NHTSA Complaint #10280207 — 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA

WE HAVE A 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY AND THEN IT WENT OFF. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND WE HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND THE CODE INDICATED IT WAS ELECTRICAL, BATTERY, OR CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. SAME DAY WE GOT IT DIAGNOSED WE WENT TO START THE CAR IN THE PARKING LOT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. WE CALLED AAA TO HAVE CAR TOWED. WHILE WAITING FOR TOW TRUCK WE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED. WE STARTED DRIVING CAR TO GET IT TO BE REPAIRED AND WHILE DRIVING THE CAR THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING AND MY DAUGHTER HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND EVERYTHING. SHE PULLED INTO SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY. WE CALLED AND HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. I CHECKED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY RECALLS AND IT INDICATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR. I CALLED THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SALEM, NH AND SPOKE TO A GENTLEMAN IN SERVICE AND EXPLAINED ABOUT THE RECALL. HE ASKED FOR THE VIN NUMBER AND SAID THERE WAS NO RECALLS. I DISPUTED IT WITH HIM AND HE SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO AND THAT IT WOULD COST APPROX $100 DOLLARS TO DIAGNOSE AND APPROX $125.00 PER HOUR TO REPLACE PLUS PARTS. I THEN CALL NISSAN CONSUMER SERVICE AND THEY ALSO SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I AGAIN DISPUTED AGAIN THEY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I THEN HAD THE CAR REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR (THE RECALLED PART). WE PICKED UP THE CAR DROVE DOWN THE STREET AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO REPAIR SHOP AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER RELATIONS AGAIN ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEY STATED THERE IS STILL NO RECALL FOR THE SENSOR ON MY VIN. SHE SAID THAT SHE COULD HELP US BY REFUNDING THE REPAIR COSTS. SHE ASKED WHERE I HAD IT REPAIRED AND I TOLD HER AT A LOCAL REPAIR CENTER. SHE SAID I CANT HELP YOU BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET IT REPAIRED AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THEY SHOULD OF TOLD ME THIS. *TR