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Dealership Customer Buys Nissan Pathfinder. Then the Transmission Goes Out After 3 Days

"The nerve to offer a Jeep Compass."

Nissan Pathfinder

Photo by: Unsplash.com

Steve Ecker

By: Steve Ecker

Aug 19, 2025 at 9:00am ET

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A Nissan sales manager has gone viral for his conversation with customers after a Nissan Pathfinder transmission went out three days after being sold.

In a TikTok that’s generated 1.7 million views as of this writing, John Mesker (@johnmeske) shares his phone call with the customers who purchased the Nissan Pathfinder.

Mesker reveals in an on-screen caption that the customers had strict buying criteria of an $11,000 drive-out budget for a three-row SUV that’s under 100,000 miles and not black.

The Roduguiz family landed on a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder that fit the list, only for the transmission to go out three days after buying.

Mesker explains how the car went through RECON, and the repairs were $1,800 worth of work to the vehicle to make it front-line ready. However, the mechanics missed the transmission shutter issue, which Mesker takes ownership of in his call.

“Obviously, you just bought the car. The last thing we want to do is to put you into a situation where it makes you uncomfortable,” Mesker starts out.

He continues by offering a few different options to fix the situation.

“First, we can fix the vehicle. Second, we can refund you the money and take the vehicle back. Lastly, we can get you into another vehicle that's already been serviced, and we know there are no issues and in your budget,” Mesker proposed.

The car Mesker proposed in the swap was a Jeep Compass, which the viewers found to be an absurd replacement suggestion.

“The nerve to offer a Jeep Compass,” one TikTok commenter added.

“Jeep Ccompass is even a worse idea,” another commenter expressed.

Mesker told Motor1 over the phone, “This Jeep Compass was the only car I had on the lot that fit their specific criteria.”

To Mesker's surprise, the Rodriguez couple wanted to fix the Pathfinder. Realistically, he expected them to go with one of the other two options.

“That’s the one we want,” the wife answers.

“Most customers would want to switch vehicles. I was caught off guard, and I was 100% sure they wanted to switch cars,” Mesker shares.

The wife continues to press for an urgent fix. Mesker is unsure of the timeline, considering workers stopped diagnosing the problem after seeing the transmission issue and wanting to consult the couple.

“If you want to fix the Pathfinder, we can go that route. We have to get it diagnosed and figured out,” Mesker shares.

In a follow-up post, Mesker reveals the Rodiguez couple ended up taking the refund.

Mesker told Motor1, “Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez came in looking for a vehicle under 11k drive-out, which highly limits their options. We offer a 90-day/3k-mile warranty with all of our vehicles under 100k miles or not older than 10 years. The vehicle they purchased ‘as is’ was a 2014 Nissan Pathfinder. Three days after the delivery, they had a transmission shutter. We refunded them the full amount of the vehicle and are still looking for a vehicle that fits their needs.”

Why Wasn’t a Loaner Car Offered?

Many commenters were confused as to why Mesker didn’t offer the couple a loaner when Mrs. Rodriguez shared concerns about being out of a vehicle.

“Y'all should have given them a loaner car period,” one TikTok commenter shared.

“Fix the Pathfinder, offer a loaner vehicle. They’ll likely return customers from the folks at the dealership being decent human beings,” another replied.

While people thought this was poor customer service, the TikTok only showcased five minutes out of a 45-minute phone call. Mesker told Motor1, “We do rentals, but all the rentals were booked out for two weeks. I would've offered a renter for a minor repair, but this ended up being a major repair.”

Purchasing a Car “As Is” Could Be Trouble

In the TikTok, Mesker reveals the couple bought the car “as is” and declined a warranty.

The Federal Trade Commission reports that an auto warranty is a promise to fix certain defects or malfunctions during a specific timeframe after buying a vehicle.

When purchasing a vehicle, the buyer’s guide will tell customers whether the car is being sold “as is” or with a warranty. All used car dealers are required by federal law to tell buyers whether a used car is being sold with or without a warranty, the Texas Attorney General shares.

“As is” acknowledges that the vehicle does not have a warranty, and the seller is under no obligation to make repairs. If the car is under warranty, the seller must list exactly what parts and services are covered and the duration of coverage.

What do you think?

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In this case, the customers bought the car “as is,” and the dealership technically doesn’t hold any responsibility to refund or fix the transmission.

While Mesker didn’t have to offer a refund or swap, he felt it was the right thing to do, as the couple had been respectful during the process.

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