Well, I've got 8,000 miles on the car, and will be putting around 4-5000 more in two weeks, so I took my car into the dealer for 3 warranty problems.

1) Driver side airbag was loose in it's housing. Verdict: A "deformed assembly", and the air bag will be replaced, once the part arrives.

2) ATX slip TSB. Verdict: They could't get it to do the 1->2 slip, but they're going to perform it anyway. Once the parts gets in, of course. So I guess Nissan is admiting that the Anniversary Editions do have the ATX slip problem...

3) Driver's rear gas sheild missing. Verdict: They aren't going to put it in. They claimed they talked to Nissan Engineering, and Nissan for 2001 beefed up the exposed components (with better rust proofing, etc.) and the shield isn't needed. Don't know whether that's bullcrap of not, but it is true that all later 2001 models don't have the shield.

Any follow-ups to this? I haven't seen anything about the shield here in quite a while. Anyone notice rock chips, or anything like that on their filler tube?

So my dealer get's a solid 'B' from me. A grade lower because of a "Just because you heard it on the internet" remark. I wouldn't have known about the ATX TSB, if it wasn't for you guys, either. I'm probably not going to sweat the sheild, since the amount of crap that gets up in my gas cap area is usually minimal...

As an aside, since I bought an extended warranty from them, oil changes cost me $6.15 at the dealer. At that rate, it's going to be hard to justify going synthetic...

 

Personally, I think the line about Nissan beefing up the components is BS. Nissan would not go through the trouble of re-engineering and re-tooling something like the fuel filler just so they could do without a splash guard. It just stinks. Try to get one from another dealer.

Has anyone noticed whether the 2k2's have the guard???

 

The '02 does NOT have the fuel inlet protector- just ran out & checked!
David Burnette

 

How much for the part and install extras? I heard it was cheap. Probably easier than dealing with nissan for part to protect fuel system against dirty cap holder getting dirt in tank. Thanks J

 

You got that right- $12.75 plus shipping for protector & clips. Can't imagine the freight would be more tha $3-4.
Thanks, David Burnette

 

My 3rd gen has one.....hell my 4th gen Minima has one......

Your dealer is full of crap. They just don't want to spend $20 to fix a factory defect......

That is inexcusable and pathetic. I believe I am cured of ever buying a Nissan again.......

You all should really consider membership in MCoA. Kev's a member......

 

Oh Boy! I get to reply to my own post! Parts came in, and I picked up my car last night.

Satisfaction here. The airbag no longer rattles around in the steering wheel housing. Feels tight.

From what I've felt so far, the trans not only shifts more quickly, but more smoothly (more smoothly?) as well. Shifts at times are almost imperceptible. I'll be able to test it out thoroughly in a week when I'm up in the mountains. Wish I had taken it to a track to see if my 0-60 or 1/4 times improved. The trans still short shifts, though.

Apparently, this is the first time my dealer's performed the TSB fix. My service advisor wants to know if and how it's helped.

I'm still not going to sweat this. If I ever have a problem, I now have the documentation that shows I wanted it put on, and Nissan declined.

All in all, my experience was much better than Ford's anyday...