NHTSA Complaint #10254134 — 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER. WHILE PROCEEDING TO PLACE THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE AND ACCELERATE, THE STEERING COLUMN FAILED AND BECAME VERY STIFF WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO HER DESTINATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE LOWER SHAFT NEEDED TO BE LUBRICATED. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $91. THE VEHICLE WAS TEMPORARILY REPAIRED UNTIL THE CONTACT RETURNED TO HER LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY DISCOVERED INTERNAL FAILURE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING COLUMN AND COUPLER WERE REPLACED AT THE COST OF $442. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE PARTS, BUT THE LABOR WOULD HAVE TO BE COVERED BY THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,750 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,260. UPDATED 02/05/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/10/09. *JB