Bought me a brand new '03 Maxima in September '02.

In winter '02, I discovered the CD player in the "premium sound system" head unit (call it unit #1) skips when it gets cold. I took it to the dealer, but they couldn't duplicate the symptom.

This past March I took it in again, and they were able to make it happen. They replaced it with a new head unit, but that one (unit #2) was defective right out of the box, and wouldn't play CD's at all. Unfortunately for me they forgot to put my old one back in (it plays fine when warm), and I was left without a CD player for a month until the next unit (unit #3) was installed.

Early last month the left audio channel started crapping out whenever unit #3 got warm. Dealer observed symptoms, and ordered unit #4.

Unit #4 was installed last Friday, 9/3. Dealer called a few hours after I dropped it off and said it's ready, but the display is all screwed up.



They have ordered unit #5.

Keep in mind I'm less than 2/24K into the 3/36K warranty. I would not expect unit #5 to survive the warranty.

Picked up car that afternoon, and at the same time I got the NissanUSA customer service # from the dealer. Called them when I got home, and proposed to them that they refund me the "premium audio package" purchase price (don't know what it was on my '03, but for the current model it's $1,000) and take back the existing head unit; I would take the $1000 and install my own reliable aftermarket head unit. Probably even splurge and get a trunk-mounted 20-gig MP3 server. $1000 would buy some nice gear. Considering the five times I've dropped off the car for service, and the fact that I've only had a properly-functioning sound system for three months out of the last two years, I don't think this is unreasonable.

Anyway, they took down all my info and are considering the offer. They called back last night, left a message, I tagged back this morning; waiting again to hear back.

When I spoke to them last Friday, I told them Michigan's lemon law might be applicable in this case (and it truly might, depending on how you read it); the rest of the car has been good, so what I'd really like is this car with a reliable sound system. But if they aren't cooperative, I will give the lemon law will get a more thorough reading...

 

LOL, spoil yourself and have an aftermarket headunit setup installed already...
(well, maybe once it's out of warranty anyhow)

 

welcome to the dead radio club buddy. happen to me .....umm not as much as you .. i got ****ed after getting my unit replaced 2 times. went and got me an aftermarket pioneer mp3 player .. and been happy ever since.

 

Welcome to the club, do yourself a favor and buy yourself an aftermarket head unit. Mine crapped out the first week of ownership of my Max.. Got another factory unit and that one crapped out in two months,for the cost of a factory unit, i got a great deal from crutchfield and got a Pioneer 6500 DEP CD player and a two pioneer 6 1/2" speakers with the head unit for free for a mere $245 last christmas! Haven't looked back yet!

Hopefully you can do the same!

 

i am on BLOSE #3 and its been working like a champ for the past 9 months

 

I bought an 02 and the cd player was kaput in it as well. Dealer claimed ignorance, but I made them replace it and then put in an aftermarket setup.

 

Just purchased an 02 with 60,000 miles and my 6disc changer skips all over the place. I wanted to keep everything stock, but there's no way I'm going to pay for a stock unit, just to have it fail again.

 

It took number five for them to fix mine. This was on a 2002 and was in the first year of it's life. It is working fine now. Of course don't ask about the brakes, paint chips, battery, tires, hood vibration, O2 sensors, cam/crank sensors, lower control arms and now air conditioner. Some are fixed, most are not. I guess I shouldn't complain. After all even their crappy dealer service tech even told me that 21,000 miles is "a lot of miles for a two year old car". This was when he was telling me that he would replace the original battery with a 60 month or 72 month battery. I told him either was fine as long as it wasn't a 24 month battery. He then replied that he had never heard of a 24 month battery. I replied that I had not heard of one until I purchased a 2002 Nissan Maxima. He had no come back for that one. Only two more years until I am out of the lease.

 

I had the same skipping problems in cold weather and then the left speakers went dead too.... dealership replaced the unit for free and so far its been good.... but we'll see what happens in a couple months....