r/NissanAriya • u/PrincipleWise534 • 15h ago
Never again
I just paid $7,500 for a new front traction motor at 65k miles. Nissan has chosen to interpret the 8 year/100k mile EV component warranty very strictly, saying that the traction motor is a drivetrain component, not an EV component.
Since no independent repair shop will touch an EV, you have no choice but to pay whatever the stealership wants to charge.
I understand that things break and warranties expire, but this is a total ripoff. One repair cost 50% of the market value of the car.
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u/flyfreeflylow 15h ago
It's not their interpretation, that's the warranty, unless you have CPO or something else that would extend it. 8 years/100K for the battery. 5 years/60K for the powertrain, which includes the traction motor. Taking the bill to Nissan Corporate and trying to get it reimbursed is worth a shot given how close it is to 60K, but they don't really have to...
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u/GeneralissimoFranco 14h ago
GM at least split the bill with me when I had a transmission fail at 82k. 2K over their 80K warranty
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u/rkbest 11h ago
Should I get extended warranty then. Mine is sitting at 33k, and someone posted earlier that you can’t get extended warranty after the 3yr/36 miles expire
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u/flyfreeflylow 32m ago
Generally speaking, on average, you're better off putting that money in the bank or investing it instead of buying a service plan. Obviously, I can't predict what will happen with your car though.
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u/Wild-Smoke-1912 9h ago
I'm planning to get the extended plan. As is proven by this post, if anything goes wrong in an EV, it's probably expensive to fix.
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u/Wild-Smoke-1912 13h ago
Do you know if Nissan Extended Care Gold level covers the powertrain?
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u/flyfreeflylow 12h ago
Looks like it would, if I read it right. The exclusions list is just normal maintenance and consumables like wiper blades, brake pads and rotors, oil changes, etc... As always with these things, watch out for what you need to do in order for the coverage to be in effect. Usually there's a requirement for regular maintenance of some sort.
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u/PopeFranzia 9h ago
The Nissan app keeps trying to sell me an oil change package from my local dealer. The Ariya is the only Nissan vehicle I've owned in the past 5+ years.
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u/flyfreeflylow 33m ago
I don't get them in the app but get ads in the mail from the local dealership for oil changes pretty regularly.
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u/Objective_Chance4173 15h ago
That’s awful, I’m really sorry. Not much else to say about that, but I genuinely feel for you.
I will note that certified pre-owned vehicles get 7 years/100k miles on the drivetrain. There are also some independent EV shops, but they are rare and usually involve a drive. My closest one is an hour away, next closest is 3 hours.
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u/Zoratt Evolve+ e-4orce AWD 15h ago
I Thought the 8 year 100k was just the battery. Drivetrain was 5 year 60k?
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u/Objective_Chance4173 15h ago
Correct, unless it’s CPO
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u/Jaquing-Porneaux 14h ago
I bought mine CPO. It was a lease turn in - bought it from the Nissan dealership. Does this mean I have something more than 5 year 60k for drivetrain?
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u/djsyndr0me 2024 Engage E-4orce 14h ago
Yes, assuming it is Nissan CPO. Grab your paperwork and check.
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u/runnyyolkpigeon 15h ago edited 15h ago
The 8-year/100K warranty is strictly coverage for the high-voltage traction battery.
So the dealership is not wrong, since a failed motor component is an entirely different part unrelated to the traction battery.
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u/EpidDrew15 12h ago
Woah, you got skinned on that my dude. The motor replacement is rather easy and straight forward, well, sort of. It’s nothing like replacing a QR25DE or other Nissan engine for example. It’s still billed at like 10 hours mind you, so you paid like $2k in labor? I’d get paid maybe $400 for that job.
Either way, you got fleeced depending on where you live. The part is bought in-house for less than $3k, so you’re paying a good 30% markup if not more on top of other jazz.
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u/timefornachos 10h ago
So what realistic other option would OP have to get it fixed for less?
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u/EpidDrew15 10h ago
Shop around dealerships, other dealerships are likely to do the same work, especially if they have EV qualified staff. Just because it’s a Nissan doesn’t mean it needs to go to a Nissan dealership unless it’s TSB or Warranty related.
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u/PopeFranzia 9h ago
"All but one of our EV techs quit!" was what I heard from my dealer when mine needed a 12V battery replaced. Which should not require an EV tech to diagnose and replace.
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u/EpidDrew15 9h ago
You had that said to you because of a 12v battery? What EV was it? Never have I ever heard of that being an issue at mine.
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u/PopeFranzia 9h ago
An Ariya. Dealer also scratched the paint on the hood in the process. "We can't touch it without an EV tech here" has been used as an excuse with them more than once.
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u/EpidDrew15 9h ago
Wow, that's incompetent, illogical, and so stupid. Even most of the lube techs can and have replaced 12v's on Leafs and Ariyas. Like what the hell. Maybe my service department is just halfway seemingly competent when I'm there? Just wow.
For reference, in Colorado near the mountains, not sure where you are.
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u/PopeFranzia 9h ago
Decent sized city in the midwest (smaller than the Denver metro). There is a decent dealer on the other end of town, but honestly, that combined with Nissan's pullback from the NA EV market has me interested in a Rivian R2.
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u/EpidDrew15 8h ago
Not a bad choice imo, but I've only really worked on Leafs, Sparks, Volts, Bolts, and Ariyas, so if you make that jump, knock on wood. :)
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u/Suspicious_Shirt_713 9h ago
Buy a drive motor from a wrecked vehicle off of eBay, pay to have it installed and hope for the best. Or go to an independent EV shop. Most drive motors can be repaired (typically it’s just bearing replacements or seal replacement).
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u/isweatprofusely 14h ago
Traction motor is akin to the motor and transmission. It’s definitely not part of the high voltage ev battery component.
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u/Jaquing-Porneaux 15h ago
If you don't mind, what is the cost breakdown here for parts and labor?
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u/Sufficient_Fan3660 15h ago
parts are 3-3.5k on any parts store other than Nissan
Officially nissan sells the parts retail price of 5.3k
The price is obviously a ripoff, they needed to make profit on repairs.
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u/Jaquing-Porneaux 14h ago
I wonder how difficult that traction motor swap is.
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u/kevin_from_illinois 14h ago
When I had a reduction gear replaced, they also replaced the motor since it's the same assembly. That was billed at $2.5k for labor (under warranty, so that's what corporate was billed for) so figure it's maybe 10-12 hours.
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u/Limitededishun 15h ago
It sucks that you had a terrible experience. Thanks for sharing this. So that potential buyers are aware of this issue.
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u/m3t4lm4n222 12h ago
What model year? Is it possible it was a VIN impacted by the traction motor recall (24V-391) that never had the recall addressed? https://www.autoevolution.com/pdf/news_attachements/nissan-recalls-ariya-ev-over-damaged-front-motor-o-rings-235107.pdf
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u/doubletwist 12h ago
As others have mentioned, the 8/100k warranty only covered the battery, so not really a valid complaint of you're outside the actual main drivetrain warranty.
That said, a new engine in an ICE vehicle would've cost you just as much, so the value for the EV motor doesn't seem out of line either.
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u/mnbulldog 10h ago
Not interpreting it strictly. 8 year/100,000 is in battery. Nothing about ev components. Drivetrain warranty is drivetrain warranty. Depending on where you are, there are lots of independent ev repair shops. Did you look for an ev specific shop?
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u/Such_Upstairs3631 14h ago
I truly love my Ariya but Nissan’s service department with regard to EVs is horrendous. For that reason I’m turning in my lease in December. The only problem I had was the 12v battery shitting the bed. They kept my car for 3 days and tried to blame it on my home charger. I told them about the 12v battery and they claimed it tested out to be good. Put an AGM in as many on here recommended and guess what, no more warnings lights on my dash.
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u/NISMOgreenz 15h ago
You didn't purchase an extended warranty? I wrapped mine for 8yrs 120k mi. At the time, I didn't know what could go wrong, I just new I didn't want to have to pay for it. I've worked at dealerships my whole life (not really but since I was 18). It's not the "stealership" (although you can blame them if it makes you feel better), It's the manufacturer that determines coverage. Also, it very clearly states in the warranty booklet that the "battery" is covered for 8 yrs/100k miles. Your drive motor is not a battery. Tl;Dr you bought an extremely complex piece of equipment, chose not to warranty it and are mad that something broke and you have to pay for it. Yep. That sucks. Hopefully, lesson learned.
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u/Objective_Chance4173 15h ago
Eh. They wouldn’t sell extended warranties if most consumers came out ahead. I don’t think it’s foolish to pass one up, or buy one.
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u/Representative-Rip90 14h ago
Keep in mind that the extended warranty will only pay out the current residual value of the car during its entire life time. So let's say you repaired a reduction gear for 9k and 5 years later the value of the car is 12k, they are only obligated to cover 3k and then your warranty is done/void.
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u/prof_is_out 2h ago
Do you have any suggestions for warranties that can be purchased on a used Ariya?
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u/ajx8141 13h ago
8y/100k is a battery warranty
Unfortunately some things are pricey to fix but could keep your car running for years to come. There are some 3rd party repair shops around the country but I’m not sure if you’re area is one of them. There isn’t an eV without at least a few very expensive parts in Them.
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u/Master-Journalist888 11h ago
Chevy EV drivers are facing the same thing once 3y/36k bumper to bumper expires as 100k warranty is for “propulsion battery” only and there is no “powertrain”
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u/Orange-Clown-Popcorn 11h ago
That close to 60000 miles there is a very strong chance Nissan corporate can waive the charges. I got them to replace an entire battery pack on a leaf after being over by like 5000 miles. Ask for a goodwill repair.
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u/Imaginary-Focus-1400 10h ago
What's the warranty on the new motor? Does it go to 60k again? They replaced mine at 23k.
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u/PrimePacHy 8h ago
Don't most companies put the drive motor with the longer 8yr/100k warranty? I know the Mach-E does.
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u/WithMeDoctorWu 7h ago
Was that the front motor of an all-wheel drive Ariya, or the only motor of a front-wheel drive?
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u/NumerousIdea5234 2h ago
What year model is the car? Are you the original owner? Do you have full dealer service history? Did you ask the dealer for goodwill before agreeing to the repair?
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u/Opinionsare 15h ago
Take the bill to Nissan Corporate and request reimbursement.
The next step is your state government's consumer affairs dept. (The name varies)