NHTSA Complaint #10217927 — 2005 NISSAN SENTRA

I PURCHASED MY 2005 NISSAN SENTRA IN DECEMBER 2005. IN SEPTEMBER 2007, I BEGAN NOTICING THAT MY CAR WAS OVERHEATING. IN ADDITION TO MY CAR OVERHEATING, THE HEAT STOPPED WORKING. I DO NOT HAVE VERY MUCH MONEY AND MY WARRANTY HAS ALREADY EXPIRED SO I HAD A FAMILY MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR. I HAD THE WATER-PUMP REPLACED, THE RADIATOR FLUSHED, THE HEATING AND COOLING SENSOR REPLACED, BELTS AND HOSES REPLACED. AFTER HAVING SO MANY THINGS DONE TO MY CAR, THE PROBLEM WAS STILL NOT SOLVED. I THEN DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP FLUSHED OUT MY RADIATOR. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, THE HEAT WAS WORKING AND IT WAS FINE. THE REPAIR SHOP IS LITERALLY ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHERE I LIVE. BEFORE I GOT HOME, THE CAR OVERHEATED AND THE HEAT WENT OUT. I TOOK THE CAR RIGHT BACK TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I MUST HAVE A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. OK, SO I WENT BACK TO THE FAMILY MECHANIC BECAUSE THE REPAIR SHOP WANTED TO CHARGE OVER $1000 TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET (WHICH I DIDN'T HAVE). THE FAMILY MECHANIC REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET FOR ME THOUGH HE DIDN'T SEE HOLES OR CRACKS IN THE ORIGINAL HEAD GASKET. THIS STILL DID NOT SOLVE MY PROBLEM. I FINALLY DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPT. THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED A RADIATOR, I PAID $560 JUST TO HAVE THEM REPLACE THE RADIATOR. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, I DIDN'T MAKE IT HOME BEFORE THE CAR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AGAIN AND THE HEAT WENT OUT. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO NISSAN SERVICE DEPT. THIS WAS FIVE WEEKS AGO. I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY CAR. THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT I PROBABLY NEED A HEAD GASKET. I GAVE THE OK TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET WHICH WILL COST OVER $1500. I AM STILL AWAITING MY CAR BUT AM NOT SURE THAT THIS WILL SOLVE MY PROBLEM. *TR