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Nissan Xterra - Overseas Warranty

Nissan Xterra • Engine Problems • Brake Problems • Defective Gas Shutter Valve • Wheel Bearings • Overseas Military Warranty • Just Falling Apart --- • Other Nissan Products

"SS" of APO, Germany (7/20/02):
My husband and our family are stationed here in Germany. We purchased our 2000 Nissan Xterra July/2000 at Big Country Ford in Clovis N.M. We purchased this vehicle a week before we had to fly overseas, and the salesperson informed us that the factory warranty was still applicable to the vehicle, so we thought we were in good hands. NOT true.

The first incident with this vehicle was the brakes. They had to be replaced, so I had them replaced at the Nissan auto shop here in Baumholder Germany. In August/2002, my transmission went out! I could not believe it. We have been without our vehicle since then. There are Nissan dealers/auto shops here that do repairs on Nissan autos, but since they do not make Xterras here, finding parts for the truck is next to impossible.

To top it off, the shop I'm dealing with claims they've interacted with Nissan America for over 20 years, yet I am the one who has to do all of the footwork when it comes to finding out the price of a new transmission, or even trying to locate a used/rebuilt one. I called Nissan America, because even though the mileage warranty is up, the powertrain warranty is still in affect. (5 years 60,000 miles) and it covers the transmission. Nissan gave me the runaround for about 3 months before they finally informed that they do not honor their warranty outside the U.S. I was both shocked and enraged!

They informed us that we'd have to pay for the transmission ourselves, and that they MIGHT reimburse us. The thing is, I do not have $5300 to replace a transmission, and that's how much it would cost for me to order it and have it sent here from the U.S. The actual transmission costs $2300, but with customs fees, i'll have to pay over $5000!

We are a family of 5: me, my husband, and our 3 elementary-school-aged kids. This is a three-year tour, much of it has been spent with my husband being deployed away from us, and we have no vehicle. It is absolutely important to have a vehicle here in Germany, especially where we are located, because most everywhere you go, is not within walking distance. I've had to turn down job opportunities that are within 15-30 minutes from my home because I do not have my vehicle. We are paying a $500 car note plus a $96 insurance bill on this vehicle, and we are unable to use it. This money comes directly from my husband's pay check.

Nissan can send the transmission here and get this over with, because our vehicle is still under warranty. With all that has happened within the past 12 years involving our military troops, the last thing any military member should have to worry about is whether or not they will receive help from a company who refuses to honor their own warranties overseas. There are so many troops stationed overseas, you'd think that this would be something that is specifically stated to a military member when purchasing a vehicle, and it WAS NOT. The fact is, the salesman made it a point to remind us that the vehicle was still under warranty, and that if there were ANY problems, they would be taken care of by Nissan.

My husband is now in Kosovo for the second time since we've been here, and that LIE makes me regret ever purchasing that vehicle.

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