Inspection of CPO Pathfinder

[chunt]

Last week I purchased a certified pre-owned Pathfinder from a large Nissan dealer. I got a fair price and was overall very happy with the buying experience.
They said that they did a very complete inspection and gave me a copy of the check list (an official Nissan CPO check list). After I got home I went over the car very thoroughly. I found that the power steering fluid was not touching the dipstick. They did not check that. I had the correct fluid so I added some, no big deal. The check list shows that they replaced the air filter. They had not, it was not dirty enough for me to replace but they said that they did. (strike 2).
The next morning I checked the tire air pressures, all were around 40 PSI. The check list showed all to be at 35 PSI. The check list also showed all 4 tires to have a thread depth of 8/32". Three of the tires were in great shape but the 4th had about half the thread as the other 3. So I filled out their survey listing the issues that I found and they called the next day wanting me to bring the car back so they could replace the worn tire and recheck the entire car. I got a new tire and a new check list. After I got home I checked everything and it still had the dirty air filter in it. I gave up, I am not driving 45 minutes back to the dealer for an air filter. This is why I do my own maintenance.

 

[CharlieBauer]

Ask them to send you the air filter.

 

[mclasser]

They must have some lazy [censored] techs working there. Fixed one thing (after you called them out on it), but forgot about the rest.

I'd send an email to the dealer manager about your poor experience. Even if you weren't going to anyway, tell them there's no way you'll be bringing your car in for regular servicing there.

 

[buck91]

Check out my post in maintenance about the sham job a Ford dealer just tried to pull on me :rollseyes: No sir, you cannot have my $300 for $40 in parts that ARE JUST FINE ANYWAYS.

 

[tomcat27]

many years back our CPO Jeep Grand Cherokee was leaking from the transfer case, transmission, and front diff. "CPO" means nothing.

 

[chunt]

Originally Posted by tomcat27
many years back our CPO Jeep Grand Cherokee was leaking from the transfer case, transmission, and front diff. "CPO" means nothing.

Supposedly CPO gives a 7 year 100K drive train warranty from the in service date. For me with this vehicle, I have 6 1/2 year or 84K drive train warranty from the date of purchase. And it was a heck of a lot cheaper than a new one. And I still have 2 1/2 years of the bumper to bumper coverage.

 

[tomcat27]

I understand the value of the program - and it offers value. I was just being snarky because ours was not properly inspected. and, even though I found this at delivery, it appears they may have charged it against the extended warranty.

 

[SirTanon]

Contact Nissan USA corporate and tell them about your experience, make sure you call out every point, and add to it the fact that you have been posting about your experience here. I suspect they'll go out of their way to help.

 

[Onetor]

You should consider complaining directly to the manufacturer. And consider naming the dealership on these forums. Unless, that is prohibited? So, we know which ones to avoid and who the better ones are.

 

[edwardh1]

cpo per a lawyer means only a longer warranty. It means nothing else.

 

[JTK]

Chunt, I had the same experience with our CPO 2016 Nissan Quest. The 120 point (may have been more or less?) checklist was basically pencil whipped by three different people. Mine was missing the spare tire, never had the spare FOB, had two tires that needed to be replaced, among other items that were checked and signed off by 3 different people as being "OK", that were clearly not OK. The dealer made good on all of it, but this took my time and effort to get it done. Like I've said on other threads in regards to this topic, I didn't buy the van because of it being CPO, it just happened to be the vehicle the darling bride wanted and it happened to be CPO. The process is a joke and is simply a marketing gimmick that happens to bump up your power-train coverage to 100K miles from 60K. WhooPEEE!

Aside from that CPO frustration, how are you liking the Pathfinder? My SIL has a 2014. It's a nice vehicle. Dunno how many miles you have on the new to you Pathfinder, but I'd consider doing a drain/fill or two on the CVT trans. I know the CVT fluid was dark like well used motor oil on our 2016 Quest with only 32K miles on it. I've done 3-4 drain/fills on it. Currently at 64K miles.

 

[chunt]

Originally Posted by JTK
Aside from that CPO frustration, how are you liking the Pathfinder? My SIL has a 2014. It's a nice vehicle. Dunno how many miles you have on the new to you Pathfinder, but I'd consider doing a drain/fill or two on the CVT trans. I know the CVT fluid was dark like well used motor oil on our 2016 Quest with only 32K miles on it. I've done 3-4 drain/fills on it. Currently at 64K miles.


At least I am not alone on this. It probably happens a lot and most buyers are not car savvy enough to realize that there are problems until it is too late to do anything about it.
So far I love the Pathfinder but I have only had it a week. It has been in service for 6 months and has 16K on the clock. I will keep an eye on the CVT fluid and change it often. I will be checking the CVT fluid level soon. I had an Altima that came from the factory with the level low and it caused a little jerking and a code. The dealer tech refused to check the level because it was a new car and "couldn't" be low. It was about 10-12 ozs. low..

 

[wag123]

Before buying a used vehicle, even a CPO, ALWAYS take it to your own experienced/qualified mechanic for a thorough inspection, or, do one yourself off of the dealer's premises if you REALLY know what you are doing, have the proper diagnostic equipment, and have the ability to put the vehicle up-in-the-air.

 

[JTK]

Originally Posted by chunt
Originally Posted by JTK
Aside from that CPO frustration, how are you liking the Pathfinder? My SIL has a 2014. It's a nice vehicle. Dunno how many miles you have on the new to you Pathfinder, but I'd consider doing a drain/fill or two on the CVT trans. I know the CVT fluid was dark like well used motor oil on our 2016 Quest with only 32K miles on it. I've done 3-4 drain/fills on it. Currently at 64K miles.


At least I am not alone on this. It probably happens a lot and most buyers are not car savvy enough to realize that there are problems until it is too late to do anything about it.
So far I love the Pathfinder but I have only had it a week. It has been in service for 6 months and has 16K on the clock. I will keep an eye on the CVT fluid and change it often. I will be checking the CVT fluid level soon. I had an Altima that came from the factory with the level low and it caused a little jerking and a code. The dealer tech refused to check the level because it was a new car and "couldn't" be low. It was about 10-12 ozs. low..



The only thing I didn't catch until I got home was the missing spare tire and this was because I needed to refer to the manual to find where it's located. The cable that holds the spare underneath was conveniently balled-up and tucked so you had to crawl under to notice it.

There's really so little that could be wrong with a 1-2yr/old, low mileage, still under manufacturer's warranty vehicle, that you have to watch for the obvious stuff, like the spare tire/tools, spare keys, FOBs, owner's manual, obvious signs of body work or water damage, etc. I personally can't see 3rd partying an inspection out for something like a regular vehicle IMO.

I wouldn't worry about a DIY CVT drain fill until ~24-36K miles. Maybe watch for a Nissan NS-3 CVT juice deal on eBay in the meantime. Nice thing about the Pathy, Murano and Quest is, the CVT is easily serviceable. Worst part is defeating the stupid locking cap on the refill tube.

 

[andyd]

2 Camrys ,from 2 dlrs, both CPOs . Never double checked anything. Zero complaints since purchase.

 

[wag123]

Originally Posted by andyd
2 Camrys ,from 2 dlrs, both CPOs . Never double checked anything. Zero complaints since purchase.

You got lucky!
There is a local Toyota dealer here that sells CPO vehicles and does/checks nothing (or next to nothing) on their vehicles. IMO the ONLY way that they get away with this is because most of the CPO vehicles they are selling are current model year (or 1 year old at most) rental return Toyota products with under 30k miles on them, so they risk very little by not doing anything to them.