NHTSA Complaint #10340173 — 2007 NISSAN QUEST

I HAVE A 2007 NISSAN QUEST I BOUGHT NEW. IT HAS REAR SONAR AS ONE OF THE OPTIONS AND DUE TO THE SIZE, SHAPE AND BLIND SPOTS IT IS NEEDED. I NOTICED WITH 35000 MILES THAT THE REAR SONAR WAS INOP- SINCE I BOUGHT IT FOR MY WIFE, I WAS UNAWARE IT WAS INOP FOR A WHILE. IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 37 MOS. AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT APPEARS IT IS NOT ONLY COMMON IN ALL YEARS OF THE QUEST BUT THE TITAN AS WELL. THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECTIVE AURAL BUZZER. WHEN YOU HAVE A FAULT SOMEWHERE IN THE SYSTEM THE OFF LIGHT SHOULD COME ON LETTING YOU KNOW THE SYSTEM IS OFF- HOWEVER, IT ILLUMINATES SPORADICALLY AND WHAT YOU THINK IS A WORKING SYSTEM IS REALLY NOT- I HAVE TALKED WITH PEOPLE WHO WERE UNAWARE THE SYSTEM WAS OFF UNTIL THEY BACKED INTO SOMETHING CAUSING MINIMAL BUT EXPENSIVE DAMAGE. I AM AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AND CANNOT SEE HOW THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THE BUZZER- WHEN BACKING UP LOOKING BEHIND YOU AND USING YOUR MIRRORS THERE IS A HUGE BLIND AREA IN THE BACK OF THE VAN THAT IS CAUSED BY THE GRADUAL INCREASE IN THE SLOPE OF THE BODY PANELS. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED. THE PROBLEM IS THAT NISSAN USES A DEFECTIVE BUZZER THAT THEY KNOW WILL FAIL- IT IS A CHEAP FIX FOR THE DEALERS HOWEVER FOR THE CONSUMER IT WOULD COST UPWARDS OF 400 DOLLARS FOR A BUZZER THAT CAN BE PURCHASED AT RADIO SHACK FOR 5 DOLLARS. I REPLACED MINE WITH THE ORIGINAL NISSAN PART THAT COST 60 DOLLARS AND FIND IT OFFENSIVE THEY HAVE NOT VOLUNTARILY FIXED A PROBLEM THEY KNOW EXISTS- IT IS SAFETY RELATED AND AS SOMEONE WHO FIXES JETS FOR A MAJOR AIRLINE, SAFETY IS FIRST AND FOREMOST ALONG WITH A RELIABLE, DEPENDABLE PRODUCT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. THANK YOU *TR