2005 Nissan X-Trail dCi SVE from UK and Ireland - Comments

Between the date of purchase of the car as new in May 2005 and 20th October 2006 I had not experienced any mechanical problems with the car.

On the 20th October whilst away on holiday the clutch failed whilst towing my caravan. I was brought home to my local dealer on a low loader.

The diagnosis was confirmed as a burnt out clutch.

A warranty claim was submitted to Nissan who after consideration rejected the claim, but agreed to make a good will payment of 50% of the repair costs.

This was their only and final offer.

Nissan warranty does not do what it professes to do!

I am wondering what the rated towing limit for your Xtrail is and how much does your caravan weigh? Did you tow that caravan with your Vauxhall? From my perspective, and I’m trying to be objective, if no one else has had the clutch problem and the dealer can see your trailer hitch on the back of your vehicle, they would think “abused” clutch. I don’t mean to point fingers, but I’m trying to make the point that Nissan, by paying for half, was, I thought, reasonable considering. They are accepting half of the responsibly, are you sure you are no way responsible too? Anyways, if you look at many of the complains on the Car Survey, most car manufactures, if there is any indication or suspicion of abuse, give zero. You got 50% and if you have no evidence or proof to show otherwise, well consider yourself lucky.

I too have experienced the lack of Nissan's warranty cover for the clutch on an X-trail. They have refused to contribute anything towards my clutch, even though I have only driven 32,000 miles and it is under 3 years old, leaving me with a bill of over £700.

Honestly, a burnt clutch is (and always will be) driver error. Secondly, did you check to see what the towing capacity of your X-Trail is? If you have exceeded that towing limit, then it is your fault again.

Therefore, that fact that the Nissan dealership is willing to take care of half of the cost to repair YOUR mistake, you should consider yourself lucky. Instead of complaining about it here, take the deal and feel lucky that you didn't have to pay the full price.

Some people just aren't satisfied, even though they made the mistake.

My 06 X-Trail went in for a service and I was told it needed a new clutch, then was told a new flywheel; total cost £1,600, still under warranty, two and a half years old, and under 60,000 miles. The dealer says it's wear and tear, and Nissan UK won't even help. Looks like I'm going over to Kia; no more faith in Nissan.

Nissan X-Trails are rated at 2 tons for towing / no caravans at that weight that I know of / so towing shouldn't be a problem, but it is because the clutch and the stupid dual mass flywheel set up just isn't man enough for the job. If you want a good tow vehicle you need something with a conventional clutch...

I have an X-Trail and they are a fairly good vehicle if they weren't such CRAP, clutch, injector problems, sticking brakes, turbo problems, all of which Nissan don't want to know about. Come on Nissan, we can't all be sore on vehicles, I have had 80 vehicles in my life, 25 of them by the time I was 24 and I am now the wrong side of 50 and I have never burnt out a clutch in my life, I have now and yes it's on an X-Trail... That takes some beating, I've driven rally cars, raced stock cars, and even done banger racing, not to mention motorcycle trials and I have never burnt out a clutch on anything in my life... yes I hear you say, there is always a first time, but a bit of a coincidence don't you think that this has happened in an X-Trail which is 18 months old and only done 14000 miles... They are rubbish!...

BUY KIA or a good second hand Disco, at least parts are cheap on Land Rovers, clutch kit just over £60.