NHTSA Complaint #10324536 — 2007 NISSAN QUEST

I PURCHASED NEW A 2007 NISSAN QUEST SE WITH THE MICHELIN PAX RUN-FLAT SYSTEM IN DECEMBER 2007. THIS CAR'S STICKER PRICE WAS OVER $41,000. IT NOW NEEDS NEW TIRES AT 32,000 MILES.WITH THIS SYSTEM, THERE IS ONLY ONE TIRE THAT CAN BE USED, AND VERY FEW DEALERS CARRY IT. ONLY ONE SHOP IN MY CITY CAN WORK ON THIS RIM/TIRE COMBO--THE HONDA STORE THEY REFUSE TO HELP BECAUSE THEY WORK ONLY ON HONDAS. I WAS ADVISED BY MICHELIN I NEED TO TRAVEL TO ALLIANCE, OH TO HAVE NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON MY VAN, A TRIP OF 70 MILES OR ONE HOUR. I WAS TOLD BY THIS SHOP THAT THE TIRES NEED TO BE ORDERED, THEY TAKE 5 WEEKS TO GET IN, AND THEY WOULD COST $1,550 FOR A SET OF FOUR INSTALLED. WHILE I FEEL THE PRICE IS TERRIBLE, MY REAL CONCERN IS THE 5 WEEK DELIVERY DELAY. WHAT DO I DO IF I AM 700 MILES FROM HOME AND SUFFER A BLOWOUT WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR? DO I LEAVE THE CAR ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR AT THE REPAIR SHOP FOR 5 WEEKS WAITING FOR A TIRE TO BE SHIPPED IN? I HAVE ASKED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA TO PROVIDE 4 REGULAR RIMS, A SPARE, AND A JACK SO THAT I CAN CONVERT THE CAR BACK TO REGULAR TIRES AS I NO LONGER FEEL WAITING 5 WEEKS FOR A TIRE TO BE SHIPPED IN IS A SAFE ALTERNATIVE FOR MY FAMILY. THEY REFUSED. I THEN SENT A LETTER AND ASKED THEM TO ANSWER MY QUESTION AS TO WHAT I AM TO DO WHEN STRANDED BY A BLOWN PAX TIRE 700 MILES FROM HOME. THEY AGAIN REITERATED THEIR POSITION THAT THEY COULD NOT HELP WITH THE "REPAIRS" TO MY VEHICLE, AND THEY FAILED TO ANSWER MY QUESTION--IGNORING IT ENTIRELY. I AM CURRENTLY CONVERTING THE VAN OVER TO REGULAR TIRES AND RIMS AT MY EXPENSE, BUT I STILL WILL NOT HAVE A JACK OR SPARE TIRE/RIM. NISSAN MISREPRESENTED THIS SYSTEM WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR. THEY EXTOLLED THE VIRTUES OF SAFETY AND RELIABILITY FOR MY FAMILY. THIS IS SIMPLY UNTRUE. THIS SYSTEM IS A NIGHTMARE, AND THEY HAVE REFUSED TO HELP THEIR CUSTOMERS WHO PURCHASED WHAT AMOUNTS TO A VERY HIGH-END VEHICLE--ONE OF THEIR MOST EXPENSIVE, IN FACT. THEY NEED TO OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKE. *TR