NHTSA Complaint #10341131 — 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE UNUSUAL CLOUDS OF BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS CONSUMING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF AN OIL LEAK AND COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BUT RECOMMENDED HAVING THE ENGINE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY OF AN INTERNAL ENGINE FAILURE WHERE THE CARBON IN THE ENGINE OIL WAS DAMAGING THE PISTONS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.