NHTSA Complaint #10218460 — 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA

MY 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA SL CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE DASH BOARD ON THE DRIVER'S LEFT SIDE ON 2/05/08 AT APPROX 12:00 THAT DAY. AFTER RETURNING FROM A SHORT DRIVE, I SMELLED SMOKE. UPON PARKING IN MY DRIVEWAY AND EXITING THE CAR WE NOTICE FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD. ONCE WE EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPT WE REALIZED THE SOURCE APPEARED TO BE IN THE AREA OF THE FUSE HOUSING AREA. I'VE HAD A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. MY SERVICE RECORD IS QUITE EXTENSIVE ON THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ONE VEHICLE. THE LATEST BEING 12/28/07 WHEN I HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING FOR THE DRIVER SEAT FAILURE TO MOVE. MY VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME ON 12/31/07 AND THE SEAT WAS OPERABLE THEN, BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE TECH THAT THEY WEREN'T SURE IF THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BUT IT WAS WORKING AT THE PRESENT TIME. AS AN ENSUING RESULT I WAS UNAWARE I WAS DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT COULD OF WENT IN FLAMES WHEN BEING DRIVEN. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT NISSAN CORP AND HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH ANYONE OTHER THAN THE REP THAT TOOK MY INFORMATION ON 2/8/08. I'VE ALSO ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE OWNER OF THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY LUCK THERE EITHER. MY VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT RAY BRYANT NISSAN DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED, AGAIN, POST THE FIRE DAMAGE. THIS IS THE SAME DEALERSHIP I'VE BEEN BRINGING MY VEHICLE TO FOR AL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE EXISTED WITH THIS CAR. ANY HELP AND GUIDANCE YOU CAN OFFER ME WITH THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR