Exterior Hardware Problems
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,130
Exterior Hardware Problems
Been having some problems with my '17 SL:
1. Driver side C-pillar trim (the black/chrome piece that "appears" to make the roof "float") adhesive gave way. It's still partially attached but I dare not be rough with my wash mitt! Seems like some 3M tape would do the trick but No, dealer insisted he had to order. Been 1 month on backorder now.
2. Last week I noticed the driver side rear wheel well insulator/splash guard was out of place. Seems the assy plant left off one plastic push-pin type retainer. I used a spare one from an old Bonneville and pushed the insulator material back into place. compressed the driver side rear quarter panel in a bit, then locked it all down with the substitute push-pin. Nice and tight now.
3. Today while washing the car I noticed a problem with the same quarter panel. When I ran a wash sponge over it I noticed it had quite a bit of back and forth deflection. Closer inspection revealed that another factory stock push pin in the same general area as the first push-pin problem was sloppy in fit. It was too small for the hole!! I pulled it out and pressed in a larger stock GM push-pin and the quarter panel is nice and tight now, tighter than when I drove it off the lot when new.
I'm beginning to wonder about the quality of assy on this car. I don't blame Engineering this time. I had no probs like this with my sweet little '07 Altima SL.
1. Driver side C-pillar trim (the black/chrome piece that "appears" to make the roof "float") adhesive gave way. It's still partially attached but I dare not be rough with my wash mitt! Seems like some 3M tape would do the trick but No, dealer insisted he had to order. Been 1 month on backorder now.
2. Last week I noticed the driver side rear wheel well insulator/splash guard was out of place. Seems the assy plant left off one plastic push-pin type retainer. I used a spare one from an old Bonneville and pushed the insulator material back into place. compressed the driver side rear quarter panel in a bit, then locked it all down with the substitute push-pin. Nice and tight now.
3. Today while washing the car I noticed a problem with the same quarter panel. When I ran a wash sponge over it I noticed it had quite a bit of back and forth deflection. Closer inspection revealed that another factory stock push pin in the same general area as the first push-pin problem was sloppy in fit. It was too small for the hole!! I pulled it out and pressed in a larger stock GM push-pin and the quarter panel is nice and tight now, tighter than when I drove it off the lot when new.
I'm beginning to wonder about the quality of assy on this car. I don't blame Engineering this time. I had no probs like this with my sweet little '07 Altima SL.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 8,143
From: a meadow south of Atlanta
Interesting. I am a little used to having to finish off a few minor details on new cars, but not quite as much as compyelc4 has. As he indicates, this is mostly an assembly line failure, not Nissan engineering.