NHTSA Complaint #10070473 — 1995 NISSAN MAXIMA

WE PURCHASED A 1995 NISSAN MAXIMA GLE IN 1997 FROM PERUZZI NISSAN IN FAIRLESS HILLS, PA. FOR AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO ABOUT EIGHT (8) PERCENT OF THE FINAL SALE PRICE, WE ALSO PURCHASED AN 84-MONTH OR 100,000 MILE NISSAN SECURITY+PLUS VEHICAL PROTECTION PLAN. AT AROUND 48 MONTHS AND WITH LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, WE WERE INFORMED THE PLAN HAD EXPIRED. IT TURNS OUT THAT NISSAN'S PLAN STARTS ON THE DATE THE VEHICLE FIRST LEFT THE SHOWROOM, A.K.A. THE ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE (WHICH IN OUR CASE WAS JUNE, 1994), NOT THE DATE ON WHICH A CONSUMER BUYS THE SAME CAR AS USED. THE WORDING OF THE CONTRACTS IS MISLEADING AT BEST AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE MARKETING BROCHURES NISSAN DEALERS USE TO SELL THESE VERY PROFITABLE PLANS SAYS THAT COVERAGE STARTS ON THE DATE YOU PURCHASED YOUR CAR. IN EFFECT, OVER ONE THIRD OF THE COVERAGE WE PAID FOR WAS SHAVED OFF FROM THE VERY MOMENT WE PURCHASED THE PLAN. WE SUBSEQUENTLY INCURRED SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS THAT WE ARE NOW IN COURT ATTEMPTING TO RECOVER, HAVING WON A FIRST ROUND AND JUDGMENT OF $3,300. CONSUMERS SHOULD BE FOREWARNED ABOUT THESE PLANS, WHICH WE MAINTAIN ARE A SHAM AND, IN AT LEAST SOME STATES (INCLUDING PENNSYLVANIA) CONSTITUTE FRAUD. WE ARE LOOKING TO HEAR FROM OTHER CONSUMERS THAT PURCHASED THIS PARTICULAR PLAN SINCE 1997, FROM PERUZZI NISSAN AS WELL AS OTHER DEALERS.