Anyone else seen or heard of this problem?

I brought my 2005 350Z Roadster into the dealer at 25,000 miles to have some tears in the convertible top looked at. The tears were on the driver's side and appear to be caused by the zip ties holding wiring to the top frame. You could see the frayed area from inside the car and could feel the sharp clips sticking out. They replaced the top under warranty. I assumed that they fixed the cause (the sharp wire ties) and went on my way. Surprise, surprise, 20,000 miles later the top is ripping again. All three tears are in the same exact place as before. You can see the frayed material from inside the top. Nissan is refusing to replace the top again. They fixed the symptom but never fixed the actual problem while under warranty. Now I am stuck with a convertible top with holes in it caused by Nissan's design flaw.

I'm looking for others that may have or know others that have a similar problem with tears in the convertible top, from the inside.

 

i had mine replaced, they told me i have a 1 year 20,000km warranty on the new top although it doesnt apply to me since my remaining factory is greater... i would push them to replace it again... as the tops ripped in the same spots obviously they never fixed the underlying issue, u may need to call someone at head office and tell them your story.. i hope i wont be in this same boat down the line, good luck

 

I had the same tear by the rear. The top was replaced under warranty right before mine was expired.

 

As far as I can tell, the rips occur due to the sharp clips and wire ties that hold the electrical wiring harness to the top frame along the drivers side of the top. If you remove the sharp edges and cover these with some tape the top shouldn't rip again. I didn't notice that they were not fixed by the dealer during the first top replacement and it was only as the holes appeared again that I noticed the chaffing on the inside of the top in the exact same places.

It is very frustrating that the dealer didn't fix the cause (sharp edges on clips) but only fixed the symptom (torn top). I hate to see resources wasted like this; especially over a 10 minute, $5 tape up job that could have prevented this in the first place. After numerous contacts with Nissan Customer Service, I am left with "Sorry, but you are out of warranty!" I asked for a supervisor's number but was only told that a Customer Service Supervisor would call me by the next business day (yesterday)....surprise, surprise...no phone call.

 

Call Nissan head quarter. I called them before going to local dealer. Explain ur situation maybe u have a chance. Good luck.

 

Unfortunately this is a very common problem. The tear happens just to the right or the left of the window.

There should be a recall etc. Had I known about the defect I would have bought the coupe instead. Replacing the top is like $1000 or so, depending where you buy it and if by the grace of god you can find someone cheap enough to install it or do it yourself.

I wish there was a class action lawsuit or something. I wonder if the 370Z has the same problem, although it looks like the way it closes is different in that model.

Juan L.

 

Nissan didn't want to hear about our problem. Their rep would just repeat the mantra "Sorry but you are out of the warranty parameters and at this time we cannot offer you any assistance" She wouldn't even listen to our situation, as soon as I would try to explain she just interrupted me and repeated her mantra. They didn't even offer to patch the tears and re-route the wiring which would have cost them about $250. I didn't necessarily need a completely new top but they never offered another alternative. My girlfriend wanted a new Infinity G37S hardtop convertible but after this experience we WILL NOT be buying another Nissan product in our lifetime. We're shopping for a Boxter S....good riddance Nissan!

 

i wouldnt write off nissan because of the top tears.hell if we wrote off a car company every time we had a defect the company would not fix ,they all would be gone.

 

replaced my top on my '05 a couple months ago only cost me $540 w/shipping for a cloth haartz top. it takes some time to do for sure! It looks way better than the stock textured vinyl top! its worth doing it yourself even if you arent that handy! if you can follow a diy guide anybody can do it with just a couple hand tools.

 

Very interesting!

Don't want to hijack corny's thread, but would you please post pics somewhere, sway?

 

Attached is a pic with in a one week progression on my top ripping on the drivers side lower window area. I have an appt. Friday 6/17 for them to look over the issue. Kind upset as I just bought the car 2/26/2011. Really upset but the warranty manager said they will take a look... maybe Ill just suck it up and buy a cloth top.

 

you didn't get this from me but it looks like someone took a razor and hit it three times what an interesting thing to tell the adjuster

 

Gotta tell you, I've never seen tears like that in that specific spot.

They are so clean. It looks more like something sharp hit the roof 3 times.

 

That's some Wolverine shit right there.

 

lol now that's what i would really tell the adjuster wolverine that f'er came out of nowhere and look what he done

 

a good convertible patch kit is made for portable ice houses the black hole patch just google portable ice house patch I tried this and it is an easy fix

 

MY Z has the same issue - today i called my insurance company and my insurance covers this situation - 100 dollar deductible - nationwide is indeed on my side

 

nice^

 

I had multiple rips like this in the same spot on the pass side. I bought a used top already on the frame with motors attached for $500. 30 minutes later, top was replaced.

Unfortunately the OEM material seems to dry rot or something. Three years later, my replacement top got two more rips on the top 6" from the windshield. I had a shop patch and stitch the rip shut. I didn't know that was even possible but they did a great job. Cost: $159 for two rip repairs.

My long term fix for this top is to move to California.

 

Sways-


I am in South Florida and need my 350Z Roadster top replaced...
Can you let me know who you used?


Thanks