NHTSA Complaint #10074532 — 2003 NISSAN MAXIMA

IN BETWEEN MY 12000 MILE OIL CHANGE, AND 15135 MILES, A CLUNKING AND LOOSENESS IN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME APPARENT AS I DROVE OVER IRREGULAR OR BUMPY SURFACES. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AND TOOK THE CAR IN ON 5/26/2004. THE DEALER FOUND THAT BOTH FRONT STABILIZER LINKS HAD FAILED INTERNALLY. THE LINKS BALL JOINT DID NOT BREAK, BUT WERE SEVERELY WORN. BOTH LINKS WERE REPLACED. SINCE THE DEALER HAD LINKS IN STOCK, I WILL ASSUME THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST FAILURE OF THIS TYPE. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF BOTH ACTUALLY FAILED WHILE DRIVING? THE LINKS BALL JOINT IS MERELY SEALED WITH A RUBBER BOOT, AND NOT GREASED. *AK