Author Topic: Annoying problem with my X-Trail (Read 3206 times)

Calbrez · « **on:** January 26, 2009, 07:18:56 pm »

I bought it in Nov. We're having a cold winter here (by our standards) and the drivers side door won't open ever since I washed the damn car last week.. ok i've herard of this happening but I am a former toyota owner and it NEVER happened to the toyota. VER ANNOYING as I have to enter and exit from the passenger side.

I think that this problem should be corrected by Nissan at no expense..it's clearly a design flaw.

Any suggestions? Thanks

Peeved!

rrocket · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2009, 07:21:44 pm »

Water seeps in. It happens. What can you do? Have a nice little towel handy and wipe down the door jambs after a car wash. Simple..and takes a whole 5 minutes of your time....

Oh yea...wax the door jambs too....will help the water slide right off...

jamie1 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2009, 07:41:30 pm »

Are positive it is because it's frozen?

. I would say that something else is wrong. Perhaps a linkage has come off. Once the door is unlocked,there is no way in hell being frozen will keep it from openning.

Squishy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2009, 07:48:15 pm »

From the inside, with the door handle pulled out, give the trim a firm shoulder-tackle. If the door is iced up, that should free it. If it isn't, then some part of the handle or lock mechanism may have frozen or become dislodged.

dr_spock · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2009, 09:10:13 pm »

Park it in a warm garage and see if it any ice melts and fixes itself. If not, you may have to take the door apart to find out what's wrong with the mechanism.

Trainman · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2009, 11:35:42 pm »

Quote from: Calbrez on January 26, 2009, 07:18:56 pm

... toyota owner and it NEVER happened to the toyota. ...

Happens with our (Toyota) Sienna, both sliding doors. They get iced up and can not be opened from the outside. What does work, even on the sliding doors, is giving a firm push from inside and cracking the hold the ice has.

A hint: if expecting below freezing temps, don't wash the beast unless you can dry it off

Calbrez · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:12:37 am »

I don't think it's frozen... it opened today, then it didn't... there's something wrong with the power locks...

i dried my doors after washing, btw

and it was above 0 the day after i washed so it should have tried out...

I suppose i'll have to wast a half day and hundreds of $$ now at the dealer

rrocket · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:13:32 am »

OK..sounds like a malfunctioning part, and hardly a design defect.....

Trainman · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:21:11 am »

Thanks for the extra info, that helps.

And as noted by rr, it sounds like a broken part. Until the door is opened up there is no telling what the issue might be. Maybe somethkng has come loose and just needs to be put back in.

The little downside of buying used I'm afraid is that repairs will come sooner than later. Its still a good trucklet, but with around 90,000 kms it will need some work at some time.

rrocket · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2009, 12:23:56 am »

Can you open it from the inside?? Even when locked, the door should open when you pull the inside handle??

Calbrez · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2009, 01:35:57 am »

Quote from: rrocket on January 27, 2009, 12:23:56 am

Can you open it from the inside?? Even when locked, the door should open when you pull the inside handle??

I cannot open the door - period. Inside, outside, sideways! It's getting a little embarrassing actually...and every time i go in for the paassenger side, i get much, sand ice and snow all over the dash and seats... kind of hard to avoid that..

i don't have time to go to the dealer until later in the week!!

malfuntion, design problem - whatever... I have owned several different cars over a 20 year stretch and I've never been locked out of one.. even my crappy VW didn't do this!

Oh well.. i'll fix it some how... maybe i'll crawl out of the window..

rrocket · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2009, 01:40:47 am »

Quote from: Calbrez on January 27, 2009, 01:35:57 am

... maybe i'll crawl out of the window..

Vids??

Have you read this: http://www.nissanforums.com/x-trail/141462-x-trail-doors-frozen-shut.html

Sounds like there IS a new and improved part that may fix this issue??

barrie1 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2009, 10:56:32 pm »

I suspect what happened is that the Power door lock actuators may have gotten wet and possibly frozen and or part of the likage as well. I think a good overnight stay in a heated shop may help this out quite a bit and possible a relubing of the same parts mentioned as well. Even the power switch itself can draw water and act up as well.

Calbrez · « **Reply #13 on:** January 28, 2009, 01:56:49 am »

Quote from: rrocket on January 27, 2009, 01:40:47 am

Quote from: Calbrez on January 27, 2009, 01:35:57 am

... maybe i'll crawl out of the window..

Vids??

Have you read this: http://www.nissanforums.com/x-trail/141462-x-trail-doors-frozen-shut.html

Sounds like there IS a new and improved part that may fix this issue??

Interesting - thanks for that..

Here's a quote that sounds similar to what I posted... problem is, i have no warranty left!

i can truthfully say we have never had our doors freeze shut in Canadian winters (even in Winnipeg winters when the motor was struggling to turn over). leads me to conclusion that Nissan has a flaw in manufacture or material of the locking assembly.

Calbrez · « **Reply #14 on:** January 28, 2009, 01:58:44 am »

Quote from: barrie1 on January 27, 2009, 10:56:32 pm

I suspect what happened is that the Power door lock actuators may have gotten wet and possibly frozen and or part of the likage as well. I think a good overnight stay in a heated shop may help this out quite a bit and possible a relubing of the same parts mentioned as well. Even the power switch itslef can draw water and act up as well.

Thanks

seems to be working tonight - but guess what? The horn is not working all of a sudden!! this is getting hilarious!

rrocket · « **Reply #15 on:** January 28, 2009, 01:59:09 am »

Check and see how much the part is for starters..........if the part isn't much, I can't imagine it would be that difficult to put in yourself....(or barring that a local indie garage)

IF it is working today....flood it with some WD-40. That will help displace an moisture the next time around. As far as the horn?? Hmmm...fuse maybe??

barrie1 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 31, 2009, 06:58:46 pm »

Quite often many of the same items are on the same circuit in the car and not all the moisture may have dried out yet. Definitely check the fuses and or the wires going into the door from the body which could be damp as well thus causing a wet circuit.

scotte23 · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2009, 05:31:15 pm »

This is a common problem with the X-Trail. The driver's door actuator has a faulty seal, many Nissan dealerships have acknowledged that fact. Nissan Canada says they haven't had enough complaints to issue a recall or a service bulletin for that matter.

I live in Vancouver, my door was frozen shut for 3 days this winter, other than that it's been fine. My guess is many others have had a similar experience but didn't bother complain to Nissan. If everyone had I'm sure we'd have a better chance of seeing action from nissan.

Next time you see an xtrail driver in a parking lot as them if they've had a frozen door. It's funny some of the stories you'll hear. So far I've asked 5 people and all 5 have had problems. Only one of them has had it fixed.

Other posters have commented that their dealership has replaced the actuator free of charge, even off warranty. Others like myself have had no such luck. My local dealership wants $400 to replace it. I have opted to not have the actuator replaced at this time. If we get more people on this list I will contact Nissan again. It would be nice to see them held accountable for the cars they build.

It's funny, I love my X-trail, but when people ask me about it all they hear is the trouble i've had trying to get Nissan to fix my door.

Calbrez · « **Reply #18 on:** February 03, 2009, 06:28:09 pm »

Quote from: scotte23 on February 01, 2009, 05:31:15 pm

This is a common problem with the X-Trail. The driver's door actuator has a faulty seal, many Nissan dealerships have acknowledged that fact. Nissan Canada says they haven't had enough complaints to issue a recall or a service bulletin for that matter.

I live in Vancouver, my door was frozen shut for 3 days this winter, other than that it's been fine. My guess is many others have had a similar experience but didn't bother complain to Nissan. If everyone had I'm sure we'd have a better chance of seeing action from nissan.

Next time you see an xtrail driver in a parking lot as them if they've had a frozen door. It's funny some of the stories you'll hear. So far I've asked 5 people and all 5 have had problems. Only one of them has had it fixed.

Other posters have commented that their dealership has replaced the actuator free of charge, even off warranty. Others like myself have had no such luck. My local dealership wants $400 to replace it. I have opted to not have the actuator replaced at this time. If we get more people on this list I will contact Nissan again. It would be nice to see them held accountable for the cars they build.

It's funny, I love my X-trail, but when people ask me about it all they hear is the trouble i've had trying to get Nissan to fix my door.

Let me know because I'd certainly pursue it. I have also had an issue with rust onnthe rear hatch

barrie1 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2009, 10:47:06 pm »

I spoke with a young cousin of mine to-day who has a X-trail and his locks are fine so far but the back window wiper is kaput and he is not impressed over it going bad at all. With the lousy weather we are having is a mess when he drives it on the highway and can't see out the back window at all.