Loved both my Fords for 60K miles. Now I feel stupid for buying a 2nd one. Initial quality looks good, when it leaks like a siev, stahls while you're driving, won't recognize your key etc, remember I told you so At least Nissan will admit there's a problem, that's the first step toward a fix. To say there's a problem, fix it now seems a bit childish to me.
this doesn't have to do with being childish it has to do with safety on my car. there has been nearly 3 rear end collisions due to the hesitation / shudder. i can tell you 1 thing for sure , i know for a fact ford will step up to the plate and fast if needed to make a safety issue right.
It was on for quite some time and the seat cushion itself got nice and warm, but the seat back, including the lower part, did not heat up. They did heat up on my Max, but only the lower part. On a '08 Azera I had, the seat backs heated up all the way to shoulder height.
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.
Funny, I am an ex-Azera(2007) and now a 3.5 SL(2013) owner as well.
I have exactly the same heated seat issue as you describe. I have only tested driver's side; my gf says her side is ok (I'll have to test).
Set to 'high' only the seat bottom heats. Set to 'low', only the lower back portion of seat heats up (and too much a that).
From other posts, I gather this has been fixed somehow in relation to a wiring harness. When fixed the upper back portion will provide heat as well.
Will have to start out with dealer service dept. Not the way I want a new car experience to go.
Hal in Va
The dearler will tell you:
1. The seat heaters work "fine"
2. The seat heaters are wired in accordence with the schematic
3. They operate as "designed
.....etc etc etc
The problem is they don't operate as Nissan "intended" them to operate.
You need to first go to your dealer and have a record of your visit and your issue......THEN call Nissan Consumer Affairs....make a complaint and get a "case number".
Your dealer COULD call Nissan Technical Service (but most don't want to bother)....however, if they did they will learn that this is a KNOWN ISSUE that Nissan is working on.
At most ...the dealers will ONLY look for any existing Service Bulletins on the issue ....but won't find any because none have YET been issued. They don't issue them until they have a fix.
I dropped my car off this morning for the heated seats issue and the CVT 2.5 issue...This is the 2nd time, but this time my customer service rep had a conversation with the service manager before I left the car...instructing them to call tech line when the car is there. I stuck around long enough to watch the tech check the seat bottom and seat back with a temp gun...and acknowledge there is a difference....they were going to call tech line re: the seats and the CVT, so I left....2 hours later I get a call...."We're making progress"...there is a fix for the seats coming out soon, but because your car is here, they instructed my tech on what to do"....all he knew is it's a wiring thing....Gee, ya think.
Also they ordered a belt tensioner per tech line instructions, for the CVT moaning....he indicated he doesn't think it is the answer, but ordered the part as a emergency overnight delivery. Although he's doubtful this will be the answer...he's comfortable at least, Nissan is aware and working on a fix...He wants it as bad as we do....lot's of unhappy customers.
Oh, and he's arranging for a Hertz rental as they do not have loaners....not sure if the dealer is paying, or Nissan.....but I do know, it's not me.
I'll report back when I have some results....not too sure this overnight part thing is really going to happen that quickly....as today is MLK day.
It bothers me (greatly) that Nissan corp- local dealers or techinical staff seems to be "cherry picking" satisfying some customers and not others......
I'm tired of hearing that a few have been helped while the majority are still waiting (4 months and more) for a "fix" to be officially issued.
I for one will wait 30 more days, but no longer.....after that, I will take my car to my dealer, demand a loaner or free rental, and let it sit there until they send someone out to fix it.
I think 5 months is long enough to "fix" a wiring issue on a brand new car!
I don't think I'm getting any special treatment. I think it's just a timing thing...I took delivery in late Oct and filed a seat and CVT claim in early Nov. I got the brush off the 1st time, as did everyone else....It appears there is a fix, for the seats, which will soon be released....this is what I was told....and what my dealer was told....being he was on the phone, they told him what to do. Did your dealer call the tech line?, when?
The purpose of my post was to make people aware the "apparently" Nissan is doing something, albeit not as quickly as we like....not to brag that I'm getting some special treatment. I'm not. And like my service manager, I don't believe the belt tensioner is the answer to the 2.5 CVT problem, but again, he feels it shows Nissan is acknowledging the issue.....that is a step in the right direction, I hope.
And until I get the car back, I'm not convinced the seats will be right.
Believe me, I'm very unhappy with Nissan, not so much there are issues, but IMO, the poor way they are handling them.
I'm not suggesting that you "un-fairly" recieved special treatment...I was more suggesting that (as you said) Nissan has handled this terribly. Their PR people should be "tossed out". (btw...I'll try to locate one or two at the Chicago Auto Show and suggest they do a better job in the future!)
I too bought my Altima in October. I too have visited my dealer and called Nissan's Consumer Affairs 3 times. Each time I've been told "30 more days".....and each time I convey that to my dealer (and two other local dealers) their reply has been the same...""we know nothing".
The communications between Nissan and their dealers is terrible!....Nissan has told me that the issue of the heated seats is posted but on their Technical site. But dealers only pay attention to issued Service Bulletins, not any other communications from Nissan. Why Nissan can't do a better job of informing dealers is beyond me.....but it leaves the consumer in a position to have the dealer look at them like they don't know what we're talking about.
In conclusion...IF one or two dealers can, with assistance, fix the seat issue then they ALL CAN ....it's TIME TO ISSUE THE SERVICE BULLETIN FIX already!!!......It's winter!
As I stated, I had a conversation with my rep, last Thursday ( who is almost impossible to reach)...told her I had today's appointment scheduled. Later that day. she called me back to say she spoke to the dealership and that they were to call the tech line when the car was there. I believe they were to call her back to update her as to the result.
Maybe calling your rep will get you a faster solution....
I brought this with me today,,,it was posted by 13AltimaSL...(page 9 of this thread)
They fixed my seats!!!
I own a 2013 Altima SL and had the same issue as everyone else with my seats. I emailed Nissan just as everyone else did and received a call back about a month ago. They set up an appointment for yesterday for me to drop off my Altima at my local dealership. They sent a "dealer technician specialist" to the dealer to assist. I got the car back and low and behold the seats now actually work as they should! Not only that, but the back heats much more towards the top then it did before (not just lower back). The dealership said they replaced the harnesses but the paperworks states: the fuses/ fuse block.
Oh, and BTW...when I dropped the car this morning....the service manager said "I'm not sure we'll be able to fix your car today...we still don't have anything from Nissan for either issue".. but we're going to call tech line" He also did finally admit he's getting a lot of CVT complaints....maybe it's true.... the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Well.....I just got off the phone AGAIN with Consumer Affairs....(that makes 5 calls over 5 months...2 to Consumer Affairs and 3 to Nissan Executive Offices, who are now dealing with my case)
I also just learned that I've been assigned a new case number since the original case number was "closed" because it had "no resolution within 30 days"....if you can believe that!!!
I have no idea why or how some have gotten Nissan to send a Tech Rep to a dealership to fix the issue...but all my calls have yielded ZILCH-ZERO-NADA.
I've been polite but this situation is making me angry with each monthly car loan payment I make!
I suppose I'll get another call from "William" at the Nissan Executive Offices telling me he understands but that it will be another 30 to 60 days!
Yea I got the same....claim closed BS....I went nuts....You can't fix my car, so you close the claim.....Now that's customer service....How bout you keep it open UNTIL you fix my car....both claims were re-opened.
Again, I'm not convinced my seats will be right...stay tuned.
A couple of weeks ago I was given some info from one fellow customer who reported that his dealer (in Maine) AND a Tech Rep sent out from Nissan, fixed his seat issue. So given the events of today, (or lack of events!) I called that dealoer in Maine to confirm that they were able to accomplish a fix.....that information WAS confirmed by the dealer's Service Mgr.
...........so, if they could fix one they can fix ALL!!!
Hopefully I'll get a call from Nissan Corp (a 4th call) and tell them that I want the same fix on my car ASAP!
Enough is enough!
(and after that, they can address my occasional and not easily reproducable CVT "shudder" that has also been widely discussed on this Forum and others)
Yes, that's the post I printed and brought with me this morning....the bottom line is they fixed his, in fact his upper part of the seat back now heats where it didn't before....only my lower back part heated, so I'm looking forward to getting it back....hopefully the seat bottom and seat back will operate equally temperature-wise and maybe the upper seat back will heat as a bonus...HA
Why not print the same post or wait for my result, print both, go to your dealer, insist they call tech line, while you're there.
I am still a little concerned, as 13AltimaSL indicated they told him they replaced a harness, the invoice showed fuses or fuse block....my guy just said "wiring" but no mention of parts....guess I gotta wait n see.
My guess is that it's more than just a fuse or a simple crossed wire. I'd like to think that if it was that simple the "fix" Service Bulletin would have been quickly issued.
I think it might be a bit more complicated or time consuming...and given the number of 2013 Altima with heated seats and the COSTS to Nissan (it's always about money/profits/losses) I'm sure they are moving slow and carefully.....but IMHO too slow and damaging their customer relations.
Thanks Rob.
I went to dealer today to establish with them and they agree there is an issue. The mgr's own heated seat does not behave that way. She will speak to Nissan Tech and/or their 'new model group' when I drop it off THursday.
At that time they will fix another problem that they know about - the brake indicator on the dash will flash in relation to having used the emergency brake.
They will hoook up with a NIssan computer in order to re-flash ABS system.
I noticed some weird dash indicators once, probably after I used the e-brake; My solution
at the time was to shut and restart the car.
Back to the seat issue, I see some info here that someone in Maine got a fix . I hope that they would post the details here of that fix.
I'll keep you posted.
Hello, I cruise this site because my wife just bought a new 2013 2.5SL Altima and I have a 2012 Maxima SV built 7/12. The Maxima has the heated leather seats and I must say that they work the same way you are discribing the Altima seats work. Before you ask, I have not ridden in my wifes car enough to try out the heat on the seats so I will have to make it a point to. Her 2008 Altima had the heated seats and they worked great. My 2010 370Z also had the heated seats and they worked great. Maybe there is a design flaw here and it is carrying over to other models. I'm interested in how this turns out as I might have to take the Maxima in and have it checked out.
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At least Nissan will admit there's a problem, that's the first step toward a fix. To say there's a problem, fix it now seems a bit childish to me.
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