NHTSA Complaint #10216519 — 2004 NISSAN XTERRA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. AFTER CLOSE INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE POWER STEERING FLUID EXITED THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE BRACKET ON THE HOSE, BETWEEN THE PUMP AND THE STEERING UNIT, WAS RUSTED. THE MECHANIC FURTHER STATED THAT THE HIGH PRESSURE TUBE AND THE RETURN UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS SINCE HIS VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. HE FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,500.