NHTSA Complaint #10259736 — 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE. TO TURN THE CAR ON/OFF IT UTILIZES A PUSH BUTTON RATHER THAN AN ACTUAL KEY. THE OTHER MORNING I DROVE TO WORK AND PARKED IN THE PUBLIC GARAGE @ 8:00 AM. I MUST HAVE FORGOTTEN TO PUSH THE OFF BUTTON BECAUSE WHEN I RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE THAT EVENING 4:30 PM IT WAS RUNNING AND HAD BURNED 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS. BESIDES FEELING REAL STUPID, I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW DANGEROUS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN. BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING THE DOORS DID NOT LOCK, THEREFORE THE CAR WAS RUNNING AND UNLOCKED ALL DAY. THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN RANSACKED, STOLEN OR WORSE, IF THIS HAD TAKEN PLACE IN SOMEONE'S HOME GARAGE, OR DRIVEWAY OR ON A STREET, A CHILD COULD HAVE GOTTEN INTO THE VEHICLE, ENGAGED IT IN DRIVE AND CAUSED DAMAGE OR INJURY TO SOMEONE OR PERSONAL PROPERTY. VEHICLES WITH THIS "SMART KEY" TECHNOLOGY SHOULD HAVE A BUILT IN SAFETY/ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM THAT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AFTER 15 MINUTES OF IDLE. IT SHOULD NOT HAVE RUN 8-1/2 HOURS. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR