I was noticing a whine and a rough start on my Frontier for a week or so, and I was due a tune up so I got that done thinking that the whine would go away. It actually got worse, so I did some research and found Nissan's service bulletin NTB09-128 and then some YouTube videos of the very sound my engine was having. Did more research and found out that this was a common problem prior to my model year, and apparently was never really addressed as Nissan stated. Further research shows that there are several class action suits about Nissan covering up the problem with their faulty timing chain tensioners.
Took the truck in to a Nissan dealership, and they quoted me $1900 dollars to replace timing chain, tensioners, and water pump. The tech says the replace them all of the time (faulty engineering on the tensioner), so I asked the tech what would cause a timing chain to fail, he said lack of regular oil changes. I can attest that my oil was changed regularly and my truck well maintained, so I drove off, and took it to another mechanic told him of the problem, and before I could finish he asked if I had a Murano, so this is a frequent problem apparently.
Timing chains should not have this many issues, after all they were the solution to having to replace timing belts every 60 - 100k miles. I thought about contacting Nissan about the issue, but I saw where many have gone before me with little to no response from Nissan, so now while I'm down a vehicle this gives me plenty of time to inform and alert others of Nissan's faulty engineering and falling reputation as a reliable car manufacturer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I was noticing a whine and a rough start on my Frontier for a week or so, and I was due a tune up so I got that done thinking that the whine would go away. It actually got worse, so I did some research and found Nissan's service bulletin NTB09-128 and then some YouTube videos of the very sound my engine was having. Did more research and found out that this was a common problem prior to my model year, and apparently was never really addressed as Nissan stated. Further research shows that there are several class action suits about Nissan covering up the problem with their faulty timing chain tensioners.
Took the truck in to a Nissan dealership, and they quoted me $1900 dollars to replace timing chain, tensioners, and water pump. The tech says the replace them all of the time (faulty engineering on the tensioner), so I asked the tech what would cause a timing chain to fail, he said lack of regular oil changes. I can attest that my oil was changed regularly and my truck well maintained, so I drove off, and took it to another mechanic told him of the problem, and before I could finish he asked if I had a Murano, so this is a frequent problem apparently.
Timing chains should not have this many issues, after all they were the solution to having to replace timing belts every 60 - 100k miles. I thought about contacting Nissan about the issue, but I saw where many have gone before me with little to no response from Nissan, so now while I'm down a vehicle this gives me plenty of time to inform and alert others of Nissan's faulty engineering and falling reputation as a reliable car manufacturer.
- Jason H., Kennesaw, GA, US