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Trying another Versa is a possibility. The chance of your hitting another lemon is pretty small, I would say. On an emotional basis, I personally would have a hard time giving another chance to something that has given me plenty of grief, but on a more objective level, you would have to be might unlucky to hit upon yet another unreliable Versa.
According to Consumer Reports, the surveyed Versas are reporting the reliability level of "Average." JD Power & Associates has reported basically a very poor reliability score for the Versa. Anecdotal evidence indicates that the earlier production Versas suffered from a number of problems, whereas the later Versas have shown significant quality improvements. It is possible that the samples for JD Power were front-loaded with earlier production units, whereas the Consumer Reports survey samples were more evenly spread.
Do you need a hatchback? If not, Honda Civic may be a good choice. The Corolla and Matrix Station Wagon will be all-new in the early part of 2008, and they should be pretty good. If you need a hatchback, maybe a Scion can do it for you.
The Versa is a good car. I drove one a lot in Japan, where it is called the Tiida. It is really too bad that you have had to suffer so many failures in your car.
I had no idea that the Matrix and Corolla were coming out with new body styles in early 2008. I just did an Internet search and saw that the Corolla is getting bigger and the Matrix is getting lower and becoming a hatchback. I like the look of the Matrix but being a first year model I'm rather leary.
I tried the Civic last year when I was looking for a car but because it was bigger than previous models I didn't really like it. I'm very much a small car person. I've owned Civics since the 70s and my 2002 was a real disappointment. At 70,000 KM suspension problems showed up and even though Honda paid for the first fix under warranty I had to pay for 2 more before I got rid of it at 125,000 KM. The best car I owed my 1992 and I had it for 10 years.
I dont need a hatchback but just wanted a change from my usual 4 door sedan. Unfortunately the Scion isn't available in Canada as I've heard good things about it.
I still like the Versa best. If I could be assured that I'd get a good one I'd buy another in a flash.
Thanks for the recommendations.
Cathy
My wife liked being able to sit up high on the Versa as well. We actually drove a Tiida (Versa) in Japan, and really liked it. We were looking forward to getting one in the U.S., but were disappointed to find that very few USDM Versas were available with ABS (not an issue for the CDM Versa). That to us made the Versa a vehicula non grata, unfortunately.
So my wife turned to the Fit, which actually worked out well.
Hers came with 15" wheels. The Fit sits upright, and that is probably why she, at 5'2", seems just fine. But everyone is different in the most comfortable way to sit in a car.
How are you doing with your Versa now?
My girlfriend had the same issue as you with the tach jumping. Eventually the car broke down and we had it towed to Nissan. It has been there a few days now and they now are sending reps from Nissan Canada to look at the car as they haven't seen the issue before..did yours ever get fixed?
Thanks
The Service Manager at my dealershop told me that it is normal for the tach to jump when the cruise in on. I don't believe this since it only happens sporadically and usually when I also have a problem with the car going into safe mode on start-up.
Let me know if they figure out what is wrong with your girl friend's car. They still have no clue what is wrong with mine.
Cathy
It has been at the dealer since Sunday. They thought they knew what was wrong with it and replaced a part but that didn't do anything. Now they have to have some people from Nissan Canada come in to take a look at the car...no good!
It warmed up here for a month so I had no problems. Now that it is super cold again my starting problems have returned. When it happened on Thursday I was in the country and luckily was able to get it to start normally after first starting in safe mode. The engine light stayed on. I drove to the dealership in the city and once again the computer reading showed a throttle problem. They documented the incident, shut off the engine light and sent me on my way. The service manager advised me to start bugging Nissan Canada so that is what I'll do next. They didn't even respond to the e-mails that my dealership sent after my December incidents.
I looked at new cars over Christmas and there was nothing that really interested me. I love the Versa but would sure like to feel that I won't be stranded one day in
-40. My warranty will be up at the end of 2007 but the dealership told me that they have enough documented evidence that it will honor my current problem after the warranty expires. I hope that's true if I don't have a new car by then.
Cathy
I told her that I wanted it fixed but the dealership couldn't find the problem. She told me that it is normal for cars to have trouble starting in winter. I told her that mine starting in safe mode with the engine light staying on was NOT normal. She spoke with her supervisor and then told me that the dealership had to diagnose the problem and then Nissan would help with costs. I went through the song and dance about how they'd already had the car last winter for 2 weeks and couldn't figure it out. I wanted Nissan to help diagnose the problem. She told me that they didn't help with diagnosing and told me to take it to another dealership.
The conversation I had with her has really soured me on Nissan. It was a "too bad too sad" attitude. She intimidated that I had paid my money and now I'm stuck with it whether it runs or not.
Cathy
There would be many people out there who would say that they had never had trouble with their Nissans, and that Nissan had treated them fine. I would not dispute such claim, but in your case Nissan clearly has not treated you right, and your Versa remains unreliable. It would go against my principle to give any further chances to Nissan if I were in your position. They have had more than their fair share of that.
It all depends upon application (driving conditions, etc.), but 80,000 miles is well within the designed product life of today's CVTs. However, the same distance driven in your specific time period may not have been within the designed life parameter of the Versa's CVT.
Either way, I am very sorry to hear about your challenges.
I also wonder was the dispatcher at Nissan Canada really being snarky, or was she merely asking what would satisfy you as far as compensation? It could make a difference to them whether they were asked to replace an engine, an engine part, or a whole car. I think I'd write out what the problem is, what was done to fix it so far, and what you feel needs to be done. That may be all they're asking.
I agree with you about the cost. That's a lot of money.
Cathy
Every once in awhile mine revs really high and seems to speed up when the car should be slowing down. i.e. going up a hill or stopping for a light. I thought the speeding up was my imagination until I ran into a young girl at the dealership who was having the exact same problems as I've been having. Her car too has had problems starting in safe mode, engine light staying on, engine revving fast and car speeding up. Being young and her first car she thought this was all normal until one day she tried to drive in safe mode and couldn't drive more than 20 km/hr.
We both bought the car when they first came out and the first time hers acted up was the day before mine did in December 06. When we met, I was at the dealership because the Service Manager had asked me to come in because they wanted to try something on my car. His tech contact at Nissan thought that maybe moisture was affecting one of the sensors (don't know which one) so they took it out and checked for signs of moisture on the wire. There was none. Then they packed the wire with oil and reinstalled the sensor.
The timing belt and CVT belt are both "belts," but the former is a resin/rubber belt and the latter is made of steel. Timing belts are known wear-and-tear materials, whereas the CVT's steel belts are supposed to be semi-permanent.
Of course, the operative expression is "supposed to," because CVT belts have either snapped or loosened up in some applications. But problems are not unknown for traditional automatic transmissions, either. Given very severe driving conditions and/or a high mileage, anything has a potential of braking. That is why transmission repair shops can make a living.
Having said that, I do acknowledge that a high lifetime mileage is at this time a yet-to-be-seen zone for many a CVT. CVTs have been successful in Europe and Japan where most cars rarely experience the kind of lifetime mileage figures that are known in North America.
I got my Versa in October 2007 and didn't have one problem until last month or so. I have been pretty happy with it except for this start-up problem.
On January 31/08 the dealership removed the super multi function connector and packed the wires with dialectic grease. The theory was that moisture was getting onto the wires and causing my problems. The wires were checked for corrosion and there was none. Unfortunately, this did not solve the problem as 3 weeks later the car again went into safe mode when I tried to start it. This time it took me numerous tries to get the car going but the engine light did not stay on beyond the safe mode start. In the past the engine light had remained on after the car had started normally.
On March 3/08 I called Nissan Canada and spoke to a different rep than my first call. He was very attentive to my concerns and became even more so when I told him that I was applying for Arbitration if Nissan could not resolve my problems. He said that he would send my concerns up and that someone would contract me in 2-3 days with a resolution. I have not heard a word from Nissan. On Monday it will be 3 weeks since my call so I will phone again.
Yesterday the dealerships Service Manager called to tell me that across North America there have been reports of starting problems with the Versa. Nissan is now going to tear apart the fuel injection system on a car at Nissan to see if it can find the problem. I had my fuel injection system replaced last September but this did not fix my troubles. Perhaps a faulty part was used in my car initially and then a new part used in the fuel injection fix was also faulty. Who knows.
I'll keep you posted. Before applying to Arbitration I have to prove that I tried to work with Nissan on the problem. Not having had a response in 3 weeks will certainly work in my favor.
Cathy
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Entries
NTB08-033
ALL NISSAN; TIRE PRESSURE INFORMATION
The air pressure inside a tire can change due to several factors, such as:
• Ambient temperature change
• Tire temperature change due to driving conditions
• Altitude change
• Natural pressure loss over time
Discussion Thread 03-12-2008
Hits 21
127.66 Kbytes
Keywords: pressure tire
NTB07-094
2007-2008 NISSAN VERSA; LONG CRANK TIME
BEFORE ENGINE START
The engine needs to be cranked for a long time (4-10 seconds) before the engine starts.
And
Fuel system pressure after engine shutoff drops lower than 200 kPa (29 psi) after 30 minutes time.
Discussion Thread 03-12-2008
Hits 2
225.69 Kbytes
Keywords: crank starting
NTB08-032
2004-2008 ALL NISSAN MODELS WITH TPMS;
TPMS SENSOR SEAL LEAK
When repairing an air leak at a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor System) sensor seal, a seal is now available separately.
Discussion Thread 03-11-2008
Hits 12
41.02 Kbytes
Keywords: leak sensor tire tpms
NTB03-074b
-REVISED-
2001-2009 ALL NISSAN MODELS; EXTERIOR LAMP FOGGING
Customers may notice water in the exterior lamps. Customers may think that this condition is a defect in the lamp. However in many cases some amount of moisture is considered normal. 02-26-2008
Hits 134
323.27 Kbytes
Keywords: fogging headlamp headlight
NTB06-079a
1996-2009 NISSAN MODELS WITH ENGINES: VQ35, QR25, QG18, GA16, VQ40, VK56, MR18, MR20; DTC FOR VARIABLE VALVE TIMING CONTROL FUNCTION
The MIL is on with any of the following DTCs stored:
P0011, P0014, P0021, P0024, P1110, P1135,
NOTE: The engine may also have Camshaft Sprocket rattle noise and/or other engine noise. 01-25-2008
Hits 562
50.84 Kbytes
Keywords: valve dtc timing
NTB08-016
2007-2008 NISSAN VERSA; CHILD SEAT INSTALLATION ISSUES
A lower portion of the fixed seat back makes it difficult to install a child restraint system (CRS) into the LATCH system in accordance with Vehicle Owner’s Manual and CRS instructions.
Discussion Thread 01-22-2008
Hits 4
307.62 Kbytes
Keywords: child seat
NTB08-011
2007 NISSAN VERSA; MIL “ON” WITH DTC P1615 OR P1614 OR P1610 STORED AND ENGINE MAY NOT RESTART WHEN COLD
The MIL is “ON” with any of the following codes stored:
• DTC P1615 or P1614 or P1610.
AND
The engine does not restart in the following conditions
• The vehicle sat for several hours (cold soak) with outside temperatures below -12º C
(10º F); and
• The vehicle was then driven for a short period of time (5-10 minutes); and
• The engine was then turned OFF for a short time (5-10 minutes); then
• The engine cranks but will not start and the MIL illuminates with DTC P1615 or
P1614 or P1610
Discussion Thread 01-16-2008
Hits 6
48.21 Kbytes
Keywords: dtc mil p1615 p1614
NTB08-008
ALL NISSAN MODELS; INTELLIGENT KEY / NATS KEY REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
The Service Procedures for the following will no longer be in Technical Service Bulletins:
• NATS Key registration.
• Intelligent Key registration.
• Steering Look Unit ID Registration
Discussion Thread 01-12-2008
Hits 81
53.93 Kbytes
Keywords: registration nats key
NTB99-060c
-REVISED-
ALL NISSAN MODELS; PAINT SWELL/STAINS/SPOTS UNDER PAINT GUARD FILM
In an effort to protect the paint finish, Paint Guard Film (PGF) is applied on each new Nissan vehicle.
Paint Guard Film (PGF) is a temporary white plastic protective film that is applied by the factory to the horizontal painted surfaces of the vehicle. The PGF protects the paint finish during vehicle handling, transportation and storage from harmful elements such as acid rain, iron particles, bird droppings, tree sap and other environmental contaminants.
Discussion Thread 12-21-2007
Hits 124
75.00 Kbytes
Keywords: paint stains
NTB07-071
2007-2008 NISSAN VERSA; THE FUEL LID AND/OR HOOD WILL NOT OPEN
You are unable to open the fuel lid and/or hood because the cable detaches from the cable
bracket.
Discussion Thread 10-04-2007
Hits 13
121.71 Kbytes
Keywords: fuel lid hood
Nissan has determined that on some model year 2007 Nissan Versa Hatchback vehicles, the connection for the wire harness may have been damaged during manufacturing. If this connection is damaged, the Occupant Detection System may not operate correctly. If this occurs, the red air bag warning light will come on and the passenger side frontal air bag will not work. Driving with a non-working passenger air bag could increase the front passenger’s risk of injury in a collision. To correct this condition, Nissan is conducting a Voluntary Recall Campaign to replace the connector for the front passenger seat belt tension sensor with a new one free of charge.
VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2007 VERSA; BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR CAP
Nissan has determined that the brake fluid reservoir cap on some 2007 model year Versa vehicle fails to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 135 "Light Vehicle Brake Systems." The standard specifies, among other things, certain brake fluid reservoir labeling requirements.
Cathy
I think the days of the shade tree mechanic are about over.