Recently I took my 2005 Nissan Maxima (38000 miles) into the Tim Dahle Nissan dealership for a headlight problem. I was told by the service writer that if it was simply a headlight replacement it would cost $140.00. (Evidently they have to remove the front bumper to replace the headlight.) It seemed exorbitant but I had found out earlier when trying to purchase a headlight at an auto parts store that it was a dealer only repair.
To make a long story short, two more calls through the day increased the cost of repair to $400.00 and then to $1200.00. I was told that the entire left headlight assembly needed to be replaced and it was an $874.00 item. The total bill came to $1184.81.
That evening I experienced the same problem except on the opposite side headlight.in addition the headlight assembly that had been replaced was shining down on the left shoulder of the road and about ten feet out in front of the car. I had to drive home using my fog lights.
They were able to repair the problem the next day by, as they told me, "replacing the entire right side headlight assembly." Another $874.00 item. Unless they were not telling me the truth this meant that both entire headlight assemblies on a two year old car had gone bad at the same time. (I don't think so.) Fortunately they were willing to comp me the second assembly for my troubles.
Their response to my complaint about the excessive cost was to call the Nissan customer affairs representative. Which I did. (here's the rest of the story!)
I or my wife have called the Nissan customer affairs follow up specialist at least seven times over the past four weeks. Each time we have received a phone message to leave a message and he will be sure get back to us within one working day. The first time I called he did return my call within one working day but I missed the call. We have called six times since, each time receiving the same message and have yet to receive a call back.
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