NHTSA Complaint #10215723 — 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA

WE OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA (PURCHASED AT AUTOWAY NISSAN, CLEARWATER, FL IN 2002) AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME MECHANICAL FAILURE AS MANY WHO HAVE POSTED TO THIS AND MANY OTHER SITES. WITH 100,300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WE HAVE JUST LEARNED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS DISINTEGRATED AND METAL PARTS ARE NOW THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE. AS A RESULT WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED OR WALK AWAY FROM A 5 YEAR OLD CAR THAT, OTHER THAN THIS DEFECT, IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. UPON SPEAKING TO AUTOWAY NISSAN WE WERE INFORMED SINCE THE CAR HAS EXCEEDED THE 8 YEARS OR 80,000 MILE WARRANTY ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NISSAN WOULD NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS. UPON TYPING IN 'NISSAN CATALYTIC CONVERTER' IN GOOGLE KEY WORD SEARCH MY HUSBAND AND I FOUND IT IS ENLIGHTENING AND CONCERNING TO READ MANY ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME MECHANICAL FAILURE. I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME MECHANICAL FAILURE THAT WE'VE YET TO UNCOVER. WHAT CAN WE DO AS CONSUMERS TO HAVE OUR RIGHTS PROTECTED? IT IS APPARENT NISSAN HAS A DEFECTIVE PART ON AT LEAST 2002 / 2003 ALTIMA. ANY ADVISE US ON HOW TO WE AS CONSUMERS CAN GET NISSAN TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF A FAILED DEVICE. *TR