So yeah, I got a slightly used 2008 Nissan Sentra from a dealer that -- as for now, shall remain nameless -- back in mid August of last year. Since then, a brake problem has surfaced that causes the brakes to make a grinding, creaking noise whenever I try to slow down. This began a little less than two weeks after getting the car. Since then, she's been in the shop six times as follows:
First visit - 9/6/09 - Replaced rear brake shoes, resurfaced rear drums.
Second Visit - 9/26/09 - Replaced rear brake shoes, turned rear drums.
Third visit - 10/11/09 - Unable to verify problem. (Yeah, that was fun.)
Forth visit - 10/18/09 - Replaced rear drums.
Fifth visit - Different Nissan dealership as recommended by Nissan corporate - 11/19/09 - Front rotors found to be "scored" and "glazed" causing vibration. Replaced front pads, resurfaced front rotors, resurfaced rear drums.
Sixth visit - Original dealership - 1/19/10 - Front pads "scored" and replaced.
Thankfully, I have all the paperwork. I got the car back last Thursday...and the noise began again the next day. It looks like both the rotors AND pads were "scored" but it doesn't appear as if anyone looked into WHY they were scored repeatedly.
I've tried to be patient, and I've tried to be kind, but I'm fed up. I'm tired of this incompetence. Either the people at these dealerships are too fucking stupid to fix the car, or the car is beyond being fixed.
I've therefore begin a campaign to get the car replaced with another one. I've called both my contact at Nissan corporate and the GM of the dealership and left messages explaining my intentions. I'll follow up with calls every day until this gets resolved. If they want a fight, which I'm expecting, I'm prepared to give them one.
Since my awesome girlfriend is a lawyer, I have that card to play in the form of legal action. I also plan a smear campaign if necessary. Calls to the BBB, negative reviews on Yelp and other similar sites, posts on local forums not to shop there, posts on car forums explaining my plight, emails, calls and letters to anyone I can find at Nissan who will listen...or who won't, regular visits to their dealership telling people not to buy from them, and whatever else might come up.
I like to think I have a lot of patience, but regardless, anyone can be pushed too far. Six visits for the same problem is ridiculous, and I'm tired of it. I expect them to give me a replacement car -- I'd be happy with the same year and model -- for no money out of my pocket, since clearly I neither caused this problem nor let it go without trying to resolve it.
We'll have to see what happens. I've never done anything like this before, but that sure as hell doesn't mean I'm backing down, ever.