NHTSA Complaint #10206815 — 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA

WHILE DRIVING NORTH ON I15 AT THE EL CAJON PASS IN CALIF., MY 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA STALLED. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. IT WOULD NOT START SO I WAS GOING TO GET OUT OF THE CAR WHEN BLACK SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. THE PASSENGER AND I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND, AT THAT MOMENT, FLAMES CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE GOT AWAY FROM THE CAR AND CALLED 911. WITH IN A MINUTE THE CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. AS WE CONTINUED TO WALK AWAY FROM THE CAR, THE HILLSIDE NEXT TO THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. WE MOVED TO THE MEDIAN, BUT THE FIRE JUMPED TO THE MEDIAN WHICH SURROUNDED US IN FIRE AND SMOKE. A TRUCK STOPPED AND DROVE US OUT OF THE SITUATION. AFTER GETTING HOME, I FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT THERE WAS A RECALL (JUNE 2007) OF MY MODEL OF CAR BECAUSE IT MIGHT CATCH ON FIRE. I WAS NOT TOLD OF THIS UPON PURCHASING THE CAR, WHEN I HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE 3 MONTHS LATER, OR BY MAIL THE ENTIRE TIME I OWNED THE CAR. *TR