NHTSA Complaint #10159380 — 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA

ON JUNE 7, 2006 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA IN A ROAD CONSTRUCTION AREA OF I-10 IN VIDOR, TX. THERE WERE CONCRETE BARRIERS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE INTERSTATE. SHE RAN OVER A PIECE OF TIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE AND THE CAR DIED. SHE WAS LEFT STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESTART, BUT STARTED AFTER A FEW MINUTES. THE VIDOR POLICE DROVE IT OFF OF THE INTERSTATE BUT IT WAS STUCK IN A HIGHER GEAR. UPON INSPECTION THERE IS A ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TRANSMISSION THAT CAME UNDONE. THERE IS A HEAT SHIELD AROUND THE CONNECTION, BUT IT DOES NOT PROTECT THE CONNECTION FROM BEING STRUCK BY ROAD DEBRIS. IF THIS IS GOING TO KILL THE CAR ENGINE ALONG WITH THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES, THEN IT SHOULD BE BETTER PROTECTED. *NM