NHTSA Complaint #10126426 — 2003 NISSAN MURANO

BATTERY AND BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. I KNEW FROM READING POSTS ON A "MURANO" FORUM THAT THIS WAS A POSSIBLE SYMPTOM OF IMMINENT ALTERNATOR FAILURE. I WAS ONLY A MILE FROM HOME WHEN THE LIGHTS CAME ON, SO I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY. I DO, HOWEVER, RESIDE OVER 20 MILES FROM THE NEAREST DEALER. IN ORDER TO GET IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, I DROVE MY OTHER CAR TO THE STORE AND PURCHASED A BATTERY TESTER/CHARGER. I KNEW FROM THE FORUM THAT I MAY BE ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER IN THIS STATE IF THE BATTERY HAD A FULL CHARGE. WHEN I TESTED IT, IT WAS ONLY OPERATING @ 60%. I CHARGED IT FULLY, THEN DROVE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED OUT. I MUST SAY THAT IT WAS NO FUN DRIVING TO THE DEALER (ON THE HIGHWAY) KNOWING THAT AT ANY TIME I COULD LOSE ALL POWER. I STAYED IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE ALL THE WAY SO THAT I COULD PULL OVER IN A HURRY IF NEEDED. TURNS OUT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. THE OLD PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THEY TOLD ME THEY HAD TO INSTALL A REMANUFACTURED PART, AND SEND THE FAILED PART TO NISSAN. I DON'T EVEN HAVE 19,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THINGS LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON A $30,000 CAR! I FEEL LUCKY THAT I KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH MY CAR, AND WAS ON THE LOOK OUT FOR THE LIGHTS. IF I HAD BEEN UNAWARE, AS MOST ARE, THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. WHO KNOWS WHEN I WOULD HAVE NOTICED THESE LIGHTS? THE CAR COULD HAVE LOST ALL POWER AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY THAT I TRAVEL EVERY DAY!