I have only had my maxima for about 9 months now and the grill has started to chip and peel. The top layer of plastic is blistered and partly missing. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

No but its not suprising. Nearly every sliver-plastic front grill I've seen eventually peels. Get a nice Trendz grill like everyone else, save your old crappy one now before it peels more. Then when you go to sell the car you throw the old one one and sell your Trendz one.

CM.

 

This should be covered under the three year warranty.

I see three options:

1 - Have the dealer replace it every time it begins peeling.

2 - Have the dealer replace this one, then replace the new one with your choice of aftermarket grill, storing the new one. You will then have either available when you sell.

3 - Sand and paint the current grill a solid color. I would choose silver for dark colored cars, black for light colored cars. Repaint as necessary.

Others probably have additional ideas.

 

I have the same problem on mine as well. It started to chip after only 6 months. I havent taken it to the dealership yet, so I'm not sure if it is covered under 3 year. I will let you know what I find out.

 

I would immagine its covered under warranty. The chrome strip on the roof has started to peel at the rear drivers side edge. I'll have that looked at the next time I'm at the dealership. I guess its made with the same shoddy materials.

CM.

 

I find it somewhat disappointing that this type problem is showing up this soon. I drove one of my Maximas (1985) 206,000 miles, and kept it a dozen years, and the car looked brand new when I let it go; not one ding; nothing peeling anywhere; even paint was perfect.

 

Take it to the dealer. I'm pretty sure it would be covered.

 

It is covered under warranty. Mine started pealing after 3 - 4 months. The dealer will be replacing it next week.

My Max has needed a fuel pump replaced (cold start problem), the climate control pushbuttons replaced (defrost and AC were sticking together), rough shifting when cold (auto tranny; not resolved), knocking sound from the front suspension (unresolved), and now a shimmy is developing after 8K miles (tires rotated twice so far). The interior's fit and finish also has various problems (doors sticking, glove box misaligned, trim lines don't match, etc.).

I've owned many US and now this Japanese company's car. I'm not very impressed with the Max. Especially with the Japanese quality reputation.

 

PETZUK - I too would be disappointed with such a plethora of problems. But I sort of expected that a total redesign of the Maxima coming at the same time its assembly was moved from Japan to America would be troublesome.

I feel things are slowly getting better, as Maximas built more recently seem to be having less problems. Of course that is no consolation to those who bought early based on the Maxima's solid reputation.

Those having no significant problems are raving about the '04 Maxima as a great car. I certainly understand you will not be applauding along with those folks.

I regret you are having so many problems. I regret even more that you are having trouble getting them resolved. Please keep us informed of your (Nissan's) progress in rectifying each issue.

 

Well that's good...I think I'll bring it up at the next oil change. Then I'll purchase the Trendz grill...does anyone know where I could get one?

 

[
I agree about going after market with the grille. Go to the stillen web site and check out the Trenz grille. I got the polished chrome no logo and everyone that sees it gives me the thumbs up. They are make from solid steel and electroplated chrome....none of this painted plastic c++p. I owne a 2004 SL with custom wheels and painted calipers (silver) and the SE lip spoiler. It's a looker and I love my Max. Mods to come next are AEM CAI and Straight pipe with dual 3" exhaust pipes with large oval Remus mufflers and an ECU upgrade. That should be good for about 40 - 50 hp more! I did notice though strange quality problems with this car compared to my 02 silver Max. Two bolts got loose under the car at different times while the car is only 3 months old now! The first one was the bolt holding the clamp for the y pipe for the mufflers in the rear. It made a loud ugly noise every time I went over uneven pavement. Had it fixed in 24 hours...great service, two weeks later a bolt holding the cat came loose too...24 hours service again. I asked them to use locktite. Never had any such problems with 2k2. Not even a rattle inside! The same week my glove box developed a rattle which they also fixed. And I saw the thread for the uneven glove box...it's true. Even the Japanese versions have this slight cosmetic mistake. I live in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and our Max SL's are fully equipped with no options available. The only option is the lip spoiler and the NAV which was not available in Quebec yet. Other than that the car is great and it is very fast! By the way has anyone noticed that the hood and trunk are made out of aluminum, so is the suspension. You would be suprised to learn that the 04 Max is lighter than most Mustangs!

 

oops double post <edit> read next post down

 

Yep......Poor quality for a J car.....

Sticking cup holder door? Take out the cup inserts and lube the hinge and latch mechanism with silicone spray. Cured mine quickly.


(ooops too.... This is meant to follow the next post, which got edited.)

 

Yep it's happening to my silver`04 Max too. I'm actually taking it in tomorrow and decided to do a forum search. Good to know others are also experiencing this. Didn't want them to tell me it was something I did. Whatever that might be. The silver area around the Nissan logo in front is chipping off and bubbling. At first I thought it was a protective coating the dealer forgot to peel off for me. Nope, it's just a defect. (I fully expect warranty replacement.) Check your grills closely folks before warranty expires. I've already got 20,000 miles on mine. So i figure I don't have 3 years coverage do i? if I go over 30,000 miles before the 3 years is up? I already had to get them to replace a really loose gear shift ****, a new scratched plate around that shifter ***, they put that padded tape around my tach and speedometer displays but under the black trim framing to stop the rattling noise. I thought I had a cracked speaker with all the rattling coming from the clear plastic circular instrument window covers vibrating and making noise. It's much like your cd "jewel" cases if you store them in the door pockets and turn up the radio. Well that's all for now. Though my cup holder push-open door sticks very badly ta boot. I'm just waiting for that black suede trim stuff to peel up someday soon. That's gotta be a given huh?
: )
I do have to say, the Nissan dealer has fixed everything under warranty for me so far. -- I really do like the car too. No joke.

JVardaman

 

I'm taking my car in for service and the grill is on the list, included with:
fog light out
clicking seat
rear deck rattle
dust behind screen
All pretty minor stuff.....I'll let you guys know what happens

 

Just took it in today. They hadn't seen the peeling grill before but said that yes indeed that will be covered under warranty. Thank goodness. Also my beverage holder door that was sticking has a defective latch. They are replacing that also under warranty. The dealership mech told me they have to replace the whole center console to fix the latch as it's all one piece. Woah. Hey, at least it's under warranty or else I wouldn't be paying to have that minor deal fixed. I always have it open anyhow. Glad it's getting fixed though. Keep a look out for your cup holder door latch guys. Yikes. I was asking them today also if there is any aux input on the Bose stereo for a possible iPod input. Anyone know if the Bose systems would have an aux in? Maybe for XM satelite or an extra cd changer aux in? That stereo is going to be trouble if anything ever goes wrong with it. It is just so custom to the Maxima.

J

 

I have noticed the peling on my grille as well. I have had the car since Oct. I am going to the dealer. I have security plus-bronze. Do you know off if ti covers that?

 

Unless you've driven the car over 36K since October, you're covered under the new car warranty.

 

What quality.

LEMAR

 

My grill is holding up nicely, in fact, I took a bird off of it the other day at 80 MPH... left a whitish outline on the center of the grill and on the edge of the hood, but it took it like a champ. I am guessing, by the bazillion feathers that were behind my car, that the bird didn't fare so well...

 

My stock grill was doing allright till a deer decided to destroy it. But for a plastic stocker, it held up pretty well. Even from the impact, the paint didn't chip or peel away.

 

I really like that Trenz grill. It seems really popular in here. Does anyone know of a group deal on it or something special for this club?

 

Ok here's the update on my problems after visiting the dealer:

grill > replacement on order no problem!!

fog light out >fixed

clicking seat >they tightened the track but it still clicks, they'll look at it again when I go back to get my grill

rear deck rattle >fixed no problem even with heavy bass

dust behind screen > they didn't see it , but you only do see it when the sun is directly on it, when it gets worse I'll take it back and he said no problem to fix it as it has a TSB.

I'm happy with my service dept. I was scared to go in there after hearing all the nightmare stories out there, Connel Nissan gets a

 

Just paint it! I think it looks better than most aftermarket grilles (except the Sarona)

 

Well, I just brought my car in for an oil change and told them about the grill. The put in an order for a new grill. No hassle at all!!!

 

Hey Edify11, did you paint your grill yourself or did you take it to a body shop? If you did it yourself, what did you use? I think it looks great and would like to do mine.

 

I took it to a body shop that my local dealer uses. They did a great job and used factory paint. It was quite costly due to the extra care needed to paint through all the little inserts. It cost me around $150.

 

$150 is not bad at all.....Considering that it looks great and the cost of aftermarket grills.

Bob

 

I know this an old thread but I got my grill replaced about 5 months ago under warranty. It looked good for a while now it's peeling again!!!
I guess I'll have another stock one put on under warranty...
I NEED A GOOD AFTERMARKET GRILL DARN IT!!! NO OFFENSE TO ANYONE BUT THE BILLETS JUST AREN'T CUTTING IT FOR ME...
Activetuning where are you??? I looked around on-line to find a Sarona grill, but I can't seem to locate one, any leads would be appreciated...Andymax95, where did you get yours?

 

I did find this one, this looks just like the Sarona grill to me...
Any thoughts on Erebuni Aerodynamics , I've never heard of them.

 

erebuni is a big spoiler, body kits company, based in NY. That is a picture of the sarona grille.

I believe erebuni's website is www.spoilers.com

 

I think Erebuni makes the sarona kit

 

Did u check out my grills? Street Scene, available at Stillen.

 

I still have my OEM chipped up black painted grille in my closet lol...I dont think anyone would want it on Ebay now that my paint failed.

 

Yea, mine did the same blistering thing too... I was wondering what the heck was going on.

 

i had two emblems go...my fix, you ask? While washing my car with the spray gun at the local car wash, i noticed that the pressure from the "rinse" sprayer was peeling the coating off...so i just went for it. Blasted the whole coating off with the water pressure. It even took the black NISSAN lettering, so now it's just perfect. I was going to go aftermarket until this came along...looks good. I'd post some picts, but I have to learn how to first...

phat

 

i know i'm gonna get blasted for this..but i looked and couldn't find...how do i post pictures?

 

replaced mine in abt 1 yr... now its time for a another replacement...
the service guy just said yes as soon as I said "grille peeling" .. so a bit of advice to all u folks out there with these problems ... get it replaced asap! and as jsmith (I think it was him) change the grille once you get a new one.. coz the new one will not last

 

You need to "host" your pics on Car Domain or similar site then post the link in between
[img]location of pic here www.cardomain......follow with this[/img]

That's it...good luck.
J

 

Appears many folks' need to replace factory grille within months to a year. Well, at least good to know there's free replacement for 3 yrs or 36k miles.

Does it help if car is garaged at night? Or is it more to do with driving condition and the free solar power during the day?