OK, here's the idea:

Turn this post into a sticky.

We begin by explaining how Nissan HIDs are being snatched left & right... in wealthy & poor neighborhoods alike. This increases insurance payments, and it's a big hassle going back & forth to the dealership to get a new replacement for the lights.

Nissan North America has been notified, but refuses to do anything about this: we can point to the thread where someone here contacted them & they replied: "it's your problem, not ours" in their generic letter. (only problem is I can't search of it right now hehe)

People can post comments & experiences w/HID theft.

If this does become a sticky, Nissan may notice it and do something about it. Unlikely, but possible. If they don't care and refuse to change anything, the Sticky will remain up there diverting some buyers away from Maximas...

Does anyone know if the 2004 Models have the same plastic headlight housings? If they do, this could also go in the 6th gen forum.

Moderators, would you do us this favor?

I can edit this post & clean it up after it's a sticky. I'm hoping someone will agree that this is a good idea.

BTW: I'm always paranoid about parking my car! It doesn't matter where I am! I shouldn't have to feel like this all the time damn it!!! It's very weird feeling "unsure" about parking your car... especially when you love it so much. I've never been this paranoid with my 2000 Blazer, and that was a leased vehicle (you break it - you buy it)

G

 

I'm going to a Saint Patrick's celebration in Savannah, GA. Will I be ok? I'm skured
Are these "theft deterrent" "locks" any good?

 

Been there, done that. Between innumerable paint chips and phantom 3.5L horsepower, Nissan could care less about the members of this forum. They know about the problem.......they also believe it's not their problem.

 

Well pooh, I can't find the post. Hyundai originally posted the Tiburon to have 181hp and then admitted that it had only 170hp. Before being prompted by a lawsuit, they went under their own accord and gave each customer that purchased a Tiburon, within a certain time frame 3 different, very generous offers for mistating the facts. That's a company with integrity!

 

Hyundai took care of their customers. I wished Nissan would do they same for us. We are suppose to be on a higher level that Hyundai. If Nissan doesn't watch, Boom

 

It's gonna be harder to stay ahead with Hyundai being the #2 most reliable carmaker in the world! Toyota #1 Honda and Hyundai tied at #2 and Nissan in 4th.

 

it's all about chance and being at the wrong place at the wrong time. the maxima is a good car, and a future buyer shouldnt be discouraged from the risk of HID theft even tho it is something to consider

 

02MaXiMa_GLE,

I know that you are concerned with this issue but there is a problem that follows.

When people see that HID thefts are common for the Maxima, people would stay away from it. You're right. But, on the other hand, the demand for Maxima decreases and soon you will find that your Maxima will depreciate much faster than it already is.

That's only one good reason. There are many others.


~limsandy

 

Nissan already responded to the horsepower issue with a song and dance about how they measure it.

 

No Maxima owner should have to worry about parking their car, PERIOD! Had I know about the risk... I may have bought an Acura instead. I love driving, but if I can't park my car anywhere I please, then that's taking away from my pleasure of driving. Future buyers SHOULD be discouraged from buying a car that is #1 on the Headlight-Theft Hitlist. Would you by a house that had one of the walls made completely out of styrofoam?... of course not! That's an invitation for any criminal!

The insurance companies will eventually catch-on and raise our premiums. Why?... cause we drive a car that is targeted by a new breed of criminals: teenagers in civics.

Nissan should own-up and (at least) design a solution - I am willing to pay for it! I will pay for peace of mind, even if it's a result of "idiotic engineering 101"

G

 

It's in the 5th Gen forum where I posted it

Touch me with your nasty little pointer Hyundai Link

 

maxima headlight theft isn't that high in my area. any nice looking car has the risk of getting broken into, but that's a risk one has to take. maximas aren't alone, even acura (TL-S, CL-S) are having problems with their HIDs getting stolen also. i am going to stand by my point. until nissan does own up for their mistake, would you mind having maxima sales decrease because of the risk of HID theft?

 

Yup. But I did not buy my car, hoping that it will increase in value. I bought it to enjoy spirited worry-free driving. 99.99% of cars manufactured today will depreciate in value EOS. So I didn't buy my car as an investement. It's my "tool" for getting places. SHIFT_TOOL

One general lesson in life: No changes will occur, if no one complains.

G

 

Two questions:

1) How exactly do you "steal the HID headlight housing" w/out opening the hood or ruining the paint? How do you get the power ballasts out - aren't they way down in the engine bay?

(no I'm not asking so I know how, I'm asking because this makes no sense)

2) Why don't you guys all just purchase the "HID anti-theft kit" someone posted? Does it not work?


K

 

Haha.. funny you mentioned this! My friend had his 2k3 Maxima HIDs stolen from his driveway. The thieves did not touch his mother's 2k2 TL-S sitting right next to it!!! They live in a development where most homes range from $500,000 - $1,000,000

G

PS> do you own shares of Nissan stock?...

 

NO - the thieves will use a crowbar if they can't open the hood. Then you'll also have to worry about getting you car to the bodyshop for more work!

G

 

no, i don't own shares in nissan stock, but i think you're beginning to take this in the wrong direction. acura headlight theft might not be as common as maxima headlight theft (because maxima's are easier to steal?). you pose a good argument, but i would have to disagree. try investing in a better alarm?

 

An additional alarm would never put me at ease, if I know that someone will still target my headlights. We need a device to PREVENT theft, not DETER it. My insurance company only cares about the bottom line - and it's only a matter of time before they decide to bump up the premiums for 2k2-up maximas.

Hmm... you may still disagree, but I'd like to hear what the 2k2-up owners think.

G

 

I think we got the shaft, but I'm pretty sure that Nissan will not do a damn thing about it. Once it's sold, it's almost entirely on us (which really sucks). Very few cases (and I mean VERY few) ever make a dent in the manufacturers ('99 SVT Mustang Cobra is one of the few that won). They'll just let us pay for their own neglegience and mis-engineering.

 

What about those goofy fake bullet hole stickers that people buy to play pranks on their friends with?

Just slap those on whenever you park (in a shady area).. maybe it will deter them..


Side note: Has anyone considered swapping in 01 headlight housings (non-HID) but putting in their 02/03 lights and ballasts? That way you get the non-HID look but you can keep your HID.. ?? Just a thought..


Also, what about getting some proximity (radar) sensors for your alarm, mounting them in your grill or right behind the headlights and set it to a really short range so it will only go off if someone is like within 6 inches of your headlight or something??

 

Dam that sucks I was thinking of buying a 03 Se and now looking at this post I don't know if I want the 03 cuz of the HID. How much is it to replace the HID?

 

Get the nissan theft deterrent kit and install the new bolts. It should stop them from stealing the HID's cause it would take em too long to undo the bolts, they'd more likely move to a different car than keep trying so as not to attract attention to themselves.

 

Well your insurance company will have to replace them at Dealer cost probably: $1200-$1400 (since DaveB is no longer a parts rep)

Yeah, if you have any doubts about parking it in low-traffic areas... do not get an 03. Trust me it's a horrible feeling. Maybe the 04s are better at "keeping" their headlights on?

G

 

Mr. Criminal:

Tries to pop your hood & take your lights... spends about 15sec, and notices that it is impossible to pop your hood... so he quietly walks away. Wow, the Hood-safety kit worked, right? WRONG!...

Now Mr. Criminal knows where your car is & returns with a fellow friend: Mr. Crow Crowbar. So Mr. Criminal & Mr. Crow are putting a few nice dents & marks on your Max, and about 60sec later... they take Mr. and Mrs. Headlights for a walk...

= you

On the brightside: they were never able to pop your hood.

G

 

1. Nissan doesn't care about HID theft, they make money on every new pair of HIDs sold.
2. Toyota doesn't care about identical keys in 50% of their Camrys, they make money when yours gets stolen and you buy a new one.
3. Chrysler doesn't care about the rear latch on their minivans, a .50 pice could keep the latch from breaking thereby saving people's lives from being ejected through the rear door.
4. GM doesn't care about putting a better wheel mechanism on their 15 pass vans, Blazers and Tahoes. That's why the spare underneath those vehicles is stolen at about a 60% rate right now. Guess what, their customers go right back and buy another tire from GM.

Face it, it's not about Nissan, it's about the money. Most of these issues have to do more with unscrupulous (sp?) body shops that buy gray market parts than anything else.


We need a device to PREVENT theft, not DETER it.
Ha! IF you ever invent this device you will be a millionaire. There is no such thing yet to prevent somehing from getting stolen. Everything you buy to protect your property/stuff is to deter theft.

 

I am glad that My Max has HIDs and I do not blame Nissan for including them, in fact it was one of the reasons I bought a 02.

How can you feel they are liable for giving you good lighting? Do you think the Audi,BMW,Lexus etc. owners are feeling put out because they have HIDs??

The Maxima does not get 40 mpg cause it has too much power?

 

02Maxima_GLE: I definitely hear where you're coming from, and although my area isn't known for HID theft (Boston, MA), I'm still concerned when I park in unfamiliar places because you never know. I also feel bad for all the Maxima brothers here from NYC and Jersey who have had their lights stolen. However, putting up a sticky won't do anything. Nissan has to be aware of the HID theft issue with their 02/03 Maximas because it has been discussed in various newspapers, local and national. So I'm sure they are well aware of the faulty design, but will not design a remedy. Why? Cause they have to spend more $ on R&D, which they will not do. On top of that, as others have mentioned, Nissan makes money by selling the HIDs, so the theft has increased their parts sales (I would imagine). Basically we, the owners, are screwed, and have to deal with this on our own.

This would create a glare problem, the kind you see on other cars with aftermarket HID kits. The 02/03 lens is designed/shaped so that it focuses the light beam on the road, with a precise cutoff, and no glare. The 01 housing is made for halogen bulbs, and so it won't work well with HID bulbs and balasts.

By the way, if your lights get stolen, insurance will cover it. But the damage can vary, depending on how "skillfully" the lights were removed. If it was done w/out any body damage, then your facing the cost of the headlight units. If they used a crowbar and "roughed" them out, you could be looking at a bill upwards of $5000.

 

I think it should be added that location matters when talking of HID theft. It should be changed to "Don't buy a Maxima if you live in NYC, Philly, or NJ."

And as for the "phantom 3.5L power," try the phantom 3.8L power of a GM car. I will take the 3.5L engine any day.

 

While this is en vougue, "Don't Buy a Nissan Since They are Part Owned by the FRENCH (Reanult)"

 

 

I didn't think making a car was a mistake, its not Nissan's fault completely. You have to blame the criminals first. Anything can be stolen. I do agree that this should be a TSB and that nissan should be engineering a higher quality anti-theft device for the HIDs, and it should be free, but you can't expect them to think of this stuff right off the bat, you design, and you run into problems. You live and you learn. Maybe beating HID theives to a bloody pulp is the answer, maybe a better anti-theft kit, but you can't put all the blame on a car company for putting higher quality devices/features in their cars.

 

no one buys an everyday car hoping it will appreciate...but if one car depreciates less than the other, it's a better investment. A BMW 3 series for example holds it's value really well, it doesn't appreciate, but it doesn't depreciate as fast either.

btw, is your complaint about the Headlight stealing more based on the fact that they are easy to steal? is that what you are saying?

How do you want this rectified? do you want Nissan to make something that secures them to the vehcile better, and give it to us as part of a TSB/Recall?

Why is the Maxima the #1 HID theft vehicle? is it due to the ease of stealing, or are they considered the easiest to resale?

I'd imagine it's the latter, and people are reselling them to y2k/2k1 owners on eBay...

the y2k/2k1 owners that are putting 2k2/2k3 headlights on their cars are the problem...no? if they weren't buying, the theives would have no reason to steal? supply/demand.

-vq

 

I'd be willing to bet that prev. year Maximas aren't the #1 consumers of the stolen HIDs. IMO, it's the Civic, VW, older Accord, Prelude, etc etc riced out cars that are the biggest customers. Afterall, most of the stolen HIDs are used only for the bulbs and the ballasts, and the housing just gets thrown away.

 

educational...

I didn't know that they were all interchangeable...

-vq

 

Nope. A Leprechaun might try to steal your HID's or worse steal the whole car.

 

Owned by the French??!? You mean I'm driving a car associated with the cheese eating surrender monkeys (<-French)??!? I feel so dirty... I'm going to sit in my shower and cry.

 

 

I didn't say making a car was a mistake. maybe my choice of words is wrong, but what i meant is just as 02MaXiMa_GLE said in an earlier post, nissan should "own up" and try to create a solution. beating up HID thieves would be a good idea. if enough are caught and beaten, this would dissuade potential thieves. i say create a national "meet and beat", where maxima owners beat down the thieves (that are caught)

 

Well, I am aware of the HID theft going on, but admittedly I don't worry about it too much living in Salt Lake City. When I park at work, I always take a spot up against the concrete wall. When my tires touch the curb, my license plate is about 1" from the wall. I know this isnt much, but I figure it would be a royal pain in the **** to get in front of the car to try and manipulate anything. I park in the garage at home...

Maybe I am missing a point, but I fail to see how Nissan is responsible for HID theft. Is there a design flaw that makes them easy to steal compared to HIDs on an Audi or BMW? It seems to me this is like saying its Honda's or Toyota's fault that the Accord and Camry are the most frequently stolen vehicles in the country.

 

I just typed a long response and correted all the typos and spelling mistakes when my computer locked up and it was lost . Gateway=****!!!!!

I belive there are several reasons why the Maxima HIDs are targeted by thieves. (of course correct me if I am wrong)

• The ballast is part of the housing, so they theif can get everything in one shot.
• The plastic tabs that hold the light in place are easily broken, so the headlight can be rmoved quickly without unscrewing anything.
• The hood opens easily from the outside.

Even if you get some sort of anti theft kit the thief will not know it until he attempts to steal your HIDs. It is likly that your car will be damaged in the attempted theft so you still have repair costs. And regarding the first post, I belive the paint can be ruined in the theft attempt making the damage much more than just the cost of replacing the lights. If all Maximas where equiped with an anti theft kit or something was done to make the HIDs less desirable (move ballast to a more secure location for example) theives would soon learn they where not such easy targets and there would be less attempted thefts.

I can't remember the models but I read an article about an Acura (with HIDs) that uses a headlight that is interchangable with a Honda(without HIDs) and they have very high rates of HID theft for this reason. Some owners have even traded in their cars at a loss because of this, so it is not only a problem with the Maxima.

I belive that Nissan should definatly do something about the ease of stealing the HIDs and the paint quality is also a concern. However - A base model 2003 Maxima comes very well equiped with HIDs, alloy wheels, ABS, Power everything, 255HP engine (it's still a good engine), six speed, Etc. and can be bought brand new for under $20,000. It's hard to compare to other cars when you don't know how they are being discounted but that seems like an incredible deal to me. Even knowing thedownsides of the 2003 Maxima I would definatly consider one (if I was in the market for a new car) because it seems to be an incredible value compared to other new cars on the market.