NHTSA Complaint #10267887 — 2003 NISSAN SENTRA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN SENTRA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DIAL DRASTICALLY INCREASED WHEN THE HEATING SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY DEACTIVATED THE HEATING SYSTEM AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND ADDED ANTIFREEZE COOLANT TO THE OVERFLOW RESERVOIR. SHE WAITED UNTIL THE VEHICLE COOLED DOWN BEFORE DRIVING AGAIN. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE RADIATOR CAP AND THERMOSTAT. THE COMPONENTS WERE REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND THE CONTACT REQUESTED THAT THE WATER PUMP BE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE, WHICH LED TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE WATER PUMP AND HEAD GASKET WERE REPLACED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 69,000.