Should I Repair Or Replace A Failing Nissan Door Handle
Do you have a broken door handle on your Nissan? If so, you may be wondering what you should do next. Should you repair it? Or should you replace it?
This guide will help you reach an educated decision. We have 3 important questions for you to ask yourself:
1. Is The Issue With The Door Handle Obvious?
The first thing you want to ask yourself is, “is the issue obvious?” This is a good place to start if you want to decide between repairing or replacing it.
If The Issue Is Obvious
Image Credit: NissanMurano
If you know what the issue is, and if it’s easy to fix, you can consider fixing it. Let’s say the exterior door handle is cracked, but the assembly works just fine. You have two options:
- Fill in the crack with putty, sand it down, and then repaint it
- Replace the handle
Either option would work. The second option (replacing the handle) may be quicker and cheaper, though. We offer wholesale pricing for genuine OEM door handles and parts. That means you’ll save quite a bit of money on a replacement handle. Take this exterior handle for select Nissan models, for instance. You can get it for under $20. That’s probably the same cost as the tools and paint you’d need to repair your cracked handle.
If The Issue Is Not Obvious
If you’re not sure what’s wrong with your door handle, is it worth the time and energy to pinpoint the issue? You’d have to remove the door handle assembly and then take it apart to figure out the problem. The door handle assembly contains a lot of tiny components that are easy to lose and hard to put back together. Unless you’re experienced, it’s best to leave the assembly alone and just replace it.
2. What Is Your Time Worth?
Repairing a door handle usually takes a lot more time than replacing it. That's especially true if you have to take apart the door handle assembly. It's so much quicker and easier to replace the assembly or an exterior component. Before making a decision, you want to ask yourself what your time is worth. Do you want to spend hours fiddling around with the door handle assembly, or would you rather spend your time doing something more fun?
3. Are OEM Replacement Components Available?
If you know what’s wrong with your door handle, you want to find out if OEM replacement components are available. We strongly advise you to steer clear of aftermarket components. They're notorious for being unreliable due to:
- Low quality materials
- Poor fitment
Most likely, if you use aftermarket replacement components, your door handle will break again soon. So your best bet would be to either:
- Use OEM replacement components
- Replace the entire assembly (if OEM components aren't available)
Look up your Nissan model here to see what OEM replacement components are available for your car.
We hope this post has helped you reach an educated decision. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!