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Bad Experience with Nissan

 
Snagsgirl Snagsgirl
New User | Posts: 2 | Joined: 12/06
Posted: 12/12/06
12:21 AM

Hi, I guess I am like another person I saw on here complaining about Ford.  Though mine was about just the dealer, it now incorporates Nissan's Consumer Affairs Specialist so therefor Nissan as well.  Here is my story.
   My husband and I went to look at the Nissan Titan at Howerton Nissan in Dickson Tennessee.  We really liked it and sat down to come to a price with what we wanted.  They didn't have on their lot what we were looking for, but they found it at a dealer in Georgia.  It still lacked some additions that we wanted so we got a " We Owe"  for the others like step rails, sirius satelite etc.  We paid outright for the vehichle on Friday, we didn't finance through them we handed them a check (from another finance company) did our paperwork with the vin # etc.  We were told they wouldn't go get our truck till Monday cause Saturdays were busy and Sunday they were closed.  Come Monday the dealer calls and says " Great News!  the step rails are already on your truck, however, they put on a 1 1/2 lift kit to keep it under warranty. Plus wheel locks, but they would meet us half way.  If we wanted the truck ( which mind you we already paid for ) we had to pay an additional $450.00.  Though we weren't happy about it and asked why he didn't know?  He said he hadn't come across anything like it.  We paid the additional $450.00 when the truck came in on Wednesday, plus added front window tinting and the visor over the sunroof ( which didn't get included in the bug guard, window visors we owe part) Here is where the fun starts and the first are actually minor but in a whole it does add up.  First off we drive our New truck off the lot to go home, get about 2 miles and notice we have less than a quater of a tank of gas.  They give us a voucher later for gas when we asked about it.  My truck is taken in to add my " we owe" bug guard, window visors etc. and the visor for the sunroof.  They get done with it and I am told they couldn't do the visor over the sunroof cause they don't make them in that size, I told him it is in the mag on the titan.  Well he had it done outside Nissan and they couldn't get it.  He would give us a years worth of sirius satelite instead of the 3 months it comes with.  Fine.  We take the truck in to have the sirius put in.  When it is done he tells us we have to call and activate the sirius and that we shouldn't have any problems.  I call and activate and ask to verify that we have a years worth before we are charged.  Nope!  So I call the dealer 3 different times, I don't leave a message, he is out sick, out with kids sick and out to lunch.  We are getting ready to go on a road trip cause the kids are out on school break.  I notice my temp tags are up on my truck.  I am really getting irritated, I mean we paid $100.00 to them to do our tags that are only $21.50 and my temps are up with no new tags.  I call the dealership back again.  Our dealer won't be in till after noon.  I asked if the owner was in and was told yes, so I said I would come down.  Oh and yes she said our tags were on the dealers desk, with a date of almost 2 weeks.  I go down ask to talk to the owner and am told he is busy, another person asked what was wrong, I told him..he said he would check into it and handed me my plates.  The next day the dealer calls and tells me there is no need to talk to the owner he would take care of it and he did.  I got the visor over my sunroof installed by Nissan.  End of story everbody is fine. But wait...on Thanksgiving I am talking to my brother ( he works for dodge) and in talking about my truck did I wish I would have gotten the durango etc.  It comes around to how much I paid and he told me he never heard of a lift kit having to be put on a truck for step rails for me to call Nissan, not the dealer.  A week after the initial contact, the consumer affairs specialist finally tells me that no he can not find it anywhere that we have to have the lift kit for the warraty.  He calls the dealer so we are all on the phone.  The dealer states that that is what is told to him by the place he got the truck. The specialsit is telling me " well you paid for it right?"  well of course!  " But, you like the truck right?"  I am getting so upset cause through this the dealer is telling me he can't believe I am making such a fuss over $450.00.  That we got a Great deal on the truck!  I am yelling it isn't the point! " you told us we had to have it to keep our truck under warranty if we wanted the step rails, now we find out that isn't so"  that was last week and I haven't heard back from the specialist, though he said he would call and I have called him once to leave a message that I had a question for him.  The better Business Burea says we don't have any concrete evidence so it is a he said she said, but that we can file a report and contact the state attorney generals office cause they might be able to do more.  I plan on writing to the Tennsean in Nashville and any other papers and hope they will print it, to get the word out.  Am I wrong to be so upset?  Nissans consumer affairs specialist even knows he said it, and even though he says the other dealer told him it is still Nissan and you would think that they would take care of it.  So what is your opinions and if anyone ealse has gone through something like this and had any success, please let me know.  If you think I am being ridiculous let me know that too cause this has all got me baffled.  

 
joela joela
Guru | Posts: 1119 | Joined: 03/06
Posted: 12/12/06
02:08 AM

Ugh. What a pain.  

 
Snagsgirl Snagsgirl
New User | Posts: 2 | Joined: 12/06
Posted: 01/29/07
08:33 AM

Also, let me now add that I have to go to DMV, because I won't deal with this dealership anymore, and add our leinholder to the title because this dealership didn't even get that right.  I also drove my Titan over an hour to take it to a different dealership because a warning light came on.  I think it is really in everyones interest to find out everything you can about the dealership before going to them.  This whole business with this dealership really doesn't leave me wanting to work with any dealership again.  

 
Nick MYW Nick MYW
New User | Posts: 4 | Joined: 03/07
Posted: 03/23/07
11:35 AM

Oh what a  pity  

 
survivor NLR AR Nissan survivor NLR AR Nissan
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 04/07
Posted: 04/12/07
10:41 AM

I also had an experience with a dealership, this one is North Little Rock Nissan. My daughter graduated from college a year ago and is now a teacher.  She finally found herself in a position to buy her first new car.  I was there, to help her through the process and to be a co-borrower, if she needed help obtaining an excellent credit rating, and lower finance costs.
Nissan has a rebate of $500.00 for college grads with some strings attached, but my daughter met the criteria, and had qualified for it at a nearby Nissan dealership.  At this nearby dealership, all Altimas in stock were discounted $3,288.00.  Unfortunately the Altima with the options my daughter wanted, was not in stock; or more accurately, was in stock when we spoke with the dealer on the phone, but, in the meantime, the dealer had installed a spoiler which didn't appeal to my daughter, and added over $500.00 to the cost of the vehicle. The same spoiler, had it been factory installed costs only $360.00. Because it appeared that this spoiler had been added to offset the Student Rebate, and also because the dealer lied, telling her that ABS was not available unless she bought the "Convenience Package", at the price of $1,300.00, we left that deal on the table and went to North Little Rock Nissan.
Here she was also told the no ABS without the Convenience Package lie.  She was also told that she could not qualify for the Student Discount, because no bank would ever approve a loan for her, although we were using Nissan Acceptance financing.  After initially assuring us that he would match the $3,200.00 discount offered by the first dealership, he claimed he actually couldn't, and offered her a $1,800.00 discount, but, provided she would upgrade to a more expensive model, he would give her the entire $3,200.00 discount, making the difference in the two offers only $700.00, so she settled on the more expensive model.  This car was supposed to be across town in the "over-flow lot".  We could "take care of all the paperwork this evening, leave the VIN # space blank, for now, and that way (I) wouldn't have to take time off work the next day, when the car would be brought to North Little Rock Nissan, and ready for pick-up.
We were then told that my daughter would need a co-borrower. I would have to be the primary borrower and she would be secondary.  He then ran my credit information and told me that my credit score was 717, just below what was needed to qualify for Tier 0 interest rate.  What I didn't know for sure, but highly suspected, was that my credit score was really quite a bit higher, and that he was lying.  Later, after checking with the 3 major credit score companies, all of them reported my score well into the excellent category.
So, that evening my daughter and I signed a contract to buy a car that had no VIN# filled in on the blank line, (we were asked by the finance man to place our initials above the blank line, and they would fill in the VIN# the next day), and the mileage reported as "38".  At this point, I asked the finance man directly, "how many miles will this car have on it?".  He stated, "no more than 38, or else we'll just send it back".  No separate form attesting to the accurate mileage was ever presented to us.
The following day, my daughter went to pick up her brand new car.  She was not asked to sign any additional paperwork what-so-ever, and the salesman never verbally nor in writting (which is required by law),ever disclosed that the mileage on the car he sold her, had very nearly 1,000 miles on the odometer.  Not looking for such deceptions, and being inexperienced, she didn't notice this until she had left the dealership.
I was very upset that this salesman had taken such advantage of my daughter.  Above and beyond the other lies he told, the manipulations he used, and the various contractual laws regarding car sales he violated, the way in which he pawned this very "used" new car on my daughter by taking advantage of her willingness to trust people to do what they promised to do and are contractually obligated to do, is what angered me the most. My daughter's "first new car" experience had turned from a dream into a nightmare.
The very day I was informed of his deception, I called the cell number he had provided to her in case she needed anything.  It happened to be Easter Sunday.  I was very angry and frightened that we were going to be stuck paying for a new car, but actually receiving a used car, with all of the risk that buying a used car implies.  When I spoke to him my voice was loud, my tone was angry, but my language was civil. I never cursed him directly or used any "adult language" of any kind.  I told him that I would return the car on Monday morning, and the he would return my $5,000.00 check for the down-payment along with his copies of the contract, which was null and void.
The following day my husband and I did return the car, and the Manager did return my check, but not the contract, and also not before he insulted me, telling me that North Little Rock Nissan would not ever do business with the likes of me, and that I should spend a good long time re-evaluating my moral character.  He labeled my phone call to his salesman "harassment" although I contacted him only once, and the strongest language I used was calling him a "creep", for his dishonest, unprofessional, and probably illegal behavior.
We were finally able to make a deal on an Altima yesterday at Northpoint Nissan, and as far as I know, everything seems OK.  My daughter was able to buy the car with the $3,200.00 discount, received the $500.00 student rebate, and did not require a co-borrower. She only had to pay for the car with the options she wanted, and the car was there, on the lot.  The contract had the correct VIN # and the actual mileage was 8.  We signed a separate form that attested to that fact.  I hope something else doesn't crop up in the next few days, but it looks like she finally got the deal that was advertised by a Nissan dealership, and the rebate promoted by Nissan, for a car that is actually new.  Wish us luck, as I do anyone out there trying to buy a new Nissan at the advertised price with only the options they want.  Sounds like it should be easy enough when you have the money, and a credit score that virtually guarantees Nissan will get paid, plus interest.  Is this why car dearlers have such a bad reputation?  

 
jmace57 jmace57
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 10/07
Posted: 10/04/07
06:07 AM

I would make one statement to all of you.  Tell everyone you know what crooks these dealers are.  Spread the word.

My experience was at Baker-Jackson Nissan in Houston, Texas.  I went in to buy a new Maxima.  I had seen an advertisement in the paper with the exact stock number of the car I had test driven - for $23,999 - this was an acceptable figure to me, as it included a $3,500 rebate and was fairly significantly discounted from sticker ($28,350).

Their offer to me was to purchase for $31,800 - they were asking full sticker price PLUS a $2,000 BJPP (Baker-Jackson Protection Plan) - Scotchgard for the seats, "rust protection", etc...PLUS $450 for wheel locks.  When I expressed my displeasure with this figure, they said "what would be acceptable to you?"  I pulled out the advertisement and said if they would sell it to me for that price, it would be acceptable.  They accepted.

Then the trip to the finance office. I told them I would like to explore a lease.  They quoted me a monthly payment of $491/month (39 months).  I told them no.  He went "to see his manager" to discuss - my wife looked out of the door and saw him shooting the breeze with other employees for about 10 minutes.  He came back and said "$375 per month"...I told him no.  He went back for another "discussion".  Came back and asked me what an acceptable number was - I said $299 per month (39 months) - I walked out the door with a deal for $305 per month for the 39 months.

I know that this is somewhat standard practice for car dealers, but they tried to screw me at every turn.  They had the gall to ask me that when Nissan sent me a survey, to "rate us all excellent, because a 'good' is considered a bad rating".  Needless to say, when the survey came, they did NOT get even "goods".

The reason I am so irritated at this is that I had bought a Volvo less than 2 months before at Volvo of Clear Lake (Texas).  This was the best car buying experience I have ever had.  I got a reasonable deal.  I was treated fairly, and not like an idiot.

I bought this car where I did because the dealership is 3 minutes from my house...and I was (eventually) able to get the deal I wanted.  However, I will never buy another car from them, and I will tell everyone I can that they shouldn't either.  

 
lilzthepill lilzthepill
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 01/08
Posted: 01/24/08
03:38 PM

Sorry...I was cut off.

She might find:
That she has thrown away bread that had a hint of mold on it, rather than schlep it back to the grocery store.
 That she had to take her 3 year old back to the doctor because his ear infection had not cleared up despite the antibiotics prescribed.
 That she found the perfect sweater to match her skirt by the same manufacturer only to find that the colors don't match.
 That she found her husband's clothing suspect to more than his own after-shave residual.
  That she bought a pound of hamburger meat that read an eighth of an ounce less than what she thought she was buying.
When buying a vehicle you have to expect that certain demands cannot be met without negotiation.
Lest I say it....okay I'll say it.... This complaintant is a malcontent.  You just don't go out and buy a truck expecting everything is going to meet with your expectations.  You certainly don't buy a home that way.
Enough with your grievances.  Take as much time as you can afford to make every agency within your angry little fingers aware of the fact that you are unhappy with Howerton Nissan.  In the end, the dealership will see to your pout and make it good.
Oh...don't forget to write to the manufacturers of "Bounty Paper Towels" and tell them that the integrity of one sheet they show on television ads doesn't work in your home.  

Lillian Howerton Arnold
Newburgh, IN  

 
autofanatic autofanatic
New User | Posts: 13 | Joined: 01/07
Posted: 02/10/08
10:15 PM

My free car loan search and experience with nissan went very smoothly the it should be... I guess it just takes some respect and a lot of patience in getting a new car.  

 
manderson311 manderson311
New User | Posts: 1 | Joined: 02/08
Posted: 02/23/08
04:02 PM

I also had a bad experience with Nissan. I went to get a newer more reliable care because I have a 93 chevy lumina right now so I just wanted some reliable for my fiance and me. We went to Nissan in Philadelphia and I got a 03 Altima with 65000 miles on it. I guess it was a pretty bad deal to begin with but that's all we could really get. For the next year, that car broke down every single month. I had an entire engine replaced, thank god they covered it but it was such a hassle. I also had a radiator replaced, brake stuff done. It was horrible. I couldn't get out of it so I traded it in and got a brand new Sentra. I'm paying tons of money for it which I hate but at least it's reliable. I'll never pay money like this again for a car. I'll buy used from now on.  
DiCicco Auto Sales
www.DiCiccoAuto.com

 
Auto1advice Auto1advice
New User | Posts: 7 | Joined: 03/08
Posted: 03/11/08
11:41 AM

I don't think it's just Nissan. There's bad dealers everywhere. I found my car through this site http://www.buyingadvice.com/ and had no problems because I got quotes before I went to the dealer.  

 
dontbuynissan dontbuynissan
New User | Posts: 2 | Joined: 03/08
Posted: 03/13/08
06:34 PM

Tell everyone you know, post on every internet site you can, call and tell everyone you can. Eventually, Nissan might go out of business!!!! I'm fed up.  

 

2009 Nissan Titan
Body Style:
Truck
Rating:
Poor

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