HELP!!! I need an honest semi-expert opinion.

Hey, Im very new here but I have come across this message board in trying to deal with a dilemma that has arrose over the last 2 days with my 200 Nissan Quest.
Saturday, we purchased this Nissan Quest, really good condition, about 25000 miles on it. We purchased it from a Nissan Dealership, not a second rate dealer. This was a certified pre-owned. The car fax report was excellent and the test drive(s) went well.
Now, yesterday: I'm driving this vehicle from NYC to CT. I have driven about 40 miles when the entire vehicle began to shake and vibrate. Felt like an allignment thing, although I know nothing about cars. I had to pull over.
Here is the symptoms in detail:
1. Vibrating and shaking vehicle side to side, almost like the tail was shaking
2. A distinct burning rubber smell
3. Happened whenever I went over 50mph. <30mph it seemed ok.
I checked all the fluids, they were fine, topped off the gas, put air in the tires and tried to drive it again. Same thing happened.
I stopped for about 30 minutes and then i attempted to drive back to the dealer. I made it back without any of the symptoms mentioned above but it seems like the car is bouncier, feel every bump in the road.
So heres my question:
The dealer brought it back and said they would fix anything that is wrong with it.
I picked it up today and they told me there was nothing wrong, there was quote: "Ice in the wheels". they claimed that this would cause the unbalance of the tires and the burning rubber smell.
Has anyone heard of this? Ice in the tires? I mean, this seems totally bogus and I would liek to know if anyone has had similar circumstances...

thank you so much,
fyi: I have 3 children 3.5, 1.5 and 1 week old. I just want to make sure they hava a safe ride

Louis Ardolino

sounds like one of your tires was rubbing on something. that would explain the burning smell, and the wobble. dont let them do anything crazy to it, which im sure they wont if its under warranty. If you own a good floor jack lift the car and try to inspect the tires and wheels to see if something is rubbing.

sounds like one of your tires was rubbing on something. that would explain the burning smell, and the wobble. dont let them do anything crazy to it, which im sure they wont if its under warranty. If you own a good floor jack lift the car and try to inspect the tires and wheels to see if something is rubbing.


thanks for the imput. I took the car back today and runs ok. what if anything could the tire have been rubbing on? the bumper?

have you ever heard of Ice in the wheels?

its possible, but its pretty weird. well let us know if anything else happens.

Hey, Im very new here but I have come across this message board in trying to deal with a dilemma that has arrose over the last 2 days with my 200 Nissan Quest.
Saturday, we purchased this Nissan Quest, really good condition, about 25000 miles on it. We purchased it from a Nissan Dealership, not a second rate dealer. This was a certified pre-owned. The car fax report was excellent and the test drive(s) went well.
Now, yesterday: I'm driving this vehicle from NYC to CT. I have driven about 40 miles when the entire vehicle began to shake and vibrate. Felt like an allignment thing, although I know nothing about cars. I had to pull over.
Here is the symptoms in detail:
1. Vibrating and shaking vehicle side to side, almost like the tail was shaking
2. A distinct burning rubber smell
3. Happened whenever I went over 50mph. <30mph it seemed ok.
I checked all the fluids, they were fine, topped off the gas, put air in the tires and tried to drive it again. Same thing happened.
I stopped for about 30 minutes and then i attempted to drive back to the dealer. I made it back without any of the symptoms mentioned above but it seems like the car is bouncier, feel every bump in the road.
So heres my question:
The dealer brought it back and said they would fix anything that is wrong with it.
I picked it up today and they told me there was nothing wrong, there was quote: "Ice in the wheels". they claimed that this would cause the unbalance of the tires and the burning rubber smell.
Has anyone heard of this? Ice in the tires? I mean, this seems totally bogus and I would liek to know if anyone has had similar circumstances...

thank you so much,
fyi: I have 3 children 3.5, 1.5 and 1 week old. I just want to make sure they hava a safe ride

Louis Ardolino
i regret that i bought a nissan quest 2001. brand new at that time,i had so much problem, first year i had a throttle stuck,canister leak,and much more problem, one time i drove my car ,i know that i have a problem with axle, i brought to dealer, they told me nothing wrong, at that time my warranty expire within 2 month,they told me come back for next oil change, which is 3 month later, i came back, at that time they told me the axle no good, i have to paid for it. due to my expire warranty. it cost 400 dollars a piece. i refuse. i went to autozone get oem axle. lifetime waranty. 150 dollars a piece. good deal. i guess my next car will bbe toyota or honda...........nissan suck.........

i bought a 2005 nissan quest and had the same problem, i took it to the dealer and they said he tires were rubbing againest the body, so they fixed it.

hoabdfay, start your own thread you'll get more help that way. this is a old thread. Go to autozone.com and look under REPAIR MANUALs then compotent locations.

Welcome to AF.

If you park outside in deep snow, yes, ice can form on the wheel. It's like adding a lot of wheel weights in one spot. As soon as the ice melts, the imbalance goes away. So, don't park in dep snow with warm wheel right after driving.
The rubber smell I don't know about. Ice won't cause that.