GT-R : Epic Fail - Garage419

IT IS NOT FAIR!!!! like really when someone buys a car they are paying for the car and everything inside the car including the launch control i mean yea sure they want it to be a void if ppl drive with it on and cause accidents etc but still depite that the warrenty should still cover the entire car. i don't care when i buy my GTR if something breaks with in the warrenty of a normal car warrenty span i want it fixed!!!!

I believe it is allright that Nissan voids warranty for using LC. People just abuse their cars, use the LC non stop - and no gearbox can handle that - why should Nissan pay for it? I believe a better solution would be limitting the number of possible usages of the LC - like 3 - 5 times and that's all.

I don't need a dam car that tells the factory that I blew a fart in it while I was driving... It makes no sense. I hate the GTR beacause of that and I wouldn't buy one. What happens if I mess around with a girl? Nissan is gonna know? Will OBD throw a code for that?

The GTR is a joke...the tranny can't handle what the engine puts out? How can you expect to sell something like that? Time for Nissan to fire their engineers, recall the car, and go back to the drawing board. What a sucky way for them to release their "halo car" in the USA.

No thats crazy to offer something on a car that if used voids the warranty. That is stupid for nissan to even off the mechanism if it is going to void the warranty. They should offer a warranty upon purchase that allows the buyer to use the features, even if the buyer has to pay extra for it.

I honestly think that with the way the economy is, Nissan is trying to take as many standards as they can to save some money, im sayin that its just part of the reason they void the warranty, but if they sell a car where the transmission blows like that in an x amount of miles, why didnt they run more tests on it to actually make it stronger so they dont have the disgrunteled owners now, its a bad move on Nissans part for releasing the car without running an extensive amount of tests on the transmission and overall, one hell of a bad business move

I'm a bit annoyed at this disclaimer but here's the real question: Was the tranny damaged do to use of launch control, or was is a defect in the transmission to begin with and they're using the disclaimer to deny service. I'd really like to know what part/s failed in the transmission.

** Also I just wanted to add, that as we are complaining that the manufacturer allows the user to override a feature, & then backs out of the repair, you can imagine the next time, they will not offer this feature on any future products. They will just say, forget it, leave it up to the CPU. This is very sad because I hate auto overrides. I prefer to have TOTAL MANUAL CONTROLS over almost everything (even my rear view mirror!)

* After reading the comments above, I would suggest to read your warranty over carefully. You will see it does NOT cover race/track,etc. Also, you may want to read your insurance policy. You will find that your insurance provider also will refuse coverage in the event of an accident. I know someone who was refused the purchase of a Bugatti because he blew his Ferrari transmission too many times. The dealer warned him it was the last one they would cover under warranty. How many of you have seen all the parts of a transmission? Its a miracle they last as long as they do under the best of conditions. So many parts so close together. Having said that, unless there is a case of EXTREME abuse, the producer should stand by their product. Especially in the first few cases, Nissan should have just fixed it. In cases of doubt, they may have even offered a 50/50 split. The many years of brand equity & marketing they invested just isn't worth it. Having sat in the GTR at the auto show (no driving of course), it simply reeks of quality. The ergonomics are nearly perfect, very comfortable. The pearl white is the BEST exterior color! Too bad no sunroof :(

HA! Glad to hear american car companies dont hold the patent to stupidity. Nissan skyline is now the performance equivalent of a condom one fun time and toss it. No bueno, that being said I have come across several sports car owners vettes and mustang owners as well as a lightning owner or two that had their warranties voided for data found in the computer. Either design something to be used for its intended purpose or not.

As a 2003 350z owner, that suffered many of the known issues from that first model year, it is no surprise to me that Nissan does not want to honor a warranty. I still love the GT-R, but I knew something was going to happen with it's first year. After a couple of law suits Nissan will either change their tune or, sadly, just remove launch control. I guess if I do get a GT-R like I was planning I'll have to get the optional 4-pack of spare transmissions. Suddenly the ZR1 sounds much more appealing to me.

Ya i Dont think that it is fair that Nissan should void the warranty if someone takes off the TC and put on the launch control. Plus i think GM is thinking wrong into buying Chrysler.

So after the first trannys are broken because of the use of the launch control I must say the GTR sucks. You can't build a sportscar knowing that the use of a launch control destroy the transmission. You can't sell a car which only performs like advertised when you risk the prosperity of your car and have to pay for it. Sorry Nissan but learn to build proper sportscars and then claim to be the fastest around the Nürburgring.

First off let me say, love the show. I am a new viewer and i love it. now look. I have been a Nissan skyline fan for years. pathetically i saw it in 2fast2furious and was hooked ever since. I have been keeping an eye on the gtr wen it was in testing till now and i love the car. very well made. this warranty issue is new to me, well it doesn't really matter to me, can't afford the bitch so what does it matter. now in my opinion, yes it is very unfair to have a launch mode and if used it will void the warranty but i think it is somewhat good. think about it as the CEO of Nissan ok. you have made this amazing supercar that is killing the competition and one of the modes you made (launch mode) if over used may cause a blown tranny. now if this warranty void was not in there people would be blowing trannies left and right. thats millions of dollars down the tube. not to mention law suites if anyone gets injured. but to void it in any situation is a little much to me. I think it should be like this. you are given 1 warranty covered tranny and after that if it goes because you were using launch mode your paying. but if it blows when your racing it on a track then it should be fully covered. but again thats just me

I personally dont feel that the GTR is legit anymore. Even though it is a stellar performer, the way that Nissan is bogging it down with these many ways to void the warranty is just sad. The GTR was known for a car that was top of the game in the tuning and track world. The fact that you can't use the car on the track, or get any real performance, just shows us that it didn't have the true driver in mind. It gives the notion that this is more of a image than a true car. Give other people the idea that you can drive and are a true racer by owning the car. People should just buy a blinged out Mercedes instead, since you can't use the car in any way.

I can imagine Nissan sales guy saying "You see that (Red) button, no wait don't touch it!" After you buy the car you get the "Do not engage ludicrous speed clause."

Saying you can't use systems in a car is like giving a teenager a ton of fireworks and saying don't use them, just trust us that they're fun. Not fair! GTR=Fail

Awesome, Leo used to race a Toyota Atlantic http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=gqVf4sohcIU , those things are sick. Wow that warrenty crap they're pulling is totally ripping off whoever buys a GT-R.

Well…there goes my love of the GT-R. I was head-over-heals for that car. Nissan must immediately rectify this problem. They will soon be the joke of the super car world. What other super car company from Lamborghini, to Ferrari, to Porsche, to whomever voids their warranty if you use all of the car’s features. Absolutely absurd!!! As for GM-Chrysler…it is clear this merger is also Cerberus’ overall plan to make multi-millions fast (all of this in a two year period!!!). As I mentioned when I posted some details about this a few episodes ago…the share holders should have blocked Cerberus. Cerberus has done what it does best, chop up what they buy and get it ready for redistribution and a complete sell off. All of these actions have made absolutely no one want to invest in Chrysler. And on top of that, it has chased out current shareholders, or should I say, is chasing them out. Even Goldman Sachs began to sell of Chrysler’s loans around 60 cents on the dollar just this last April. It is clear that un-regulated markets and laws from the top have trickled down to companies and the little people amongst them. If the leader of the US for the last 8 years can spend, spend, spend and borrow, print, borrow, print from the Reserve…why can’t everyone else? The reason why Toyota and all the foreign car manufactures are doing so well is, because they are not run by morons! Toyota, for instance, runs within an equity system. This is why they can float through these lean times without fear of bankrupts. It is clear…invest in other car markets. Why not support the future, like Telsa…? I could go on for ever…

First the sticker price is BS when you buy this car, second with this new information, it "technically" is not even that fast if it breaks stuff that easy. THis car is absolutely ridiculous. I am not shocked that this would come from one of the Asian car makers. They have been trying to undercut American/European automakers for years, now its on the performance car level with claims that cant even be backed up. Good thing I would never buy one..oh wait I cant because I dont have money to waste!! At the REAL price for one of these I would get an Audi R8, ZR1, or Viper ACR.

WTF how m i going to pay about 103.000.00 in a car that i cant got fast is like here is a car u can buy and its fast and it can do a lot fpor u meony but if u used it the car has no warranty like come on u are paying so much money on a car that u can do crap wiith it its like telling me here is a car but u cant pass 60mph on or u done with it come one if u are going to do that to a car then sell the car for like 45k for it b/c u can buy a Lamborghini Gallardo and i know if i fuck it up i have warranty on it and i can go as fast on it and no one can do noting about it

It's really unfortunate to see a factory tuned car configured like this. After market tunes are what need to be voiding factory warranty. As far as I know, when you buy a new Ferrari and put it in "race" mode, you aren't voiding anything. Another point that concerns me here is the highly customized nature of the GT-R. Assembly-line motors may not have every ounce of power tuned out of them, but they are easily serviced and replaceable. This also allows after market vendors to produce components for a vehicle as well. The GT-R, however, tailors the software load on each ECU for an individual engine. Worse than than, a specific transmission is matched with a specific engine as well! You have no choice, it would seem, but to replace with Nissan parts. Obviously, using launch control is going to put undue strain on your driveline. But monitoring track use, and voiding warranty for that, or voiding max revs? That's completely unacceptable. If the car can't reliably operate under those conditions, don't allow it in the first place.

This is complete BS. Imagine if Ferrari told Scuderia owners that turning the button on the wheel to off and using it at the track voided the warranty? What a joke. The GTR is marketed as a track giant and ultimate this and that but if you take it to the track it voids the warranty, WTF. Im more upset about the computer nannies in the car that track the cars use than anything else. Whats next telling the owner that peak HP is at 8500 RPM but reving it past 6000 will screw you? Just think, a track car that cant handle the track I guess the GTR is a paper tiger after all.

These are some scary times, GM and Chrysler? If it happens Chrysler is done, Auburn Hills will be in a world of hurt. Still don't understand why GM wants to unload GMAC BEFORE they get any federal aid from the bail out. 0k OVER sticker for a non-operational, damaged Bond car? This is not a DB5. More money than brains. Moped riders in most states are not required to wear a helmet. GTR if you race it (sanctioned race track event), warranty should not cover repair. You do a track day once, and no warranty coverage-bs! Nissan should not brag about lap times at the Ring, if you cannot do it without voiding the warranty. If customers have to leave all the systems on, so does their test drivers. They know this is a performance car, and how it will be driven, why build such a weak transmission? To make more money? One of the Nissan engineers start up and aftermarket company that builds stronger GTR transmissions. Turning off traction control voids warranty TOTAL BS!!!!! So you want to spin the tires in the snow, turn traction control off, a couple of months later your driving down the highway and the tranny fails. Nissan says no warranty claim, because you turned tcs off once 3 months ago. BS!!

I really enjoyed this show, great work. I'm with you guys, if a feature on a vehicle will void the warranty, do not have this feature factory installed. If the transmission is clearly not strong enough to withstand the abuse of launch control, than it should not be added to the car from the factory. If people want to destroy their transmissions, than let the aftermarket create some kind of launch control feature. Also, speaking of the Porsche, does the launch control void the warranty on the new 911’s? I noticed the promo videos on their website feature launch control and even demonstrate how to use it. Launch control or not, I still like the GTR. I still plan on selling my STI and buying one once all of the “bugs” are worked out. I never buy a vehicle the first year of production.

You're right Matt - 50cc & under two-wheelers can be operated without a license in most states, so DUI drivers do become moped riders and scooterists. I'd guess most of those adults also do not wear helmets. Also, street-legal 50cc & under two-wheelers are a favorite among 14-year-olds. These youthful riders also are likely experimenting with their first taste of booze. Chrysler product has sucked for 40 years (remember the name Iacocca? The turn-around he led?) Cerberus sucks more (see what they did to cycle parts distributor Motorcycle Stuff). It's the leadership of investment groups like Cerberus who've been responsible for many, many job losses and the country's present financial situation.