Manufacturers should not offer XENON : ROLLEYES : | FerrariChat

Manufacturers should not offer XENON : ROLLEYES :

Discussion in 'Other Off Topic Forum' started by LAfun2, Mar 8, 2004.

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  1. LAfun2

    LAfun2 Three Time F1 World Champ

    Oct 31, 2003
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    NJ sues Nissan over stolen headlights
    By WAYNE PARRY
    Associated Press Writer

    March 8, 2004, 12:29 PM EST


    NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey authorities sued Nissan North America Inc. on Monday, alleging the automaker failed to warn customers that the super-bright headlights on its Maximas were hot targets for thieves.

    The suit, filed in Superior Court in Somerset County, also alleges Nissan profited by having customers purchase anti-theft kits that should have been provided for free. The company's dealerships also profited by performing repair work on cars victimized by thieves, state Attorney General Peter Harvey said.

    "We allege the company sold cars with these fancy lights, but kept consumers in the dark about how attractive the headlamps were to thieves," said Reni Erdos, director of the state Division of Consumer Affairs, which filed the suit. "Nissan's actions, or lack thereof, rendered consumers vulnerable to the criminals who targeted their vehicles."

    Authorities surveyed police departments in 19 New Jersey municipalities over the past two years and documented 756 thefts or attempted thefts of the moon-blue lights from 2002 or 2003 Maximas. Newark led the state with 277, followed by Bloomfield with 135, Jersey City with 108 and Hillside and Butler with 50 each.

    "Nissan knew since at least September 2002 that thieves ere targeting the xenon headlamps in Maximas," Harvey said. "However, it wasn't until more than a year later that Nissan finally began notifying 2002 and 2003 Maxima owners of the risk of theft and the availability of anti-theft devices.

    "Meanwhile, numerous victims were hit with huge repair bills. We're seeking restitution for those consumers."

    The lights cost about $1,800 to replace _ not counting repair costs for other damage done by thieves, which can bring the total to $4,000 or more.

    In a statement, Nissan said it does more than any other manufacturer to help reduce xenon headlight theft, which also plagues other vehicle makes and models.

    "While nothing can completely eliminate the thefts of parts from vehicles, we believe the proactive steps taken by Nissan will help deter criminals from stealing headlights from our customers' Maximas," the company's statement read.

    Nissan said it began an anti-theft initiative last fall, sending letters to consumers informing them they can bring their Maximas to a dealer where a bracket would be installed, free of charge, to make the headlights more difficult to steal.

    But the lawsuit alleges that on Sept. 26, 2002, the company issued a bulletin to its service technicians stating that a replacement connector kit was available for the headlights damaged by theft.

    Two months later, the complaint alleges, Nissan sent out another bulletin to service reps informing them that a $175 theft deterrent kit was available "if a customer requests" and "for customer pay only."

    It was not until November 2003 that Nissan sent letters to consumers offering "securing devices" for the lights. But Harvey said these kits were different from the anti-theft kit.

    "The customer would only have found out about the anti-theft kit if he had asked about it, which obviously he couldn't have," Harvey said.

    Nissan spokesman John Schilling said he could not comment beyond the prepared statement, which did not address allegations that the company knew about problems with the lights being stolen long before it warned customers and that the free securing kit it offered provided less protection than the anti-theft kit customers had to purchase.

    The lawsuit does not name other automakers whose lights are also frequently stolen by thieves, including Acura.

    Sandra Feeley of Morris Township witnessed the theft of headlights from her Maxima on a Manhattan street corner last May.

    Feeley, who spoke at Monday's news conference, took the vehicle to a dealership to have the lights replaced and $4,000 worth of damage repaired.

    "Everyone there said, `Oh, this is an issue here," she said. "I was like, `Why wasn't I told about this?"'

    She said she would not have bought a Nissan Maxima had she known its headlights were so popular with thieves.


    Copyright © 2004, The Associated Press | Article licensing and reprint options
     
  2. tvrfreak

    tvrfreak F1 Rookie
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    Is it really Nissan's fault that some consumers had their headlights stolen? Bit of a stretch, although I would support any lawsuit that forces manufacturers to pay for speeding tickets. After all, I wouldn't get them unless I used their products...
     
  3. LAfun2

    LAfun2 Three Time F1 World Champ

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    I don't think it is Nissan's fault. What is next, we sue Smith and Wesson for murders in Oakland? I think we as a society tend to forget about personal responsibility.




    LMAO, I like this one. :D
     
  4. JSinNOLA

    JSinNOLA F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Lifetime Rossa

    Mar 18, 2002
    18,776
    Denver, CO
    Wow, suddenly you can get sued for providing people with a quality product that they demand. Disgusting


    That would be like someone here suing Ferrari after their car got stolen. Imagine the case: Well Mr. Montezemolo, you made my car too irresistable!
     
  5. liminality

    liminality Rookie

    Mar 3, 2004
    10

    Already been done. Kinda like suing Ford if you get hit by a drunk driver... :mad:
     
  6. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    They should mount bars over them, like Jurassic Park!!!! LOL!

    "Pry THIS off, Sancho!!!!!"
     
  7. LAfun2

    LAfun2 Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Wish I could. I got hit by a drunk driver driving his dads brand new Jeep Cherokee. He had his license for 2 days. It was a sunday morning, I was out to get a haircut. Standing still at a light was I, when he runs the red light and straight T bones me and my car flips over. Had I sued Jeep and won, I would be driving a 360 now, instead of a POS car like I do. :(
     
  8. Auraraptor

    Auraraptor F1 World Champ
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    Sep 25, 2002
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    That be cool. I like Jurassic Park. In fact I loved it.
     
  9. liminality

    liminality Rookie

    Mar 3, 2004
    10
    Um, yes, but how is it anyone at GM's fault that the drunk hit you?
     
  10. LAfun2

    LAfun2 Three Time F1 World Champ

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    It is not, and I do not want to sue them and I did not. I was just saying if people started suing FOrd, that would be retarded. I guess I did not come across wtih my point very well.
     
  11. SRT Mike

    SRT Mike Two Time F1 World Champ

    Oct 31, 2003
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    motion to ban LaFun from F-chat unless he posts a full size pic of his avatar.

    Can I get a second?
     
  12. enjoythemusic

    enjoythemusic F1 World Champ

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    SRT Mike

    >>>motion to ban LaFun from F-chat unless he posts a full size pic of his avatar.<<<

    Guess he will be banned as that Avatar is one of mine i posted :)

    Enjoy the Drive,

    Steven R. Rochlin
     
  13. need4speed

    need4speed Formula 3

    Nov 3, 2003
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    SECOND. I was just thinking the same thing. DAMN!!!
     
  14. rob

    rob F1 Rookie

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    I second that motion.
     
  15. LAfun2

    LAfun2 Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Well if I get banned, my grades will surely improve :D
     
  16. tvrfreak

    tvrfreak F1 Rookie
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    OK, out of the goodness of my heart, if you email me the full-sized pic...I will forward it to everyone who asks.
     
  17. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Heh. I was returning my rental car to National at the Newark airport last Christmas and there were two Maxima's in the rental return area that had the lights and I think even the front grill torn out. I asked the attendant if they had been wrecked and she sighed and said the Xenon's had been stolen off the rentals... and that it happens a few times a month.

    Sad.
     
  18. LAfun2

    LAfun2 Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Yeah Ryan it is sad.

    For the rest of you, the avatar was deemed inappropriate by other members, so I took it down.

    I do not want to cause any trouble with the site. I was not aware of the avatar guidelines. My apologies.
     
  19. Tyler

    Tyler F1 Rookie

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    While this does not surprise me I think it is another sick attempt by a state to search for extra income.

    I think the tobacco suits and the eventual welding suits have states and attorneys smelling blood(money) like someone's dumping chum in the water.
     
  20. Mark(study)

    Mark(study) F1 Veteran

    Oct 13, 2001
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    Nissan sent out three letters to owners, to have them come in and get the security kit.

    Nissan left the 3 Maximas outside overnight in the lot, and the next morning the lights are missing.

    Nissan said it wasn't there fault that the cars were left outside while waiting to get the security upgrade :) TOO BAD!

    After the local news broadcast the story the owner of said Nissan dealer finally caved and replaced the lights for free.

    What would you have done if you're one of those guys?
     
  21. ryalex

    ryalex Two Time F1 World Champ
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    The law student rubs his hands together as he thinks of his uncle the welder and union ironworker...
     
  22. Tyler

    Tyler F1 Rookie

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    LOL :)

    A friend of mine is a 2L at Georgetown and I swear she becomes more ectothermic with each phone call. ;)
     
  23. Alxlee

    Alxlee F1 Rookie

    Apr 8, 2002
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    Is there something that makes it that much easier to steal on the Maxima then on other cars with HID's? Saw that article and they seemed to make it sound like the Maxima's was that much easier to grab.
     
  24. LAfun2

    LAfun2 Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Need a law clerk to get your coffee? :D
     
  25. LAfun2

    LAfun2 Three Time F1 World Champ

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    I think Maxima, Acura TL, and the 911 are the most sought after XENONS.
     

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