Nissan reliability

[pink hope]

Hey folks. I'm in the market for a new car and happened upon this site after deciding on a manual G35 coupe. This will be my first Nissan purchase. Up until now I've owned Honda and Toyota.

My experience with all things Honda have been great. I still have a 90 Accord in the family that's been in 2 major accidents w/180 on the odo. Running pretty good to this day. Also have an 01 RSX that's rock solid except for the low torque...but that's not really a quality issue. Oh yeah, and the lawnmower that was beat to shit and left outdoors for 9 years that lasted for, well, 9 years.

Toyota was ok. Had an 02 Tacoma that was mechanically sound but had some minor quality issues just 6 months after the date of purchase. Annoying things like the power windows getting real jerky, trim that was rattling, and an ash tray that wouldn't stay shut.

Anywho, before the Toyota incident I was under the impression that all Japanese car companies excel in quality control. Soooo, my question is, how does Nissan hold up in the quality/reliabilty department? Major mechanical components and also the small little things that can get annoying if shit falls apart.

[Hot Foot]

I have had several Nissan vehicles and would rate them very mechanically reliable. Had a few oxygen sensors go out early during the warrantee period on a few cars. I feel the performance is better than Honda or Toyota for comparable models and cost. Most folks complain about the paint chipping easy when small pebbles or debris hit the front end.

[GTO2050]

I have owned a few of each, 1 Nissan, 1 Infiniti, 1 Toyota, 1 Lexus, 1 Acura. I have to rank them the same. I think that Infiniti and Lexus have a leg up on Acura with dealer service though. Infiniti has been more than attentive through any issues I have had and they have been few.

[Superdane73]

Originally Posted by pink hope

Hey folks. I'm in the market for a new car and happened upon this site after deciding on a manual G35 coupe. This will be my first Nissan purchase. Up until now I've owned Honda and Toyota.

My experience with all things Honda have been great. I still have a 90 Accord in the family that's been in 2 major accidents w/180 on the odo. Running pretty good to this day. Also have an 01 RSX that's rock solid except for the low torque...but that's not really a quality issue. Oh yeah, and the lawnmower that was beat to shit and left outdoors for 9 years that lasted for, well, 9 years.

Toyota was ok. Had an 02 Tacoma that was mechanically sound but had some minor quality issues just 6 months after the date of purchase. Annoying things like the power windows getting real jerky, trim that was rattling, and an ash tray that wouldn't stay shut.

Anywho, before the Toyota incident I was under the impression that all Japanese car companies excel in quality control. Soooo, my question is, how does Nissan hold up in the quality/reliabilty department? Major mechanical components and also the small little things that can get annoying if shit falls apart.

Well, IMHO, Nissan products are very reliable, and hold their value extremely well. However, I would say that Toyota and Honda beat Nissan in both of those catagories. But that is still third best on the American market, for the money. I owned a Nissan Maxima and a Nissan Sentra in the past and had no problems to speak of. They have been great get-around cars, and don't often try to make dramatic fashion statements. Until of course the 350Z and the G coupe came to town. (NSX qualifies too )

So far, after 5000 Miles on my new G35 6MT coupe, I have to say that I am really impressed with the quality of their products. I often find myself yelling out loud "I love this car!!" as I'm racing down the autobahn, passing Bmers and Benz's. These cars also really seem to hold their value and sex appeal long after purchase.

I guess the only thing I would have hoped for is that Nissan would at least match the warranty period of their Korean counterparts... but I guess they figure "why the hell should we??"

[GTO2050]

Superdane....where in Germany? I love those roads over there. I can't imagine what it would be like to drive untethered!

[quikcls]

i've worked on all kinds of makes, no worries.. in reference to your comment on quality control..it seems to me that ever since the foriegn auto manu's started assembling their vehicles outside of their homeland ( Japan/ Germany) quality control has def gone downhill!!

[msb3079]

Originally Posted by quikcls

i've worked on all kinds of makes, no worries.. in reference to your comment on quality control..it seems to me that ever since the foriegn auto manu's started assembling their vehicles outside of their homeland ( Japan/ Germany) quality control has def gone downhill!!

you say... American dumb?!

[Lardoggy]

Have owned 2 nissans before my G, a Maxima and a 240SX and have never had a major problem with any of these cars (driven for a total of about 10 years altogether)

[rbichara]

I haven't read or experienced any major quality issues, but the little annoyances that you can probably live with, but shouldn't have to in a $35-40K car are too many..
Examples: various rattles and clicking sounds, various alignment and tire wear issues, brake pad wear issues, gear box not up to par with Honda or BMW (vibration and overall feel), paint quality issues (go for a clear bra), various windows motor issues, various sound system issues...
Seatbelt issues (design and comfort)

I think that those of us with 03-04 cars have more problems than the 05's.. Hopefully, Inifniti will have fixed even more problems in the 06 cars..
I say wait for an 06.. and you should experience less problems than most of us..

Good luck

[ironrice]

No major issues here, just minor ones with the G. Interior quality of this car is subpar for a 'luxury' car. I got rattles like I got snakes in the car, on the rear view mirror, rear deck, and sunroof. I had an axel problem I just got fixed under warranty. The clutch rattles time to time.. Paint is holding up fine on my car. Dispite these things I love my car. Oh and the Bose system sucks ass. The damn CD player skips when the temp goes below 80 and my driverside speakers went out for awhile. Found out it wasn't the speakers or the amp because it worked well when I played the radio. How I fixed it was I took out all the CD's and reinserted it. Wow BOSE SUCKS ASSSSSSS!

[pink hope]

Well damn, I was hoping the car would hold up better than this. However, since there seems to be no major problems I guess the rest can be ignored. Hopefully I'll have my mind made up 100% by the time the 06 rolls around. Right now it's kind of a toss up between G35 and S2000 with my mind leaning heavily towards the G35. I mean, I'd have to have my top up on the S2000 50% of the year in NoVa. Thanks for your input.

[Superdane73]

Wow, I want to respond to several things here:

1st, I'm stationed in Germany close to the Dutch/Belgian border, and the roads are fooking sweeeet.

2nd, RELAX about the quality issues on the 2003/04 G35 guys. ALL new models come out with minor problems, and it always takes 2 or 3 model years to work out all the bugs. My 05 has NO problems whatsoever; no squeeks or rattles from anywhere. The upgrades for this model year really bring it close to the mark they were originally shooting for - the 3 Series Bmer.

3rd, American labor is not where the problems lay guys. Take the Toyota Camry for example - built in the States, and is well known as the best built and most reliable car in the country. Japanese parts put together by American hands. There are many such examples.
-- The reason you see so many crappy "American" labels is because of where they buy their parts from -- CHINA, Korea, Taiwan... you name it; to keep the costs down. But they just don't get it!! Americans are really WILLING to pay a little extra to get some quality!

American labor is great! Find the occasional thing completely manufactured in the States and you will see that it's very well made. The entire world comes to the states for the latest computer chips and military products (for example).

Don't dump on America fellas.. but feel free to dump on the dumbass CEO's of the Top 3 Automakers for continuing the Status Quo!

[alexn103]

why does our tranny suck so bad? i hate the way it feels when you shift. its like you have to force it into gear. My 03 toyota corolla and my friends Scion TC shift so much smoother than our g35. this sucks.

why does the interior look so plasticy? i never really noticed it before, but then when i compared my car to my dads new SLK, my sisters 325ci, and my moms 325i, i see the germans make it look so more luxurious.

what's up with the rough idle? why so shakey? feels like i'm in a 1986 300zx w/ 200,000 miles on it. it makes me worry about the life of the engine and if its gonna make it past 150,000 miles.

what does the whole car shake when you turn off the engine? i know stepping on the clutch will make the rumbling disappear, but it shouldn't have to be like that. It should shut off smoothly and quietly.

i have an 04 and the stupid sunglass thing can't even hold sunglasses.

oh yea, did i mention the crappy tranny

[rbichara]

[quote="
2nd, RELAX about the quality issues on the 2003/04 G35 guys. ALL new models come out with minor problems, and it always takes 2 or 3 model years to work out all the bugs. [/quote]

That is great for you, but how does the fact help all of us with the 03-04 cars and all the problems

[platinum G]

Originally Posted by pink hope

Well damn, I was hoping the car would hold up better than this. However, since there seems to be no major problems I guess the rest can be ignored. Hopefully I'll have my mind made up 100% by the time the 06 rolls around. Right now it's kind of a toss up between G35 and S2000 with my mind leaning heavily towards the G35. I mean, I'd have to have my top up on the S2000 50% of the year in NoVa. Thanks for your input.

First, Nissans have excellent quality and Infiniti's are a notch above that. I've owned several Toyota's, Honda's and Nissans. They all are great, except for the '98-'02 Accord V-6 automatics (transmission drop like bad habbits). My wife has a '97 Infiniti QX4 w/ 116Kmi on it and no problems EVER! Paint and leather still look showroom new (no lie). My father has owned 6 Maxima over a span of 20 yrs and never had issues. I had a 300zx ('91) w high mileage and no issues, also had several Maxima's myself and the engines/transmissions are nearly flawless over the long haul.
Second, the S2000 in my opinnion, is not the car the g35 is. S2000 has very little torque, no back seat, little trunk space and the exhaust note sounds wimpy compared to a G35. The G offers the best all around performance/practicality for the buck. However, the S2000 is a completely different car, so it depends on what you want out of your car. My suggestion: Get a used G for $27K and by a used Miata for $10K so you can have the drop top...best of both worlds!!