63 plate nissan juke - is it a lemon?

GwylimT

All vehicles develop faults and many can't be predicted, I had a brand new A1 a few years ago and the service light came on after a few miles, this can be fairly common in new cars. I still checked it over myself and there were no issues, the light remained on a week later so I had a closer inspection, a sensor on the driving seat was loose.

Did this make my car a lemon or someone mean the garage was lacking in skills? Of course not. If you think any cats that develops a problem is a lemon then you're going to have a fairly hard time as it is impossible to own a car that doesn't require maintenance or develop the odd niggle.

As a mechanic I would never buy a Juke, but I can't really talk as I'm driving a Corsa at the moment!

Idiophreak

redcard wrote: »

Were you concerned with this at the time you were signing the finance agreement?

Might have been the time to ask to see the inspection report..

To be fair, I've had two new cars (including a Juke, as it happens) that have had all the paperworked ticket, crossed and dotted and yet have been delivered with stuff not working. The air con on the juke, for instance, just didn't work. Yet they'd tested it OK. Hm. The paperwork at these dealerships is just box ticking, so not really worth looking at tbh.

On another note, as a juke owner, I'd seriously question if it's a sensible choice for 20k+ business miles, anyway. It's a very stiff ride, the cabin isn't like super-comfy and economy isn't world-beating unless you take things very steady. Don't get me wrong, I love my Juke, but there are much better cars around for people wanting to do that kind of mileage.

BeenThroughItAll

AdrianC wrote: »

Nor that it's built by Geordies.

Mackems, to be accurate.

geerex

Idiophreak wrote: »

To be fair, I've had two new cars (including a Juke, as it happens) that have had all the paperworked ticket, crossed and dotted and yet have been delivered with stuff not working. The air con on the juke, for instance, just didn't work. Yet they'd tested it OK. Hm. The paperwork at these dealerships is just box ticking, so not really worth looking at tbh.

On another note, as a juke owner, I'd seriously question if it's a sensible choice for 20k+ business miles, anyway. It's a very stiff ride, the cabin isn't like super-comfy and economy isn't world-beating unless you take things very steady. Don't get me wrong, I love my Juke, but there are much better cars around for people wanting to do that kind of mileage.

I wasn't my choice, im afraid. The good lady liked all the toys, and being a shortarse, the high ride position.
For future reference, what would you recommend (Particularly in that price bracket)?

Thanks for all of your comments folks, a trip to the dealers had been arranged, courtesy car for the next few days it is. Going to heavily break it in when we get it back and if any more lights come on its getting handed back for good.

Nightmare customer? Probably. Isn't it great when things just work?

harveybobbles

Can't see any dealer taking a car back because it has a warning light on.

But do update us on what they find.

Idiophreak

geerex wrote: »

I wasn't my choice, im afraid. The good lady liked all the toys, and being a shortarse, the high ride position.
For future reference, what would you recommend (Particularly in that price bracket)?

Even the Qashqai would be more comfortable (and rarely much more expensive) and more practical....but most any medium sized hatchback, really, would be more comfortable......focus, astra, leon, golf...and if you went up to a vectra, octavia etc you'd be even better off.

motorguy

geerex wrote: »

I wasn't my choice, im afraid. The good lady liked all the toys, and being a shortarse, the high ride position.
For future reference, what would you recommend (Particularly in that price bracket)?

Thanks for all of your comments folks, a trip to the dealers had been arranged, courtesy car for the next few days it is. Going to heavily break it in when we get it back and if any more lights come on its getting handed back for good.

Nightmare customer? Probably. Isn't it great when things just work?

I do roughly 25,000 miles a year. I went for a 9 month old Golf 1.6TDI S. Averaging 66mpg brim to brim on each fill over 27,000 miles so far.

"Probably" a better mile muncher, as would be a focus.

If you've a requirement for a high riding car, then your options are going to be more limited, and thus compromises set in.

Personally, i like the Juke.

The dealer has handled it as i expected they would - they've leant you a courtesy car whilst they fix the problem.

I would say with almost certainty that they will have it fixed no problem and thats the last you'll hear of it.

Sadly, things dont always "work", particularly with something as complex as a car. Its how a problem is handled thats the important bit - which is why another VW from that garage is probably top of my list come time to change.

motorguy

harveybobbles wrote: »

Can't see any dealer taking a car back because it has a warning light on.

But do update us on what they find.

Nor do i. And i think legally it would be hard to make it stick too - even IF it takes more than one attempt to resolve.

knightstyle

As I said earlier we are very happy with our '63 Juke like you it was my other half's choice but I now like it and its quirky looks.
Ride is very good and the short wheelbase makes it easier to get into some parking places near here with not much manoeuvring space.
Don't like the compressor thing instead of the spare wheel, lack of rear interior light and nowhere to store the sunglasses.
Like the decent auto box and driving position.
Back to your problem, ask the service dept to show you the computer when they log in the car and you will see if this has happened before.

motorguy

knightstyle wrote: »

ask the service dept to show you the computer when they log in the car and you will see if this has happened before.

If its thrown on the light and its staying on then its because either the fault is persistent OR a number of accumulated failing of a component has triggered a cumulative counter. eg, its had a "0" back from a particular sensor 10 times in the past year.

Also, the fault codes could have previously been cleared.

Summarising, seeing the raw data on their computer isnt going to prove much.

Its under manufacturers warranty. The dealer will fix it. I wouldnt be involving myself with the diagnosis - not the O/P's problem to worry about