[Mawbs1]

I recently purchased a brand new 2017 Frontier which now has only 715 miles on it. Since the day I picked it up it has had a whistling noise when it is on 2 of the blower fan speed settings. Annoying. When it is on other speed settings then all you hear is the normal sound of moving air. It makes this noise regardless of what mode the heater is in and whether the truck is cold or warm. It has on one occasion made this noise on a couple of higher fan speeds and then not made it on the speeds where it normally did it. Now it is back doing it on the two settings where it originated. I had it in to the dealer on one occasion. The tech went out to another new 2017 Frontier and supposedly this truck made the same noise. Their solution was this is the way they sound so live with it. My 2014 that I traded in never made this noise. I complained to the sales staff and they talked the service department into replacing the blower fan. They said if this does not cure it, then too bad, that is all we are going to do. Has anyone experienced this problem? Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be causing this? The noise aside I find this disturbing on another level. I find the attitude of the service department to be one of bored indifference. They do not seem to care that I am having a problem and even less concerned about caring whether they fix it or not. If not for the sales staff stepping in for me I would have hit a brick wall as far as getting anything done. Has anyone else had a similar service experience? Is this the new norm? I am more than a little frustrated with this whole experience. The new blower motor is on order and has not been installed. I am hoping that I can get some ammunition to to have as far as causes and/or solutions when I take the truck back in case the blower motor does not fix the problem. Any input on this problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Bill

 

[shift_RUSH]

I'd remove and reinstall the cabin air filters for a start...or try new ones? Would be inclined to think your dealer might be into trying this as well.

 

[Mawbs1]

I'd remove and reinstall the cabin air filters for a start...or try new ones? Would be inclined to think your dealer might be into trying this as well.

Thanks I will give that a try.

 

[boldBryan]

I recently purchased a brand new 2017 Frontier which now has only 715 miles on it. Since the day I picked it up it has had a whistling noise when it is on 2 of the blower fan speed settings. Annoying. When it is on other speed settings then all you hear is the normal sound of moving air. It makes this noise regardless of what mode the heater is in and whether the truck is cold or warm. It has on one occasion made this noise on a couple of higher fan speeds and then not made it on the speeds where it normally did it. Now it is back doing it on the two settings where it originated. I had it in to the dealer on one occasion. The tech went out to another new 2017 Frontier and supposedly this truck made the same noise. Their solution was this is the way they sound so live with it. My 2014 that I traded in never made this noise. I complained to the sales staff and they talked the service department into replacing the blower fan. They said if this does not cure it, then too bad, that is all we are going to do. Has anyone experienced this problem? Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be causing this? The noise aside I find this disturbing on another level. I find the attitude of the service department to be one of bored indifference. They do not seem to care that I am having a problem and even less concerned about caring whether they fix it or not. If not for the sales staff stepping in for me I would have hit a brick wall as far as getting anything done. Has anyone else had a similar service experience? Is this the new norm? I am more than a little frustrated with this whole experience. Any input on this problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Bill

As someone who works in a car assembly plant, I can tell you that wind noise defects are taken very seriously at the assembly level. Wind noise and rattles are the most annoying thing to a new vehicle owner and are the top complaints to any manufacturer. I would try another dealer or give Nissan USA a call or e-mail.

 

[Mawbs1]

As someone who works in a car assembly plant, I can tell you that wind noise defects are taken very seriously at the assembly level. Wind noise and rattles are the most annoying thing to a new vehicle owner and are the top complaints to any manufacturer. I would try another dealer or give Nissan USA a call or e-mail.

Thanks for that. The blower motor is on order and so has not yet been installed. Contacting Nissan was going to be my next step if the problem is not resolved. Hopefully, it will not go that far.

Bill

 

[fastfed]

I just bought mine, have like 400 miles on her now.. she whistles all the time, silently of course.

I'd love to hear it actually, use your phone and do a quick recording,very easy to upload it here.

Even if its faint, its still something I would complain about.

That said, my brand new 400 mile 2017, the steering wheel is not perfectly straight, it needs to be to the left just a little, not sure if I should bring that up or not?

 

[Mawbs1]

New blower motor installed as well as new cabin filters. The whistling noise persists. I have found out that since my last visit the Service Manager has been let go. Maybe part of the Service Department's indifference problem? A new manager will be in place shortly. The sales manager has taken the lead in trying to get this sorted out for me. We determined that the noise does not present itself when the AC is on. Turn it from AC to heat and the noise is back. A clue for sure but, do not know enough about the system to know what it means. Is there a door that opens and closes when you switch from one to the other that maybe doesn't seat properly when it is in heat mode? The sales manager made a recording of the noise with an accompanying video showing the controls being switched between AC and heat. He said he will forward that up the line to Nissan along with the description of the problem. He encouraged me to contact Nissan as well to make them aware of the problem. We also tried the the fan in the other 2017 that the tech said made the same noise. It did not. The tech lied about that. Will report any new info as it develops.

Bill

 

[FFTR]

Glad to hear the dealership is now working with you to resolve the issue. Like you, I do not know enough of the ins and outs of the system to advise you what is wrong.
My 16 does not make the noise you are experiencing.

Keep us posted on what Nissan does for you.

 

[17 Fronty]

Well this is interesting, only because I have a 2017 with a whistle. But mine is not related to the blower or anything inside the cab. Mine is rpm related anytime the motor goes passed 1000 rpms. Driving with down shifting to a stop or going up though the gears. Or stop in park at idle, push gas pedal enough to pas the 1000 mark and it will whistle for a second. I have been able to recreate the sound for 3-4 seconds, by holding it at that rpm. But it does go away. You can’t hold the pedal there to make it stay. It goes away on its on in 3-4 seconds. It sounds like air to me and not a squeal. I just can’t pinpoint from where it’s coming. So Iam going to have to go see the dealer. Which I hate going in before I know what is involved in the fix. Sorry didn’t mean to highjack your thread Mawbs1. I was hoping what you would find on yours would be what’s up with mine. But sounds to be two different things.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Mawbs1]

I contacted Nissan about the problem. They were very prompt in getting back to me. (1 day) They said they are going to contact the dealer, the regional office and have assigned a case number. A Regional Specialist is supposed to call me on Monday to discuss the issue. Will keep posted.

 

[Contra]

where is the cabin air filter located and how do you get to it?

 

[JeniorNV]

where is the cabin air filter located and how do you get to it?

Right behind the glove box. If you squeeze in the sides of the glove box door after you open it to its natural stopping point, you can open it “wider.” There is a door right behind it where the cabin filters (there are two) are located.

 

[shift_RUSH]

Copied from another thread:

The trick to not breaking the tab is pushing down REALLY hard on the top of the little cover the tab is holding in place. The tab from what I saw is only able to travel so far, so by pushing down on the top of the cover you shorten to the distance the tab has to be pressed to expose the filters.

 

[Clint]

Possibly the blend door is not fully sealing and letting just a little air pass and whistle. Interesting that this issue came up since my son had me come out and go for a ride with him in my 2016 Wrangler as he said the fan started whistling recently. It must be contagious.

Clint

 

[Mawbs1]

I talked to the Regional Specialist assigned to my case. She said she had spoken to the service department and they said: " the blower system was working within normal Nissan performance parameters" and because of that statement from the service department there was nothing else further they would do. She stated that the tech had tried the blower on a 2017 Frontier on the lot and "it made the same noise". I then told her that the sales manager and I had tried the blower on that vehicle and that it did not make the same noise, therefore the tech was lying. She said we rely solely on the the service technicians in cases like these and said she was sorry that "I was unhappy with my vehicle". Now there is a commitment to customer satisfaction and standing behind their product! I then asked if there was someone else I could talk to and she said no. She was the case manager and that was that. To say I was unhappy with this turn of events is an understatement. Anyone know of any other recourse I have with Nissan to get their attention? Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.

 

[fastfed]

Start with posting the noise here please, make a youtube video of it!! we all have the same vehicle and can attest to the sound.

thanks

 

[Clint]

I talked to the Regional Specialist assigned to my case. She said she had spoken to the service department and they said: " the blower system was working within normal Nissan performance parameters" and because of that statement from the service department there was nothing else further they would do. She stated that the tech had tried the blower on a 2017 Frontier on the lot and "it made the same noise". I then told her that the sales manager and I had tried the blower on that vehicle and that it did not make the same noise, therefore the tech was lying. She said we rely solely on the the service technicians in cases like these and said she was sorry that "I was unhappy with my vehicle". Now there is a commitment to customer satisfaction and standing behind their product! I then asked if there was someone else I could talk to and she said no. She was the case manager and that was that. To say I was unhappy with this turn of events is an understatement. Anyone know of any other recourse I have with Nissan to get their attention? Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks.

EVERYONE in a corporation has a boss so she's full of crap. Call back and ask for someone above entry level customer service. You can also post it to Nissan on social media, no company wants to be embarrassed publicly. You’re not hearing a fan noise, you’re hearing a whistle. My son works for Porsche and funny how they fall all over themselves to please the customers.
Good luck, don’t let them wear you down.

Clint

 

[dl744tga]

Just a thought: does your state have a new car lemon law? If so, look into how many times the vehicle in question has to be brought back to a dealer with the same problem before the lemon law kicks in.

Document everything, perhaps even with a small camera to show the audio of the noise compared to other trucks that do not have the noise. Speak with the manager again along with the dealership owner and seek their advice - maybe they will swap you out for another truck? LOL

Anyway, no auto company wants a Lemon Law take back car (had a bad experience with a Ford T Bird in the day).

 

[93hardbody]

I'd remove and reinstall the cabin air filters for a start...or try new ones? Would be inclined to think your dealer might be into trying this as well.

The Chevy Colorado had the problem and the cure was this- seat the filter properly and get the cover fully seated when reassembling.

Almost a bigger problem is the push-back you've gotten from the dealer and the manufacturer. Unacceptable. I assume you were being nice about it, pleasant but firm seems to be the best approach.

 

[Mawbs1]

The Chevy Colorado had the problem and the cure was this- seat the filter properly and get the cover fully seated when reassembling.

Almost a bigger problem is the push-back you've gotten from the dealer and the manufacturer. Unacceptable. I assume you were being nice about it, pleasant but firm seems to be the best approach.

I mentioned this to the manager that I have been dealing with. He agreed that this was worth a try. The service department was unwilling to do this. The sales side had to pay for the new filters and the installation. This did not solve the problem.

One problem I see with this current situation is the fact that while under the same roof the service department and the sales department are actually 2 separate entities. Is this the norm now? My step-dad was the service manager at the local Chevy-Buick garage where I grew up. I am used to the dealership being under one ownership where the service dept. and the sales dept. worked together to solve customer problems. Much different here. In my situation the service department washed their hands of this situation after my first trip in to correct the problem. The only reason anything has gotten done after that first trip is due to intervention from the sales department. I reached out to Nissan and as I previously posted they consider it a done deal as well because they defer to the service department. I did reach out to Nissan again via e-mail expressing my displeasure with the handling of the situation and have not heard anything back from them. I may have to resort to calling Nissan Consumer Affairs and/or getting on social media to voice my displeasure. I am holding off on that as the manager I am working with has reached out to the owner of the dealership to intervene on my behalf. The owner has a regional Nissan contact that he works with. He has agreed to let the dealership take my truck for 2 days starting next Monday and have their "master technician" do a side by side comparison of my truck with another truck under various temperature conditions. While I am happy that additional action is being taken, it does bother me that the impetus had to come from owner intervention rather than Nissan wanting to keep their customer happy and solving the problem. Will keep you posted on further developments.