Faults:

Purchased used. Thought I was safe, as I have had two previous Nissans, which have been awesome vehicles. This car has erased all of that though!

This car throw fault codes like a major league pitcher.

First it was a gross leak in the evaporative emission system. I finally located it in the rear of the car; a valve assembly that was never installed by some guy who last worked on it. This code hasn't returned.

However, here is a code I found many Spec V owners are quite knowledgeable of; P1935. This isn't in any manual or search online that I can find. Evidently, it's some specific code to Nissan, which requires a certified tech to perform. In any event, what happens with the car is that it goes into "limp" mode, or what some would call fail safe mode. In other words, it goes from running like a bat out of hell, to Grandma can out run it in a wheel chair. Top speed 10mi/hr. Does this intermittently without warning. I'm just waiting for someone to rear-end me one day.

This piece of crap really kills me. I've had it in the shop multiple times already. The dealer seems cool, but the car never gets fixed.

It's on its second throttle body assembly. Last time was great for about 10 days, then went into limp again. Has done it many times since then. I fear that it's got problems with the computer, since when I restart the car a few times, it runs OK again. My fear is that they are waiting for it to cross the 75k warranty period, then they are going to hit me with a massive repair bill.

Sometimes the car won't run right unless I clear the codes with a code reader. So now I drive around with one plugged in all the time!

I was talking with my nephew, whose friend's mother owned one of these cars. He said she had the exact same issues with hers. A search of the Internet turned up that these problems are quite common with the 4 wheeled wrecks.

I'm not a young kid, I'm 50 years old, and have owned a few cars in my time. This car has been more unreliable than ALL MY OTHER CARS PUT TOGETHER!

If you are thinking of buying one of these cars, then you're a moron. Just throw all your money in a fire pit instead.

General Comments:

This is undoubtedly the best handling car I have ever owned. Takes corners like a dream; no other car I have owned matches it.

It has the Brembo upgrade on the brakes, and they do stop the thing and fast!

It ran awesome when I first got it, but had to take it in for a service since it idled wildly and kept going in fail-safe mode. They upgraded the firmware in the ECU, and it's never ran like that again. Used to remind me of driving a Honda; the engine just revved like there was no friction in it. It really was a blast to drive. Now, not so much. Now I'm happy if it just runs.

I don't let my wife drive it, because I don't trust the car to make it to the corner without having problems.

Faults:

After putting 60,000 hard driven miles on the car, I have very few complaints.

At around 40K miles, I had an issue with hard starting, the dealer performed a recall on the fuel pump and the problem persisted. I brought the car back, and they performed the recall again this time with success (Assume I got a bad part).

Recently the sunroof began clicking when opening and closing, but still performs as normal, dealer lubed tracks, same problem, assume plastic gears in the motor may have a problem.

Carpet has a wear hole from my heel swiveling from gas to brake.

Items that can be improved from a performance standpoint are the bushings, and motor mounts. Shifting is notchy due to a very soft linkage bushing, and wheel hop is bad if the tires break loose due to similar motor mounts.

General Comments:

I love the car, the engine has gobs of torque.

Gas mileage depends on my driving, I have had anywhere from 28 or so, down to 20 if I zoom everywhere I go.

Handling is great, and can be improved, but after-market parts are becoming hard to find.

The car is simple, power windows and the sunroof are about the fanciest of options, in my opinion less potential for things to break. If you need all the creature comforts, this isn't the car for you.

Car has ABS unless you get the Brembo option like I did. I have not regretted it, love the brakes.

Some reviewers call the car a death trap. Newer cars are designed to turn into little balls of smashed metal, so long as you're inside and alive. This isn't a 95 Buick or an F250.