NHTSA Complaint #10188292 — 2000 NISSAN XTERRA

THE STEP BOARDS OF THE 2000 NISSAN XTERRA ARE CORRODING. I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE OR UNUSUAL USAGE OF THE STEP BOARDS THAT WOULD HAVE CASUED THE CORROSION. OTHERWISE, THE VEHICLE, BOTH MECHNAICALLY AND BODY, IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. *AK I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TWO BODY SHOPS AND BOTH AGREE THE STEP BOARDS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. ESTIMATES FOR NEW STEP BOARDS AND INSTALLATION RANGE FROM $500 TO $670. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER INDICATES THE STEP BOARDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE VERY DURABLE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE CORRODED. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM NISSAN TO REPLACE THE STEP BOARDS. MY DIRECT REQUEST TO NISSAN WAS ALSO TURNED DOWN. SINCE I HAD TO ENTER A DATE IN THE FORM BELOW, I ENTERED THE DATE NISSAN TELEPHONED ME AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE ASSISTING ME IN MY EFFORT TO REPLACE THE STEP BOARDS. MY FILE NUMBER WAS 567.8334. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS DUE TO THE DEFECT. HOWEVER, THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE FACTORY INSTALLED PART ON THE VEHICLE.