Had a bad run with an STX 550. Anyone like to comment?

The following is a chronological record of events relating to a Nissan Navara STX 550 registered No 250 SGT which was purchased new on the 23rd of April 2012.
The vehicle has travelled approx 35,000kms and has been owned by the writer since new.

From the 23rd of April 2012, to the 2nd of June 2013, the vehicle performed without fault.

Sunday 2nd June 2013
Vehicle sustained a sudden loss of power requiring the ignition to be turned off and back on before vehicle would restart. Engine check light on.

Monday 3rd June 2013
Rang Bay City Auto (Nissan Agent/dealer). Vehicle booked in for Wednesday


Wednesday 5th June 2013 AM
Vehicle driven carefully to Bay City Auto

Wednesday PM
Bay City stated that they could find no fault and that this was not covered by warranty and would thus cost me $66.00.
After some discussion and the disclosure of the computer error codes it was decided that I would not have to pay and that if the vehicle faulted again, to bring it straight back.

Approx two weeks later;
The vehicle fault reoccurs and was taken straight back to Bay City Auto.
Computer error codes cleared. Vehicle booked in for more thorough diagnosis.

Vehicle delivered to Bay City Auto.
Fuel filter replaced, cost $172.00. Paid. (The fuel filter was due to be replaced at the next service) Bay City also want to insert a diode into the brake controller circuit at a cost to me of approx $132.00 as they believe that the brake controller may be providing feedback to the computer and thus causing a conflict resulting in the engine shutdown.
Bay City are informed by me that if they consider this could be the problem why don’t they just disconnect the wire and recheck. Also there should be no cost to me as the controller was installed by Nissan in the first place and as such should be covered by the warranty. (No further argument on this matter)
After 4 days the vehicle is returned.


Vehicle is used to tow caravan to Kilkivan for weekend with no problems.
Saturday morning vehicle faults, (no caravan).Continues to fault whilst returning vehicle to Hervey Bay on Sunday with caravan.


Monday
Vehicle delivered to Bay City Auto with instructions to “FIX IT”.
Bay City have the vehicle for 10 days on this occasion.
During this time Bay City informed me that they were doing an EGR test (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) and later that they were reloading the computer.
Vehicle returned 30/07/13.

30 July 2013
Vehicle faults approx 2hrs after receiving it from Bay City.
Rang Bay City Auto and informed them of the issue, they stated that they would contact Nissan Technical and get back to me.
Vehicle delivered to Bay City Auto and a few days later was returned to me
with the information that the fuel booster valve had been replaced.

The vehicle lasted a couple of days and faulted again.
Again, it was returned to Bay City Auto.

Bay City Auto informed me several days later that Nissan Technical had instructed them to remove the fuel pump and send it to Brisbane for testing.
At this time Bay City Auto arranged a hire vehicle as I had no transport to get to and from work. (Budget Rental Suzuki Swift supplied)

Approx one week later Bay City Auto inform me that no fault was found with the pump and that Nissan had now told them to replace the left hand fuel rail.
When I rang for an update several days later I was informed that the rail had arrived but that it had no “O” rings with it and that these had to be sourced before any more work could continue. A few days later I rang for a further update and was informed that the left hand fuel rail box had contained a right hand rail and another left hand rail would have to be ordered.

At this point I rang Nissan customer service and informed them that I was not happy and would like a replacement vehicle with all my accessories fitted to it.
Nissan Customer service representative (Allen) informed me that I would have to take this matter outside the Nissan network as head office had no provision to replace the vehicle. When I asked what was meant by “taking it outside the Nissan network” Allen stated Consumer Affairs or a lawyer!
Rang Bay City Auto and informed them that I may have no option but to take this matter to Consumer Affairs. Wayne, Service Manager for Bay City, stated that this was not suprising as I had been so patient.

17th September 2013
Rang Bay City Auto, Vehicle should be ready on Thursday (19th September 2013)

19th September 2013
Returned rental car to Budget. Called in to Bay City Auto and informed them that I had returned the rental car. Wayne informed me that my vehicle should be ready on Friday, 20/09/13, as replacing the fuel rail was a very big job.

Rang Bay City on Friday PM (20/09/13) for an update and was told that it was such a big job it would be late Monday (23/09/13) before the vehicle would be ready.

It is my belief that the vehicle’s fault may or may not have been fixed and that it is entirely possible that the vehicle may still experience a sudden loss of power. It seems to me that Bay City Auto, who have stated that they have no idea what is causing this fault, and Nissan are simply replacing each piece of the fuel system in the hope that they might remedy the issue.

Late Friday evening a complaint was lodged with the Office of Fair Trading Qld via email. The content of the email states that in the owners opinion the vehicle is no longer fit for its designed purpose and should be replaced under the current warranty and as required under Australian Consumer Law. This would then allow the owner to get on with his life and Nissan can take the offending vehicle away and play with it to their hearts content.

This matter has now been ongoing for over 4 months. Bay City Auto have had the vehicle for over 5 weeks for this last episode

Tuesday 24th September 2013 AM
Rang Qld Road Transport and enquired as to the procedure for reporting a dangerous vehicle. I was told that given the nature of the fault, the vehicle could not be considered roadworthy and that I shouldn’t drive it.
That was it, that’s all they could do.


Tuesday 24th September 2013
1345hrs
Received call from Wayne at Bay City Auto. Vehicle has been re-assembled but has faulted again. Wayne will send a “tech” line to Nissan and will advise me of their reply.

Tuesday 24th September 2013
1415hrs
Rang Nissan Customer Service. Spoke to “Allen” , again, and was again told that they would do nothing to help me in regards to a replacement vehicle and that I should “take the matter outside the Nissan network”.

Tuesday 24th September 2013.
1445hrs
Rang Channel Seven, Current Affairs and spoke to Miranda. Situation explained. They will get back to me.

First of all Welcome to the forum, sorry to hear about such a drawn out issue which should of been sorted long ago by the sounds of it.
From the sounds of it the dealer does seem more then a little incompetent, and they have a nerve trying to charge you for everything when you first had the problem.
Taking so long to do nothing is also not acceptable and i dont blame you for taking it further.
I wish you the best of luck and look forward to hearing about a positive outcome for you.
keep us informed.
regards,
Nathan.

That is amazing....pity you cant just make the car dissapear/accident/writeoff. But that wouldnt cost nissan a cent.

I'm generally very patient, working on the theory that if you p ss people off, they will only find ways to hurt you!
Of course this works in reverse as well. Most people don' see that one coming . . .
I'll keep you all informed of the progress.
Oh camo, I had an offer to make it dissappear for a grand, but you right that wouldn't have hurt Nissan.

All i can say is OH BOY!. What a riding for so long. Under the new Lemon Laws its deemed to be a Lemon and to be replaced. I would be askingnfor a rental vehicle to equivalent of the 550. So a dualcab of some sort.

Fortunate for me i havent been in your seat butni can understand how frustrating it must be getting. Goodluck for consumer affairs and the tv channels.

Rusty

Would be so easy....i would still be thinking of that offer

Do you own a boat? If not borrow one, a big one. Take it to a boat ramp and back it in. Call for help, say it lost all power and you couldn't stop it. Once you have water in the headlights it's an instant write off.

Navmania said:

Do you own a boat? If not borrow one, a big one. Take it to a boat ramp and back it in. Call for help, say it lost all power and you couldn't stop it. Once you have water in the headlights it's an instant write off.

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say if he did do this would a quick comment to the insurance accesor bout all the troubles with this accident causing problem then have him chasing nissan for the replacement cost of the ute? if so win win!!! new ute and nissan pays

Yeah they could. All he has to say is that they said it was fixed so he drove it thinking all was ok. That gets rid of any unroadworthy excuse. Could probably pay his house off with a payout from all the stress of the accident to.

Sound easy and with what he has been through I wouldn't blame him for trying this. Made my blood boil a bit reading it, but at the end if the day if he gets caught doing a dodgy it's going to end in tears and stuff life in general.

Fight them. Their has to be a law on this. Surely the consumer has some comeback. It's not a new car anymore is it. Why should you have to deal with Nissans problems. It should be replaced.

Cheers

welcome
wow
thats certainly a lemon and needs to be replaced
reminds me of a bloke quite a few years ago with similar issues
he parked offending vehicle in frront of the offending dealers yard every day for a few weeks
vehicle had signs attached all over it,even on roofracks, explaining issues and pointing out the poor service he was recieving
dealer finally replaced car cause the negative impact on his buisness was huge
good luck mate

I too would have thought it should be replaced under our lemon laws. Doesn't give you a lot of faith in the law makers if the law has no teeth. Good luck and I hope you have a positive outcome.

From a more technical side, it sounds like the lack of power is due to fuel starvation, too bad you didn't get the codes so we could have a look.

Is the scv on the 550 integrated into the pump ? I didn't read that it had been replaced ? It would seem a good starting point to me since it controls the fuel rail pressure.

camo.b said:

Would be so easy....i would still be thinking of that offer

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I wouldn't be contemplating the thought of it. Particularly after putting reg.#, dealer and details on a public forum. The cops would marching you off in handcuffs a short time after you reported it stolen.

I can feel your pain though. I to have had the Nissan run around. Not that the dealer didn't want to rectify the problem but they were incompetent, miss diagnosed, had the "tech line" treatment... had parts replaced that were unnecessarily. Long story but was eventually sorted out and my problems where nowhere near as complicated and technical as yours.

The dealer did give me the use of a ute on a couple of occasions while my D40 was there. This is the least they should do, at bit of goodwill can go a long way.
After all there a car dealer something (cars) the haven't got a shortage off.

I imagine it's going to be a long draw out process. The other option is to quit it, resale is shocking I know but could be a fair price to pay for the for the easier life it will give you.

Will be interesting to hear how you go. Keep us updated if you can and welcome to the forum.

Good Luck!

Back on line. WOW Thanks guys, love the support.
Just to quickly reply in general . . .Australia does not have lemon laws, we have Australian Consumer Laws that state if an item does not perform as the manufacturer claims, you are entitled to a replacement or a refund. Thats the line I intend to take when, and if Consumer Affairs get back.

As to the technical side, I can only go by what the dealer is telling me. What makes it a bit more complex is that I didn't buy the vehicle from this dealer. I bought the vehicle in Ipswich (Brisbane) because the dealer in Hervey Bay, the one I am now dealing with couldn't be bothered to move a couple of cars to get the vehicle out for me to test drive. Easy fix, buy somewhere else. MMM, might have come back to bite me ???

As for selling, it's under a noveated lease and whilst not impossible, its rather complicated.

Any way it seems to be a waiting game now, so I'll keep you all postede.
Thanks for the thoughts and support.

Mate that really sucks and I hope the issue is rectified for you in one way or another. Good luck and keep us up to date.

I know the 550's under warranty and it's beyond my understanding, but how about locating a good diesel workshop and dropping it into them to look at. How many times have we all read about Nissan not being able to identify and fix faults, but when the vehicle is taken elsewhere "outside the Nissan network" the problem is rectified.

Could be worth a try?

Email the guy from the Motor Enthusiasts Party, isn't he a federal senator now? ;-)

What makes this whole sorry mess even harder is that I like the vehicle. I use it for towing a 2.6 tonne caravan and the occasional 4x4ing. I'm currently on my annual holidays so the handbrake and I are sleeping in the caravan pretending that we are some where out west . . . . . oh well there's always next year I suppose.
Siringo I like your thinking and am contemplating that avenue. Mind you I have to get the damn thing back off Nissan yet !!

Araldyte said:

Siringo I like your thinking and am contemplating that avenue. Mind you I have to get the damn thing back off Nissan yet !!

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Yes, I thought of that, could be tricky. I can't remember if you mentioned how long they've currently had the vehicle, but if it's more than a few days I'd feel comfortable walking in and saying to them that are obviously having trouble diagnosing it and that you'd like to take it to a non Nissan workshop for diagnosis. It's your vehicle, they can't keep it.

If the non Nissan diagnosis finds a cheap fix, fix it, if they find an expensive fix, take it back to Nissan and tell them what you've found and get them to verify the diagnosis and if nothing can be discovered, you're where you are now.

Nasty situation any way you look at it.

Good luck.

Sorry to hear about the problems. The V9X powerplant has been pretty reliable, it's a shame to hear about issues with the flagship model.

Australia is supposed to be introducing lemon laws - if an item sold is returned 3 times for the same problem, the item MUST be replaced. I heard Victoria had already started the passage of that through parliament (if it hasn't passed it already).

There were issues with EGR and the dealers were replacing the valves AND updating the software, and someone came on to this forum and said that it wasn't the EGR valve at all, it was only the software - I wonder if this dealer did ALL the work? Maybe they just replaced the valve and thought "let's leave it at that, stuff the software that's bull" ?

If so, Nissan would have every right to kick the dealer's ass. And it SHOULD be kicked too, if they're so incapable of even moving a couple of cars in order to make a sale, then perhaps the idiots shouldn't be in the business of selling cars!

Good luck with the pursuit of this.

I had a similar run around with Nissan Australia a few years ago.Under warranty they tried to repair a crap paint job. I ended up with 5 different shades of black on my truck and Nissan officially wiped their hands of it and quoted "It meets industry standards"
I took the matter to Fair Trading and ended up in front of the tribunal. I had reports from professional paint specialists etc and as such was able to prove my case ay the tribunal. Long story short after fighting Nissan for 4 years it cost them a further $14,000 plus parts to have my truck fully resprayed. Add that to the costs they had already paid for previous repairs and my truck cost Nissan over $30,000 in repairs.

As the vehicle is no longer safe to drive and as such it is no "fit for purpose" then you should stand a good chance of getting a decent outcome.My advice would be to talk to Fair Trading and start getting professional inspections done.Get all your ducks in a row and apply for the Tribunal.
It should be called Nissan We Dont Care and they will try everything they can to blame you for their failures

Moral of the story
Dont give up. They expect you to loose faith and sell the truck and just walk away