Bought the car in Nov. 2002, started noticing feathering (or "cupping") very badly about 2 weeks ago at 17,000 miles. Road noise is insane, and tires are unsafe. Took it to dealership and was told that the cutoff was 12,500 miles for the TSB. I'm absolutely IRATE because Nissan is fully aware of the aligment problem in my car, yet they are not willing to align OR put new tires on. I contacted Nissan, spoke with a woman named Kimberly who after "talking to her experts" told me that, and I quote...."because it's a sports car it sits low, the tires bend, causing quick wear, therefore there's nothing we can do about the front tires wearing" I couldn't beleive what I was hearing. I contacted a consumer law lawyer, who advised to writing a letter and trying to get the issue resolved myself. The greatest part about it is that Nissan has been servicing my car and NEVER said a word about the abnormal wear during my oil changes, and it's extremely obvious. So the moral of the story is if you even THINK your tires are feathering, get your car looked at. Once you break 12,500 miles Nissan will blow you off and won't even honor the alignment. From a business and safety standpoint, I'm disgusted that Nissan would KNOWINGLY send me on my way without addressing the TSB. As of 8/30 I've been to the dealership 3 times for the alignment and tires, yet nothing has been done. Sorry for the rant, but get your tires and front end looked at prior to 12.5k

 

My dealer told me about the NO ALIGNMENT after 12k miles also, but I think you can still get replacement tires right? Just do that and get alignment somewhere else.

I trust "other" alignment shops more than the dealer now after 3 alignments by the dealer and 1 by someone else..

 

Most car companies will do a front end alignment (free) within the first 12 months or 12000 miles whichever comes first.

 

That's exactly right. Don't forget, it's not only the 12K miles but also ONE YEAR.

I don't really see what you are so upset about. The rule is pretty clear. If you have been on this board (or any other Z board) you should have seen that. It has been one of the most talked about subjects on this car!

This isn't a RECALL where Nissan is obligated to contact you to get it fixed. It is a TSB. The onus is on YOU to bring it in for them to fix. They aren't going to call in all 30 thousand owners and do the TSB work since a lot of those 30K owners won't have the problem.

It would have been nice if they would have checked (or asked you) about it when you were in for an oil change but again, most dealers don't even know about this TSB until YOU tell or unless someone before you told them.

 

Is there an actual TSB for tire feathering? Because I cant seem to find a link to it somewhere.

Im coming up on my 1 year for the Z and would like to bring in atleast some documentation to prove about a possible problem. Ive heard about how several Bay Area dealerships have been shady and are hesistant to fix any problems.

My tires are not really showing any feathering since I have only 5200+ miles. But would like to do an alignment to fix any possible problems that may arise when that 1 year passes by.

Do I just mention it to the dealer about wanting an alignment?

 

There isn't a TSB about "feathering" per se. The TSB is really on "TIRE NOISE"

The TSB reference number is: Ntb03006


IF YOU CONFIRM: An applied vehicle shows the following symptoms when braking moderately: • excessive tire "roar" or "growl" noise, mostly when braking at speeds below 30 mph. ACTIONS: Verify the incident noise as described above. • Check alignment. Adjust (if needed). • Rotate front tires from side to side, dismounting tires from wheels. See this bulletin for detail.

 

Ok, thanks Doc. I was searching like heck trying to find an actual TSB for feathering.

 

Not all dealers acknowledge that there is an alignment problem. I mentioned that I was worried about the tires wearing unevenly to the Service writer when I went in for the 7500 mile check up. He said something like: "there's nothing we can do to prevent that" essentially telling me that there isn't any way to align a Z.

I knew enough about the TSB to know that my car would not qualify for the fix since it would not exhibit the "excessive tire noise" if tested then. I am now at 9000 miles and there is a bit more tire noise, but still not a roar. I am going to have to find a better dealer in the Bay Ara than Stevens Creek Nissan if I want to get anything done.

 

Mine is a-roarin' big time!

 

Bonz--thanks for the response. I am upset because of Nissan's failure to address a defect. I read about the tire feathering issues on this board, but was late noticing it on my own car, hence the purpose of this post, for other owners to catch. I would like for the problem to be corrected, that is all. My car came from the factory with a "possible" known defect that now affects my car. I realize that I'm over the 12k limit, and I realize I purchased an early VIN of a first year production car. I do not, however, beleive that at 18k miles I should be paying for an alignment and new tires out of pocket, not on this car or ANY other. I have been disappointed by Nissan's response to the minor issues I have had with my car, and if I'm going to be replacing front tires on this car every 15k miles then there will be a shiny red z for sale in my paper. I like the car, I enjoy driving the car, but the support that comes with the car is sub-par.
I don't want to start an import/domestic battle here, but a funny thing happened about two weeks ago: I had a 1996 Chevy pickup which I traded in for the Z, and got a letter from Chevy stating the windshield wiper motor might be defective and to bring it in for a replacement, or submit the form for reimbursement if already replaced. Now don't take this the wrong way--I don't regret purchasing the Z, but I find it ironic that Chevy is replacing windshield wiper motors on an 8 year old truck, but Nissan won't correct an alignment problem on my car after 10 months of ownership. By the way, the road noise from the Z is now worse than that Chevy 4x4 was with all-terrains. I just ask for a proper fix, that is all.

 

Go to the dealer and tell them it is pulling to the left. (Do it before 12 months or 12000 miles).

 

Here's the 350Z TSB link for future reference:

http://www.nissan-techinfo.com/nissa...3.asp?mscssid=

 

In addition, I've taken my car to the dealer for right side tire pull. My service advisor keeps telling me that the car is allowed up to 8 seconds before it starts to drift. I'll bring the TSB the 3rd time I have them look at it.

 

No, it isn't when it "starts" to pull to the right, it is that it has completed a left to right lane change in 7 secs.

ntb03046

IF YOU CONFIRM: The vehicle has a tendency for a constant drift to the right on a straight, flat road at highway speeds. NOTE: A vehicle is said to drift, if the vehicle completes a lane change in less than 7 seconds and with no steering correction from the driver and when driving at 60 mph and all four wheels must pass into the other lane during this time (7 seconds) and while driving on a crown-sloped road of less than 1 percent. ACTIONS: Install the right front suspension compression rod from the Parts Information section of this bulletin. See this bulletin for further details.

 

This is the part they replace:

 

I had not heard about the tire roar issue. I had heard about the lane change in 7 seconds issue. The funny thing is that I was commenting on tire noise this weekend. It was really loud. My tire pressure was a little low because it had cooled off here some what. So, I upped the pressure to 35 and I have notice the noise since. However, I have not been listening either. I will certainly check on my way home. I am right about 7500 miles, so I better take care of this.