Add my name to the list. I have a 6MT Touring built in March 2003 (door sticker) that is feathering.

I have been watching this board since I bought the car in July 2003 and have been looking out for this. The funny/sad thing is that I didn't notice.

When I bought the car I ran my hand over the inside edge of the front tires after driving ~1000 miles and noticed a slight ridge but no more than I have felt on other makes/models over the years. A couple of thousand miles more...same thing, slight ridge. I thought "must not have the problem!" normal wear.

WRONG!!!
After moving in October I now drive 140 miles per day, highway, to/from work. On the weekends I drive the wifes Xterra (gotta keep the miles down somehow, 30k/year is a lot) I took the Z in for an oil change 2 weeks ago, no comments from dealer. Then last weekend the wife is in class and I take the Z out for a trip around town, mostly under 45MPH driving with lots of stops. WOW, I couldn't believe that I didn't notice it before, but this mother is roaring like a 4X4 with 42" mud tires at 20-25 MPH. I can't believe I didn't notice it until I had 10,000 miles on the odo.

I read so much about the 12k warranty crap that I took it in this morning 11/25. I just got off the phone with the dealer after playing dumb "my car is making a whomp, whomp, whomp sound under 25MPH" and they said they ordered a set of tires and will do an alignment in 7-10 days when the tires come in. No other explanation.

I am stunned that I was looking/listening for this and didn't realize it was going on. My car is the loudest from 20-25MPH and if you have the stereo loud or an Injen SES exhaust like me, you can't hear the noise as much. No pulling to right or vibration at all...just this loud roar at 20-25.

I suggest everyone, even those that don't think they have a problem, should put the car in 3rd gear and drive 20-25 MPH for a while and accelerate/slow in and out of that range and listen for the tires. If it even sounds a little louder take it to the dealer and tell them you have road noise during breaking per the TSB.

Oh yeah, I have the grease streaks too! Fixed once already...pasenger side NOT!

I live in VA and will actively pursue Lemon Law (VA is great for consumers) if this is not fixed in 3 tries.

Good luck to everyone else!

 

Let's all give a big hello to joebva to the club from hell. It's like an STD, 65% of people have but don't know or admit it. Another outbreak in the Southeast. Man this sux.

 

OK, so I'd complained about this at about 2500 miles, now at 7500. The last 5000 miles have been different from the first 2500 in that it's mostly short trips -- and the tires haven't gotten noticeably worse.

I just got a call from a rep at Nissan's executive offices. They are flying in engineers from Japan to look at cars to try to understand this problem, and they've asked me to offer mine up for the day on Tues. Dec. 2. Of course they're taking care of a rental for the day.

Sooo... it's not just being forgotten, it just looks like it takes forever for the gears to turn. Hope they're working on a fix and not just looking to do things differently in 2005...

-- Mark

 

Mark, your post reminds me of Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Nissan, telling an audience a few weeks ago about Nissan's temporary lack of qualified administrative personnel. He told them that Nissan was about a YEAR away from having sufficient, trained staff because the downsizing of staff, suppliers, etc. had allowed a lot of senior administrative staff to retire and the company was in the process of training new people to assume those administrative positions.

Its a good thing we did the mass fax, or our problems could be running around the lower and mid-management black hole at NNA for several more months. I have just checked my messages and Jamie has called and left messages twice since I checked last. I will call back tomorrow for my interview. I will post my impressions if I find anything noteworthy about the dialogue.

 

Boomer,

Do mention the crappy ride to please. Not that they will admit to a problem.

 

Boomer,

Hey, can you also ask her if *ALL* the 04's have the new Euro spec suspension or not? If they don't, can you ask when we should expect them?

Also can you ask if Nissan plans on keeping us updated on this feathering issue and what they are doing about it? There are, as you know, thousands of people here who would like to be kept in the loop. Maybe she can setup an account here and post updates!


Hope it goes well. I'm sure you will post a transcript of your conversation with her. Thanks bro!

 

My Track Ed. Z has 9,100 miles now and the front tires feathered on the inner side. I purchased the car 2nd hand and notice a very loud humming noise at 20-25 mph. Took it to a shop today (finally) and they told me my front tires are feathering. Wow, after reading the first few pages and last page I realize this is a big problem with our Z

Without me reading all the posts in this thread, can someone kindly tell me if Nissan will replace my tires for FREE, what should I do with this feathering problem (I'm sure someone had asked the same questions before)? HELP PLEASE, THANK YOU

 

Autoweek article about Z and feathering:

http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?p..._code=00482245

 

Good catch Matt. However, if the techs are being told to reduce toe-in, that goes contrary to all we have been doing for the past 6 months. I for one was one of the first with toe taken all the way in. Also, that suspension geometry problem is the first "official" announcement from Nissan via a second hand source I have heard of. Maybe, just maybe...........

 

I've been looking at the Z for a few months now and was thinking about placing my order early next year for a 2004.

Now I'm wondering if I should wait until the 2005's are released in case this does turn out to be a bigger issue that just coming off the line with the wrong specs for the alignment.

But I'm really chomping at the bit to get behind the wheel of this Z and my Camaro is on its last legs.

I'd be very interested to hear any new developments from anyone who gets wind of what the final analysis of the problem is and what Nissan is doing about it.

What do you guys think? Should I wait or is it not that series?

 

depends on how many miles you plan on driving a year or if you plan on getting aftermarket springs (which seem to fix the problem) or if your willing to go to harder compound tires (which delay the issue).

 

Im trying to figure out if the problem i have is tire feathering. When i start to slow down, without brakes, i can hear this constant noise, almost sounds like I can hear the tires spinning, but its slower. Kind of a deep whoaoooooooooo whoaooooooooo whoaoooooo sound.

 

yep that is it!

 

Only 1,

Sounds like you do. Turn your wheel to lock and run your fingers across the inner treads back and forth. Should feel peaks and valleys. If you run over some dust and look at the treads, it is very noticeable, too.

What year, etc. is yours?

 

UPDATE

I got sort of screwed by NNA and my dealer!

missed 7500 service! said they will never know if it would have been caught earlier so they won't fix due to me not keeping in the parameters of the warrantee!

15000 miles - well out of the warrenty range so they won't touch it. Say tires are 80% worn so they will cover 20%. I know contridiction. but what they said.

Not original owner - thats all they say abput this! they just use it as an excuse

What i did to get some satifaction. NNA is worthless and i am still looking into a class action suite against them. My dealer - agreed to a free alignment and i will purc hase my tires elsewere. I just want the alignment to prove i am right! I am getting some outragiously large tires like 275 40 in the rear and 245 40 front which tire rack garauntees fitment and VDC compatability for 667 shipped!!!

So wish me or Nissan luck with either the class action suite or there Japanesse engineers come up with a recal real quick!!!

Im off for justice!!!!!!!!
*EDIT* and spelling lessons!!!

 

Does feathering also occur on the 2004 models?

What after market springs can fix the feather problem?

 

NNA has never responded to any of my attempts to contact them, only one automated form e-mail to contact my local dealer.

Don't hold your breath on getting updates other than through your own and other's efforts in the 350Z community...

 

Sounds like what I found way back when around 5000 miles, strange sounds I thought something was wrong with the brakes (since I usually brake to slow down, never tried the coasting & and was not aware of the problem with wear).

TSB at 6600 to swap w/alignment, 10k miles now, problem still there, empty promise from dealer(s) to contact NNA and pursue getting me at a minimum some new tires...

Welcome.

 

I have a preordered 2003 Z with 14K+ miles. I started noticing the tire feathering noise prior to 12K but did not realize what the problem was until I started reading this forum. I also did not realize that this was a 12,500 mile warranty issue. I am pissed at myself for not nowing this. Anyway I just recently took my car into the dealer for an early 15K mile service and asked them to perform the TSB for the feathering problem. They said they would but at my expense ($200). This did not surprise me. I am a conservative driver and I have a lot of tread left on my fronts but the noise is driving me nuts.
I initiated a complaint with NNA and after a week they got back to me with the same answer, because I reported it after 12,500 it was my problem. They did admit that it appears to be a global suspension problem that Nissan is hoping to resolve to the satisfaction of the car owner. The guy mentioned that he hoped that a solution would be forthcoming for all.
I also discussed this at length with the service manager at Capitol Nissan and he admitted that most all of the 2003's he has noticed lately have the feathering problem. It appears that the faxing initiative that members of this forum participated in is successfully pressing Nissan to do something about this.
I am thinking of reporting this to BBB and faxing my own letter to several Nissan offices. Does this sound like a good plan or should I just sit tight and see what happens?

 

TenDimensions

I would buy a used model with low miles, and the tire feathering problem, and spend the money you saved on a new suspension/wheels!

You will have a much better car and you will not stay awake at night wondering if you too will get the feathering problem!


Joe