e.stacyjackson on DealerRater 11 years ago
11/30/2010, 02:39 AM
Our initial contact with this dealership was very good. We worked through a deal on a stock Versa which my wife liked alot. It had 20" chrome rims and low profile tires, and a leather interior, which she really likes. We were not told that these pieces were aftermarket and would not be warrantied. We bought the car new with 101 miles. The paperwork makes no mention of the warranty being transferred to the aftermarket dealer.
About 2 months after the purchase, one of the wheels had a problem and went flat. The dealership refused to stand behind the products even though we had purchased not one, but two extended service contracts. These contracts clearly state 2 things:
1. Maintenance plus plan (Gold), page 3, item 11 states:
"This agreement provides tire road hazard protection...This agreement provides protection against damage to (wheels and )tires, caused by roadway debris such as potholes....."
2. Nissan Warranty Manual states on page 39:
"What Nissan will do (bold print) If a part or accessory to be repaired was originally installed by an authorized Nissan Dealer( in this case Douglass that preceded Surf City, Surf City purchased their inventory)it will be removed and reinstalled after repair at no charge for parts and labor."
We were sent out to a wheel shop for repair, charged 150 dollars which we had to pay to get the car back, and left unhappy.
Four months later the same thing happens to a different wheel. Same refusal to stand behind the product. Same 150 dollar charge. At that point we asked that these wheels be removed and more appropriate size wheels and tires be put back on the car. The dealer refused and promised that his wheel shop would call us and we could have an outside deal done " at cost". That meeting became heated and uncomfortable for us and for every other person in the showroom who clearly heard every word. We left, unresolved and of course the "wheel guy" never called.
Last weekend , 14 months after purchasing the car, a third wheel failed.Road service was performed by the closest National brand tire dealership.( We now have moved 450 miles away from Huntington Beach for employment reasons so contacting Surf City was not practical) They discovered that 4 inches of chrome had delaminated off the inside of the wheel and caused an unrepairable leak. (Chrome wheels cannot be rechromed after they delaminate because it pits on the remaining surface and the chrome will not bond.)
With 3 out of 4 wheels now damaged we were advised by the local Nissan dealer (who was very helpful to the extent he could be) to get Nissan Corporate Customer Service involved, which we have. Most, if not all Nissan dealerships in the US are privatley owned so the final decisions are up to the dealership, according to the Nissan customer service rep. The rep was very good, but if the final decision is up Surf City, we are not hopeful for much. We could be wrong but.... at this point stock wheels and tires would be better and acceptable. We will see how Nissan stands behind their product, but at this point, I would probably say you should avoid Surf City Nissan.