Has anyone with a 2002 Maxima experienced a problem with the passenger's side front door being much harder to close than any of the other doors? The dealer says the car is tight and they all are that way. But, he can't explain why none of the other three doors on the car exhibit the problem.

Also, does anyone know how the interior pieces around the gear shifter can be disassembled. I am trying to eliminate a noise in that area but can't figure out how to get in there.

yes, i had the exact same problem with mine, you just have to put your foot down and let them know that it is unacceptable for how much you paid for a brand new car--it took me 2 trips to get the dealer to do something to fix the problem--don't take any excuses the dealership tries to give you about the door, by buying that car you put $$ in their pockets, they owe you the respect and the service

sorry, i don't know about your other problem, what noises are you talking about

I had the same problem with my SE. The dealer where I bought the car attributed it to air pressure and said if it is the last door closed of course it will be harder. I actually took the car to another dealer this morning for an oil change and they adjusted it for me. I have no problems now.

I think the noise I am getting in under the gear selector(automatic trans) is related to the shift lock mechanism. When the car is not moving or slowly moving with the transmission in drive, you get a pronouned clicking noise from the gear selector area when you press and release the brake pedal. You also notice the noise, although less pronounced, during normal driving as you slow to a stop at a redlight or stop sign.

The dealer claims the noise is normal but I have never heard a sound this noticable from any car that I have driven with a auto trans.

I used to find it annoying that my friends cannot close the passenger door properly. Of late, that have not occurred as much. Things have loosen up.

this is interesting....I have had the same prob on my 00 for last year and a half! Why passengers side door???? Do you know what the dealer did to adjust it?

Coincidence, I think not. My freakin 2k has this problem. If anyone nows a permanent fix please let me know. I've been using lithium grease on the black joint like someone recommended and that works for a while

Its almost as if the door is heavier and doesn't swing freely like the other doors. Someone please post a fix. (I have another solution but it may involve something short of killing a service tech)

thanks
woosh

Same problem here...you have to slam it, but now that I think of it, people haven't had problems lately. So maybe it just needs to break in, in some cases.

I will know tomorrow

i have the same prob on my 2K GXE. When I brought car to the dealer at 3k mi he said that the rubber is new, it'll settle in. The hell it did.

it helps if you *push* the door shut, instead of swinging it. I have no problems doing it that way.

Just one more sign these cars are pieces of cr*p.
I've had to shut mine 3 times sometimes to get it to close. If a window is cracked - no problem.
Also, when new there is no grease in the door hinges, so lubing them with some lithium does help a little.
I remember on my 3rd gen. there were vents at the rear window to relieve the pressure in the car and the doors shut easily. Nissan seems to forget what works and then repeat it.

thinking more and more about an A4

I would agree with some of what you are saying, but I would not go as far to say that they are pieces of cr*p! Every model by every make out there has something undesireable about it.

Audi's are not peaches and cream! I have to admit, they make some great cars, but I have also heard some not so good stuff about them as well.

Re: passenger side door not closing

This has been brought up before in several threads.

I had the same problem with my 2k2. I MISTAKENLY thought that it was from the "air pressure" of the car. That the car was just so damn air-tight that it had to do that, until it got worse. I was wrong. I brought it to the dealer and they had it closing with that trade-mark "thoush" in less than 5 minutes! Honestly...5 minutes. I asked him what the problem was and he said:

"Apparently certain maxima's are coming off the assembly line with the door hindges a little too tight. We recieve these all the time. This is the 5th or 6th 2k2 I've seen with this problem. (I got mine in Oct/01!) I just loosened it like the rest of the doors."

Don't accept a problem that can easily be fixed just because some of the dealersdon't have a clue!

All four of my doors work perfect now.
Problem fixed.

If your dealer has any problems, they can call Mossy Nissan in Houston, Tx. for help.

Chazmax

It's funny that you should mention that because my wife has been complaining about it since I got the car (3 months ago) and I just thought she was used to my previous car and it was just 'different'.

After seeing your post I tried the front passenger door myself and it is definitely harder to close than the driver one!!! I guess the guy assigned to the passenger door, on the assembly line, is doing something wrong...

Alain