OMG, and this car is only a 2015.
I've long had the opinion that NY may well be worse than NH or ME. Reason being, rust is a chemical reaction. The colder the weather, the slower it goes. So it is bad every place that uses salt, but every day above freezing is a day for rust to do its thing. States that are freeze/thaw, freeze/thaw may well be worse off (for both rust and road conditions). Places that just freeze solid may have an upper hand.NY must be way harder on cars than Minnesota.
Even worse they use the waste water from gas and oil production that is high salinity and full of other nasty crap.Some states use a liquid road treatment in winter, supposedly derived from beets, that is worse than regular salt. That stuff eats cars, bridges, etc., etc.
The farm lobby at work.![]()
Yes, you’re right, the Nissan brand had/has issues with corrosion. That rear piece/subframe is a problem. And although your control arms were replaced for free (in its entirety), for some people receiving the free control arms would also mean several hours labor removing and installing new bolts, an alignment, sway bar links, etc. Those bolts are not going to come out, they’re going to have to be cut out. Same for the links. And everything else attached to those control arms, it’s time consuming. Even the springs, once they get that control arm off there’s rubber insulators that could need replacement - heck, the spring itself could need replacement.Even though I live in Western NY State and we use an amount of salt in our winter that is too much to calculate, I have never had to replace a suspension part due to actually breaking apart in any vehicle that I have kept in excess of 15-18 years of everyday driving summer/winter. I have had to replace many suspension parts due to normal wear in those years mentioned.
Nissan currently has a campaign on these parts( 2013-18 Altima's and 2016-18 Maxima's ) as they new there is a problem with rust and NISSAN made the parts too cheap.
That 2015 Altima in the video has the same L & R REAR lateral links(control arms) that NISSAN just had replaced for my 2015 Altima in my signature under a NISSAN campaign. NISSAN is warranting these parts for 120 months with NO Mileage Limit from the original date of purchase. I doesn't matter how many owners the vehicle had. The campaign covers 2013-18 Altima's and 2016-18 Maxima's including towing. NISSAN even covered my $168 towing charge. Even though NISSAN said that I was responsible for the cost of the bolts, alignment and anything else that was involved in the repair, I never had to pay anything(NOTHING). The dealer said everything was covered. This was in March 2023.
Coincidentally...My 2004 Altima, YES, 2004 had its whole rear suspension replaced under a recall(not a campaign) in 2008-09 for a similar issue on the 2002-06 Altima(3rd gen Altima).
You should the faces on techs in the North East when we see a vehicle come in that’s from the south...we all call each other over, smiles a mile wide and say, look at this thingThere's a reason we put up with the heat in the SW. I'm doing some paint sunburn repair on the plastic flares and rocker covers on the 2002 Wrangler we recently bought. I can break loose the little bolts with a wrench and turn the out with my fingers.
Honestly, I dont think there’s many other options out there any more (aside from the wet treatments like fluid film/Krown/NH oil). I do know of one place that applies this wax like treatment now, and I forget what it’s called - it’s not cosmoline - but it’s something like a cross between that and the wax GM puts on their frames. And it’s twice the price of the Fluid Film treatments.The word "rust proofing" is rather vague. The most effective way to keep rust away is to utilize an oil spray applied annually.
If I lived near him I’d certainly get my vehicles repaired there - well, I work on my own stuff so maybe I wouldn’t - but if I couldn’t repair vehicles I’d definitely recommend this guy. He’s pretty good at diagnostics, and he is very careful when repairing vehicles. His experience is very evident, along with his professionalism.I watched that video this AM. You really have to love Eric O. I don't live too far from him, but I know of zero shops who would offer to located and install a good used rear cradle assembly. Based on the scope of the jobs he does, his prices are probably very good as well.
My inspections start with buying cars in AZ or CA. It simply isn't worth the hassle trying to buy anything around here. I've seen it all, repainted frames that are crusty on the inside, spray foam in rocker panels, you name it. My '98 Wrangler is from California, and it was cheaper to buy it and have it shipped here than the "not as rusty" crap in my area.Just remember: most any ad for this car would say "rust free".
When I think about buying a used car, my inspection starts underneath and I work my way up. Cars rot from the bottom up.