Bought an Altima - concerned about rust

[ocy9]

I bought a 2007 Altima 2.5S from a Nissan dealership today. I was very excited about the purchase until I found some complaints on how the floor pans are prone to rusting very quickly on these cars.

I haven't picked the car up yet as they're giving it new brake rotors and doing the licensing, emission tests and rust proofing. I gave the car a visual inspection as best as I could and even took some snapshots of the bottom areas behind the wheel arches to check for rust, but I didn't look at the spot on the floor pan that's supposedly prone to the rusting issue.

What makes it even worse is that I asked them to rust proof the car with the rubbery tar stuff instead of the oil. The rust proofing will hide the floor pans and I'm not going to be able to check for rust by looking under the car. Can I somehow lift the carpet just enough to be able to stick my arm under there without having to remove the front seat? Maybe this way I could at least feel for rust?

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by ocy9

I bought a 2007 Altima 2.5S from a Nissan dealership today. I was very excited about the purchase until I found some complaints on how the floor pans are prone to rusting very quickly on these cars.

I haven't picked the car up yet as they're giving it new brake rotors and doing the licensing, emission tests and rust proofing. I gave the car a visual inspection as best as I could and even took some snapshots of the bottom areas behind the wheel arches to check for rust, but I didn't look at the spot on the floor pan that's supposedly prone to the rusting issue.

What makes it even worse is that I asked them to rust proof the car with the rubbery tar stuff instead of the oil. The rust proofing will hide the floor pans and I'm not going to be able to check for rust by looking under the car. Can I somehow lift the carpet just enough to be able to stick my arm under there without having to remove the front seat? Maybe this way I could at least feel for rust?

If your dealership is reputable, they will not rust proof a rusting floor pan.

[ocy9]

I did a google search on the Nissan dealership, and I only found one or two complaints about a particular sales person being rude or difficult to negotiate with. Still, I don't just want to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they'll do the right thing and tell me about the rust.

Does the 07 Altima still have the rusting floor pan issue or did that mostly affect the previous gen from 2002-2006?

And how do I lift the carpet just enough so I can feel the floor pan with my hands? I want to do this without having to take the seats out.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by ocy9

I did a google search on the Nissan dealership, and I only found one or two complaints about a particular sales person being rude or difficult to negotiate with. Still, I don't just want to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they'll do the right thing and tell me about the rust.

Does the 07 Altima still have the rusting floor pan issue or did that mostly affect the previous gen from 2002-2006?

And how do I lift the carpet just enough so I can feel the floor pan with my hands? I want to do this without having to take the seats out.

Try yelp as well.

I have never read a thread about a 4th gen rusting... though I haven't been here long.

Not sure about the seat thing. I never had to rust proof a car when I was a Toyota Tech.

Do you live near snow?

[ocy9]

Originally Posted by N1rve

Do you live near snow?

Canada. 'nuff said.

The previous owner didn't get the car rustproofed by the dealer. He/she might have gone for the oil based rust proofing instead, but I have no way of knowing unless I get the dealer to contact them directly and ask.

[compyelc4]

I have an '07 SL with 90,000 miles. Ohio uses salt all the time in the winter. I have a lift and can detect no sign of rust on the bottom of the pans. Heck, there's barely any anywhere on the bottom for some unknown reason, although there are signs of factory installed rust-poofing. I bought the car new and I know for a fact it has never had dealer rust-proofing. As for rust on the top of the pans try just pushing down on the carpets and see if you detect a cracking or crushing sound (a telltale sign of rust). I doubt you will get rust between the carpet and the floor pans unless the car leaked like a sieve from the bottom of the doors. Any long-term water leak should be evident by the look and smell of the carpets. My carpets have remained dry as bones so I doubt very seriously if I have a rust problem there, and I'll bet you do not either. I checked with my dealer and he says he's never had an '07 or later Altima come in with reported rusted through pans.

You may want to think twice about getting a late model car rust-proofed anyway. I had a '79 new car done (first and last time) and the only places it rusted miserably were around the danged holes they drilled to pump in that black tar!! I'll never do that again.

[ocy9]

phew.

Feeling a little relieved after reading that. I guess Nissan sorted out that issue on the new generation. I'll take a closer look at the carpets once i pick the car up from the dealership. As for the rust proofing, they've probably already done it by now so it would be too late to change my mind. I could try calling and checking anyway.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by ocy9

phew.

Feeling a little relieved after reading that. I guess Nissan sorted out that issue on the new generation. I'll take a closer look at the carpets once i pick the car up from the dealership. As for the rust proofing, they've probably already done it by now so it would be too late to change my mind. I could try calling and checking anyway.

Doesn't hurt to ask. If it was rusting, i'm sure they would tell you...so they could earn more $$$ off you.

[jd10013]

Originally Posted by N1rve

Try yelp as well.
I have never read a thread about a 4th gen rusting... though I haven't been here long.

I've been here since feb of 2007 and I've never seen a post let alone a thread about rust problems with the current or previous gen altima. exactly where is the op getting this from?

[ocy9]

Originally Posted by jd10013

I've been here since feb of 2007 and I've never seen a post let alone a thread about rust problems with the current or previous gen altima. exactly where is the op getting this from?

what do you mean by current and previous gen? 5th and 4th, right? i'm pretty sure the rusting floor pan issue was present on the 3rd gen. if you google for this you'll find a lot of complaints, and almost all of them are for the 3rd gen.

here's one thread: http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/200...t-problem.html

and another (check 2nd post for links to more related threads): http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/200...-pan-rust.html

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by ocy9

what do you mean by current and previous gen? 5th and 4th, right? i'm pretty sure the rusting floor pan issue was present on the 3rd gen. if you google for this you'll find a lot of complaints, and almost all of them are for the 3rd gen.

here's one thread: http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/200...t-problem.html

and another (check 2nd post for links to more related threads): http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/200...-pan-rust.html

Well good news is that you don't own a 3rd generation nissan altima. I haven't read any rust issues with the 4th gen (Your gen), so now you can sleep at night

[barkeep]

I've had the car for almost 2 years now (been coming to this site for 15 months now), and I did not notice any rust on the chassis, or floor pan of the car. Since I live in Manitoba, where they salt and grit the roads to hell, nothing in particular in terms of rust problems have happened to my car.

Don't worry. This isn't Datsun/Nissan from 25 years ago.

[ocy9]

yeah, i guess i'm just worrying too much.

i've just loved everything about the 4th gen altima since i first saw it, and i'm way too excited about finally getting one that i can call my own. this is going to be the first car that i bought with my own money.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by ocy9

yeah, i guess i'm just worrying too much.

i've just loved everything about the 4th gen altima since i first saw it, and i'm way too excited about finally getting one that i can call my own. this is going to be the first car that i bought with my own money.

I'm not a fan of my 4th gen altima anymore after a year lol.

[ocy9]

Originally Posted by N1rve

I'm not a fan of my 4th gen altima anymore after a year lol.

is something wrong with it?