This has definitely not been my week. My 2K2 is only a week old and the first two days I had her back at the dealership to straighten out the steering wheel (not centered). Now, I noticed that the "MAXIMA" emblem on the trunk is slightly canted to the left and not level when I look at it from the rear at about 8 ft. I swear, I must have had the only worker who was drinking SAKI on the assembly line. I haven't looked at other Maximas since I noticed this. Does anyone else's MAXIMA emblem slant, too? From the letter "M" to the last letter "A" I measured a little over a quarter inch slope. I thought they had robots putting the emblems on.
(And I also noticed that the "SE" emblem is slightly canted to the right)
Is this normal?????

 

Man.. the SAKI and Tequlia was flowing on Sunday night for your workers.. then they came in on Monday and thought they were making CIVIC SI's... !

 

My emblems are ok, but my steering wheel was off center, too. Actually, they had to tweak the alignment just a bit and center the wheel. Our cars must have been twins! Except I got the sober robot when it came time for decals!

Nice looking white Max...love the white...next to sterling (MY max color and my bias). I, too, love the Nav. I love this car

 

that sucks dood. sorry to hear about all your maxima woes.
but dont it drive nice?

 

What do you mean the steering wheel was not centered? The steering wheel intself or the whole steering column?

How bad was it not centered?

Thanks.

 

I mean that while driving straight, the steering wheel was not level, it was canted to the left, in other words, crooked! If I leveled the wheel, I would veer to the right. It was that way when I took delivery as I also noticed a pull to the right, which is partially why the wheel was off center when driving, meaning, I had to compensate by steering a little left which made the steering wheel of center, get it?

Anyway, they adjusted the alignment and lined up the steering, and now everything is as it should be.

srm

 

I removed the "MAXIMA" and "GLE" letters. It cleans up the rear of the car and it's less clutter to try waxing around. I was going to remove the "NISSAN" emblem too but it has two pins that line up with small holes in the trunk sheet metal.

My front end alignment was off too. It would drift to the left when driving at freeway speeds. Steering wheel was centered okay, even after the wheel alignment (which fixed the drifting problem).

 

Well, they did fix the steering wheel pretty much. But I plan to take her in this morning to see what they can do to fix the crooked emblems. I'm sure they'll tell me that it will take two weeks to get the new emblems in. What a PITA!!
Most car magazines give high ratings for fit and finish for the Nissan Maxima (I'm beginning to wonder about that).
Thanks for your comments!

 

Do yourself a favor and quit looking for cosmetic defects because there are several. I quit looking after spotting 12 defects. Definitely DO NOT start inspecting the hood fit ! But, in fairness to Nissan, our new Honda Accord has just as many defects . And, the ' 02 Altima is a mess, especially the plastic interior fittings. IMO the Maxima's interior fit is much better.

 

Kloogy, you're right...they must have been partying too much and it shows.

ICF, yes, shes does drive like a dream!

Dany, the steering wheel was canted to the left noticeably when driving straight ahead. An alignment was done and it corrected about 85% of the problem.

Slo-Ryde, believe me I thought about taking the MAXIMA emblem off, but then there are no emblems anywhere else on the vehicle which tells others what you're driving.

SptBiz, I know I'm being picky and it's definitely teeing off my significant other. I just don't think it's too much to ask for.

I went to the dealer and they ordered a new emblem (not one in stock anywhere in Virginia). After it arrives, then we shall see how they put it on. Trust me, I'll be there to ensure it goes on straight.

 

there is what seems to be almost a permanent group deal going on in the Group Deals forum of this org for Genuine Nissan Parts. im sure they could get the the emblem for you cheap. they are discounted and genuine nissan, if you wanna save some cash, look into it!

PM or email: Tustin Nissan

"tustinnissan.com will offer anyone mentioning this web site "Maxima.org" big discounts on genuine Nissan parts. Tustin Nissan has been a Nissan/Datsun dealer under the same family ownership since 1972.

We also offer aftermarket accessories such as Razo, APC, PIAA, Euro Lite, Car Mate, Pilot Motorsports, and many others at great prices. Please visit our cool website with "online parts advisors" standing by now to help with your parts needs at:

www.tustinnissan.com

or call 800 225-2905 or 714 669-8282. Thank you"

you can inquire about the emblem in this forum: he'll be sure to reply just tell matt what you need.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....threadid=64024

hope this helps!
enjoy the ride.

 

ICF, many thanks but the dealer told me that the part and labor will be covered under the warranty (I only have about 250 miles on her, picked her up last Saturday).

 

aint nuttin' like free!

 

I'm sorry about laughing dude, but this is so uncanny. A slanted logo is truly the winner of "THE MOST F**K UP S**T THAT CAN GO WRONG WITH YOUR CAR AWARD"

Just yesterday a co-worker was saying how Nissan/Infiniti is making some really great looking cars that's really way ahead of the game. But what's up with thing always breaking??
I've already been in for two alingments and the car still drifts to the left. If something else is wrong tell me and stop wasting am time.

But good luck dude!!!

 

Speaking of weird screw ups did you hear about the front passenger door window in the ' 02 Altima ? Apparently Nissan over lubricated the mechanism that supports the window within the door. Every time you roll the window down then roll it back up an oil mark appears on the window. You either have to carry windex with you or have it repaired which involves dismantling the door ! Reminds me of the beeswax ( for sound proofing ) leaking out of the VW doors.

 

Dude, from what alot of people have written, I personally would just live with them like that until something REALLY needs to be fixed at the dealer...

With stuff like this, and even the hood flutter fix, I just have a hard time taking a car to a shop where very likely they will screw something else up in the process of 'fixing' what it is in there for....

Just an opinion...

 

SptBiz, that is something. It would drive me crazy. You know for the last 10 years I've heard nothing but high praise for Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc. and so I finally decided to get an import. But with the steering wheel being off centered (now fixed) and the shoddy placement of the very noticeable and big MAXIMA emblem on the back I may want to go back to GM and Ford.

 

gm and ford? no need to swear!

 

My car doesn't seem to drift to any side, it drives pretty straight. And steering wheel is straight.

But what I noticed, the thing that has the switches for lights and wipers, I think it is called steering column, not sure.. it is slanted a little to the right. Just a little bit.
When I test drove 2002 Maxima before getting mine, I noticed the same thing.

Is that what you were talking about when you said your steering wheel was not centered?

 

Dany, I know exactly what you mean...it's the level block right behind the steering wheel. By looking at that in comparison to the steering wheel it will tell you if you're wheel is canted to the left or right depending on how much you see of the "light stalk" (canted to the left) or the "windshield wiper stalk" (when it's canted to the right)...assuming the car is going straight. I was always seeing a lot of the "light stalk" eventhough some of it is caused by "crowned roads."

 

IF TRUE here's another Altima complaint that makes me happy that I chose the Maxima !

I heard that the " dual exhaust " isn't real dual exhaust. Also, one exhaust pipe is larger in diameter than the other ? ! One thing that I personally noticed with the Altima that discouraged me was that the electric fuel pump is noisy. Other Altimas on the lot that I checked were just as loud. Supposedly a Nissan trait but I don't notice this noise with the Maxima. I checked with a couple of independent Nissan mechanics and they told me that the fuel pump noise shouldn't be that noticeable. ( BTW Mark, your Maxima description is identical to mine )

 

SptBiz, yes, I noticed it. I searched all over Southeast VA for that Sterling Mist SE. I finally found the one I wanted in Richmond. In hindsight I do wish that I had checked the rear emblems first...oh, well, I'll get them to fix it.
I'll being going offline for a bit...I'll catch ya later. Mark

 

Hmm, so what did the dealer fix? I mean I don't really see that level block be slanted that much, just a little bit.
I am afraid that dealer can make it even worse.
Maybe you have a pic?

Thanks.

 

Dany, actually the dealer said that I could take off the original emblem if I want to (and I may do this) and then I'll watch carefully as he replaces it with new one.

 

don't know if that's normal or not, but mine was like that too..so i just took it off!

 

So, what did they fix for the steering column. Did you have similar thing that I described I see?

Thanks.

 

irvine, any problems getting it off. I plan on using a hair dryer and some fishing line in order to remove the letters (and then some 3M adhesive remover to clean it up).