NHTSA Complaint #10135210 — 2003 NISSAN MURANO

ON AORIL 30, 2005, MY VEHICLE 2003 NISSAN MURANO'S ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING AND STRANDED MY WIFE IN MIDDLE OF NIGHT CAUSING MAJOR INCONVENIENCE IN SERVING HER PATIENTS AT ER. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, THEIR INITIAL ASSESSMENT WAS TO REPLACE BATTERY, WHICH I AGREED RELUCTANTLY (IT IS VERY UNCOMMON FOR BATTER TO GO BAD IN 2 YEARS). THEN THEY ADVISED ME THAT ALTERNATOR NEEDS TO REPLACE WHICH WILL BE COVERED BY WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM SINCE ALTERNATOR CAUSED THE BATTERY TO GET DISCHARGE, I FELT THAT NISSAN SHOULD PAY FOR THAT TOO. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY CAN NOT. HOWEVER, ABOUT COUPLE OF WEEKS, I RECVD A RECALL NOTIFICATION SATING THE FOLLOWING: "ON SOME 2003-2005 NISSA MURANO VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A WIRE BREAKING INSIDE ALTERNATOR COULD STOP THE BATTERY FROM CHARGING. IF THIS HAPPENS (WHICH HAPPENED IN MY CASE), THE CHARGE WARNING LAMPS WILL IMMEDIATELY COME ON AND THE BATTERY WILL BEGIN TO DISCHARGE. AFTER SHORT TIME, THE ENGINE WILL GO INTO A "FAIL SAFE" CONDITION WHICH WILL LIMIT VEHICLE SPEED. VERY SHORTLY AFTER THIS, THE ENGINE WLL STOP RUNNING. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH". THIS IS EXACTLYWHAT HAPPENED IN OUR CASE THAT CAUSED BATTERY TO GO BAD. NISSAN CLEARLY RESPONSIBLE FOR BATTERY TOO.