NHTSA Complaint #10275351 — 2005 NISSAN MAXIMA

2005 NISSAN MAXIMA, ON JUNE 27TH GAUGES ALL WENT TO NEGATIVE, FUEL GAUGE SHOWED EMPTY, TEMP SHOWED COLD, TACH AND SPEEDO DID NOT WORK, A/C DID NOT WORK, TURN SIGNALS INSIDE DID NOT WORK BUT OUTSIDE DID. PARTIAL SUNROOF OPERATION. KEPT CAR IN GARAGE, GOT IN CAR ON JUNE 29TH TO TAKE TO DEALER, NOTICED UNUSUAL SMELL, 10 MIN. LATER SMOKE CAME POURING OUT OF CENTER DASH. IMMEDIATELY GOT OUT OF CAR AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. HAD TOWED TO DEALER, SAID THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE GAUGE CLUSTER AND A/C METERING AMP, LOOKS LIKE IT SHORT CIRCUITED BY COIN THAT SOMEHOW MADE ITS WAY INTO A VENT CREAVIS OF THE SEALED CIRCUIT BOARD. WE HAVE HAD 170,000 MILES OF BASICALLY TROUBLE FREE DRIVING BUT I AM REALLY CONCERNED BECAUSE THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THIS SOLVES OUR PROBLEM. AS YOU CAN SEE MY WIFE DRIVES ALOT OF MILES IN THIS CAR WITH 8 HOUR TRIPS TO FLORIDA EVERY 6 WEEKS. NOT SURE HOW SHE WOULD REACT TO A SMOKE FILLED CABIN AND WOULD BE CONCERNED IF SHE COULD GET OUT IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND FLAMES UP. THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD NEVER REALLY CATCH FIRE. HAD ISSUE A FEW WEEKS EARLIER WHERE THE CAR SHIFTED STRANGELY, IT WOULD OFTEN NOT START AND THE CAR WOULD NOT START UNLESS THE A/C WAS TURNED OFF. THE SUGGESTED A TRANSMISSION FIX, NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND A NEW BATTERY. WE COULD ONLY DO THE BATTERY AT THAT POINT. I CAN'T HELP TO WONDER IF THE COMPUTER GAVE FALSE READING BECAUSE OF THE RECENT PROBLEM. *TR