NHTSA Complaint #10036987 — 1998 NISSAN PATHFINDER

MY PATHFINDER HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN TWO SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN A SPAN OF 5 MONTHS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON MARCH 11,2003 (PLEASE SEE ODI NUMBER 10036981).IT IS MY OPINION THAT A VEHICLE MALFUNCTION CAUSED BOTH INCIDENTS.IT IS A FACT THAT REPAIRS ORDERED BY THE DEALER (BG FUEL INDUCTION SERVICE) ON MARCH 12,2003 DID NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. SECOND INCIDENT: ON AUG. 21,2003, AT APPROXIMATELY 8:00 AM, I DROVE THE PATHFINDER TO THE SECOND FLOOR OF MY SCHOOL PARKING GARAGE.THE PARKING SPACES ARE AT A RIGHT ANGLE TO THE BUILDING OUTSIDE WALL; THEREFORE, A DRIVER IS REQUIRED TO DESCRIBE A SMALL ARC TO PARK A VEHICLE WITHIN THE TWO BOUNDARY LINES PAINTED ON THE FLOOR.I USUALLY PARK AWAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES, IF POSSIBLE, TO AVOID OPENING-DOOR CONTACT WITH VEHICLES ALREADY PARKED. AS THE STEERING WHEEL IS BEING TURNED TO PARK IN A SPECIFIC SPOT, A VEHICLE USUALLY MOVES SLOWLY BECAUSE OF ITS OWN FORWARD MOTION WHEN IN DRIVE;THEREFORE, IT'S NORMAL TO KEEP A FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A FINAL STOP.A NARROW SIDEWALK SEPARATES THE PARKING AREA FROM THE BUILDING OUTSIDE WALL.I APPROACHED THE SIDEWALK SLOWLY TO AVOID HITTING THE CURB WITH THE TIRES.SUDDENLY, THE PATHFINDER LURCHED FORWARD, HITTING THE CURB AT A HIGH SPEED.I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE EVEN THOUGH I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY.THE VEHICLE CLIMBED ON THE SIDEWALK AND HIT THE WALL.THE IMPACT ON THE WALL CAUSED BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS TO BE ACTIVATED, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE,AND THE CAR ALARM WENT OFF AS THE FRONT FENDER HIT THE WALL. I RECEIVED CUTS AND BRUISES ON BOTH ARMS, PROBABLY CAUSED BY BY THE SEAT BELT AND THE AIR BAG.THE PATHFINDER SUFFERED $ 7,218.74 IN DAMAGES.BUILDING PROPERTY DAMAGE (STILL UNDETERMINED) WAS ALSO CAUSED.THE WALL ON EACH FLOOR OF THE PARKING GARAGE IS MADE OF PRE-STRESSED CONCRETE SLABS ABOUT 4 OR 5 FEET TALL AND REINFORCED WITH STRETCHED STEEL CABLES.THE CONCRETE SLAB CRACKED AND BENT SLIGHTLY OUTWARDS ALONG THE MIDDLE;FORTUNATELY, IT DID NOT COLLAPSE.*AK