your thefts. You have to open your hood from the inside, so the engineers were thinking a little about theft. If thieves want your HID bad enough, they will find a way regardless of how well designed the fender area of the car is. Take responsibility and park you cars in a better area where the thieves are not.
and if anyone takes this seriously please calm down relax, we are all here to have a lil fun too arent we?
No, the theft is due to the thief. Perhaps if somebody did something about the outrageous price of the headlamps they wouldn't be so tempting to the perps.
tidester, host
This is nonsense.
I have not heard of any thefts here in Houston, but it does have me a bit worried. If Nissan is giving the kits for free, I am wondering if any Nissan owner can get it and not just in the Northeast. Anybody have a phone number or website to call or go to? Thanks.
The thieves are to blame. Period.
Is a bicycle maker to blame because somebody can jump on a bike and ride it away? Is a motorcycle maker to blame because two guys can lift even a locked motorcycle onto a pickup bed and drive off with it?
I will concede that perhaps Nissan used a poor design that allows easier theft. And it is smart business to step up and help owners of their products. Which they are apparently doing in NY/NJ/CT. It is smart for them to respond, but I don't see how they have any liability for thieves.
Your reasoning is quite scary if you extend manufacturer liability to unintended use or theft by criminals for other incidents or products. A manufacturer absolutely should not be liable for criminal use or theft of its product.
Also, to the some other posters, if we were aware of the HID thefts do you think we would have bought the car? Hellooooo!
Nissan is not the only one with HID headlights....so why is it almost exclusively a Nissan problem???
On my way to work this morning(I'm in the NE), there was another Nissan sitting in their lot with missing headlights. This epidemic is not coming close to stopping.
Any sell their vehicle? Please share your stories. Thanks.
1. "Compare"
a. How easy it is to steal the Nissan Maxima headlights compared with other cars?
b. Among the cars which are comparable to the Nissan Maxima in terms of ease of theft of Xenon headlights, what is being done by those manufacturers (e.g., Acura, etc.)?
c. Though Nissan has offered non-Xenon headlights to '04 Maxima purchasers, why hasn't it offered a comparable option to its '02 and '03 Maxima as a replacement part?
d. At what point in time was Nissan aware of the problem with its headlights compared to when others (dealerships, car maker associations, insurance companies, police, etc.) were aware?
2. "Reasonable"
a. Is it reasonable that car manufacturers should fail to notify customers that externally facing body parts can be removed with relative ease. For example, if the windshield could be removed in about 30 seconds, would it be reasonable to expect that Nissan should inform consumers of this fact prior to purchase?
b. Is it reasonable that Nissan has offered non-Xenon headlights for the '04 Maxima but not as a replacement option for existing '02 and '03 Maximas? Is this a question of Nissan making a calculated assumption of cost of replacement vs. benefit of customer satisfaction, despite the lack of reasonableness?
c. Is it reasonable to assume that this trend of Xenon headlight theft will continue and expand to other parts of the country, beyond the current NY/NJ concentration of theft?
d. Is it reasonable that Nissan has elected to avoid replacement into non-Xenon headlights for '02 and '03 Maximas in order to avoid a de-facto recall of its product, thereby exposing it to the associated liability? Stated otherwise, is Nissan failing to offer replacement the headlights, despite the reasonableness of such action, out of fear that this would be an admonission of defect, potentially making Nissan liable for past repair costs, both consumer and insurance paid?
e. Is it reasonable that Nissan should forsake its customers, actively avoid addressing its design flaws after failing to provide adequate notice of ease of headlight theft prior to purchase?
It would be refreshing for Nissan to address to its customers a letter stating its positions.
The current anti theft mechanism, DataDots, is not effective. The associated letter introding DataDots, which presumes that Nissan has somehow addressed the issue, is insulting.
I live in Jersey City and my headlights were stolen twice, the second time after DataDots program installation by the dealer.
A question to Nissan Motor Corp.:
"What do you think is the best course of action for me to take?"
To resolve the problem, Nissan needs to give 02/03 Max owners free or substantially discounted non-HID replacement headlights (that fit). It may cost Nissan $100 per car, but its willingness to do so will garner significantly better customer satisfaction, which will help Nissan in future car sales. A stitch in time is worth nine, even though the proposed stitch is late.
Talking about "associated liability", do you think a reasonable jury will find Nissan liable for an accident (at night) due to no headlight illumination stemming from an HID theft? Looks like you may be able to establish "causation" :-)
It just irritates me when I see these 3 dollar cars with possibly my xenon lights knowing they probably paid 30 dollars for them. Police probably have better things to do with there time, but they are not taking this issue seriously because I see these 3 dollar cars all the time with these lights.
Anyway, the outside shell of the light is still intact but they obviously took the box of the HID and bent the right fender. I'm sure a lot of others have experienced this. How much was the damage?
HAS ANYONE HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2001 LIGHTS? DO YOU THINK THEIVES CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE? ANYONE WITH ANY INFO****************** PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT ELLDOGG1999@AOL.COM THANK YOU .....
PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT ELLDOGG1999@AOL.COM THANK YOU .....
That kinda defeats the purpose of a message board! Stick around and participate and you're more likely to get a reply.
tidester, host
tidester, host
If Datadots are more widely known to thieves (such as Nissan running public notices and ads), the number of potential thefts will likely decrease. Of course, nothing is theft proof, but Nissan should be doing something more, and adding datadots and metal brackets is a good start.
If you sell your Max now, you will lose substantial $$. If the thefts/damages to your car happen at night when you parked on the street, try renting a garage and hopefully, in the next 6 months, the HID crime wave will subside in light of the Datadots program. Replacing your HIDs with non-xenons is also a viable alternative.
No. They look totally different. No thief will bother the 2000/2001 lights.
Due to the defective design of these cars, their value will plummet over the next 12 months -- EVERYWHERE.
Nissan's "patch", DataDots and harness change, are not effective -- thieves continue to try, causing thousands of dollars of body damage.
If you own a 2002 or 2003 Nissan Maxima, you should expect to incur substantial, serious financial losses, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU LIVE.
*** Nissan has chosen to ignore this problem -- they think customers will "forgive and forget". ***
Please see my other statements (#77 and #88) for additional background.
Is that a fact or just your "unbiased" opinion?
Better luck with the Solara!
Steve, Host