NHTSA Complaint #10345986 — 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER

I OWN A 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER LE, WITH 149,000 MILES, WHICH IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. TUES 7/27/10, WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, I LOST STEERING CONTROL. FIND STEERING COLUMN IS SNAPPED. TOW TO MECHANIC, WHO DISCOVERS THE SHOCK TOWER, WHICH IS PART OF THE FRAME (UNI-BODY DESIGN), HAS SHEARED AWAY FROM THE REST OF THE WHEEL-WELL. THE SHOCK TOWER HAS PUSHED UP INTO THE STEERING COLUMN, CAUSING IT TO BREAK. MECHANIC GAVE ESTIMATE OF $640.00 FOR STEERING, AND AT LEAST $1700.00 FOR THE WHEEL-WELL, WHICH IS A BODY SHOP REPAIR. ALSO SUGGESTED TO CALL NISSAN TO SEE IF THERE A RECALL ON WHEEL-WELLS AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AND IS NOT THE FIRST TIME HE HAS HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. CONTROL ARMS JUST BELOW TEARING IN FRAME, IF TEARING CONTINUED, WHEEL COULD ALSO BECOME DISLODGED, IN ADDITION TO LOSS OF STEERING. NISSAN WAS CALLED, AND WANTS VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR VERIFICATION AT MY EXPENSE, AND IN ADDITION PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE. APPARENTLY, I AM AT THEIR MERCY, HOWEVER HOW CAN THEY GIVE ME AN UNBIASED DIAGNOSTIC, AS I AM SURE THE RESULTS WILL BE IN THEIR FAVOR. I AM NOW AT A STANDSTILL AS THE REPAIRS WILL APPARENTLY OUTWEIGH THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS $4125 TRADE-IN VALUE. HOWEVER, IF THIS HAPPENED ON ONE SIDE, IT IS REASONABLE TO BELIEVE THAT WILL OCCUR ON THE OTHER, DOUBLING COST OF REPAIRS. *TR