Kizashi Club

I have owned my used 2012 Kizashi for 4 months now and things keep breaking. The first was around my mudflap, with that tearing. I ended up using super glue and electrical tape to hold the little plastic piece together. The next thing is the rain sensing wipers. To be fair I believe the car was like that when I got it. The latest two things have been the air vent adjuster, and my usb port ( the cord went to the either in my center dash somewhere) breaking off.
I have work arounds for almost all of them though. With the wipers I have been using the regular settings. With the air vent I have a cell phone holder set up there. For the USB I am back to using my bluetooth for my music. I am going to take the car in for the rain sensing wipers though as I like that feature. I may also get the usb cord fixed just cause, even though I doubt I will use it.
I don't think I am that strong for some of these things breaking. I really like this car but it is not durable so far. I'm glad it is nothing mechanical for the moment.

Sorry to hear of your cars downfall but I have owned my 2012 SLS for a year now and it's perfect, I have not had one single thing go wrong or malfunction......Knock on wood.....I really love this car it's great.

The USB port will just pop back in, the fun part is getting to it to refit it. Mine "disappeared" when I was fitting a new head unit- push a bit too hard and it just pops out.

my usb port is in the glove compartment along with my ipad plug.

I've had my '11 S AWD for less than three years, but I have over 95K on it.

So far, the ONLY thing falling apart is its tire valve stems.

Trust me I don't want my car to be flimsy, but right now it is. Unless of course I am Goliath and I don't know my own strength. Im enjoying the car otherwise. In fact I had to take the wife's car today and was disappointed.

I have noticed an increase in little rattles in my car. One sounds like it's coming from the moonroof railing and the other sounds to be from around the front passenger door. I need to investigate and see what I can do to tighten some things.

I truly believe my rattles are caused by the poor road conditions in Washington, DC. Some of the roads here are horrible because of the incessant construction and the lack of skill road workers apparently have in paving a road flat and making manholes flush with the pavement. (Can it really be that freaking hard!?)
The quality of roads between Japan and the US is astonishing. The Japanese even have road-sensing car technology that isn't compatible with US roads because of the difference in road quality and upkeep. I have heard Europe is better too. They basically spend more money on road repairs, but that goes for roads being better and lasting longer. Americans seems to want cheaper costs, but that results in poorer quality which require more constant repairs (and a higher long term cost).
This also effects the American driver who suffers from everything from rattles to failed suspensions because the roads are in such poor shape.
No wonder the Ford F150 is the best selling vehicle in America. It can take on our shitty roads.

Funny; at over 95K, my tire valves are disintegrating. The tire sensors may be leaking on a couple wheels.

KuroNekko wrote: No wonder the Ford F150 is the best selling vehicle in America. It can take on our shitty roads.

This is precisely why, up until the 2008 SX4 purchase, the last new car I owned was in 1982. In 1985 I had switched to trucks and truck-based SUVs w/ the exception of a Stratus from 1996-2000. Now once again with all the alignment issues and the constant dodging of ruts, holes, poorly filled trenches cut across and wash-boarded blacktop, I once again find myself questioning why I bought new cars. This piss-poor economy is quickly turning PA roads to crap again, and as Kuro notes, the Dept. of Transportation is severely lacking in talent, management and plain old 'give-a-crap'. Money is there, just not being spent wisely. Really wish the Jimny would have been brought over here before the pull-out.

KuroNekko wrote:I have noticed an increase in little rattles in my car. One sounds like it's coming from the moonroof railing and the other sounds to be from around the front passenger door. I need to investigate and see what I can do to tighten some things.

I truly believe my rattles are caused by the poor road conditions in Washington, DC. Some of the roads here are horrible because of the incessant construction and the lack of skill road workers apparently have in paving a road flat and making manholes flush with the pavement. (Can it really be that freaking hard!?)
The quality of roads between Japan and the US is astonishing. The Japanese even have road-sensing car technology that isn't compatible with US roads because of the difference in road quality and upkeep. I have heard Europe is better too. They basically spend more money on road repairs, but that goes for roads being better and lasting longer. Americans seems to want cheaper costs, but that results in poorer quality which require more constant repairs (and a higher long term cost).
This also effects the American driver who suffers from everything from rattles to failed suspensions because the roads are in such poor shape.
No wonder the Ford F150 is the best selling vehicle in America. It can take on our shitty roads.

There are many different reasons for this..
1. No country on earth has as many miles of paved interstate, highway, FM/county roads, city streets etc..as we do and it can be a nightmare to pay for and maintain.
2. Our modern infrastructure is older than other countries.
3. There is no standard for paving roads across the country...you can find a wide variety of methods, materials and equipment used not only between states, but also variances within a single state.
4. (and this is a biggie) I don't know of any other country that ships as much by large trucks as we do....the constant pounding of big rigs do a massive amount of damage every single day.
5. The climate is not as consistent as many smaller countries, dealing with the effects of searing heat in the summer and then a few months later sub-freezing temps and moisture can wreak havoc on a paved road.

I'm not making excuses for poor road surfaces in some parts of the country, just giving reasons why doing an apples to apples comparison might be difficult..