NHTSA Complaint #10363745 — 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER

BOUGHT A NISSAN PATHFINDER SE 2005... IT HAS OVER 70,000 MILES ON IT NOW. I WAS DRIVING IT DOWN THE HIGHWAY, WITH MY HUSBAND AND 12 MONTH OLD BABY GIRL, SURROUNDED IN WALL TO WALL RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION. THE NISSAN STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE THEN STARTED SLIPPING 4TH GEAR. SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY NOTICE 4TH GEAR WAS COMPLETELY OUT. I HAD TO STOP THE CAR, PUT IT IN 3RD GEAR MANUALLY AND DRIVE BEFORE GETTING REAR ENDED. MIRACULOUSLY IT DROVE IN 3RD GEAR SO WE TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHO EXPLAINED TO US THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE RADIATOR. THE RADIATOR WAS CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE TRANSMISSION, MIXING WITH THE TRANSMISSION OIL AND DESTROYING OUR TRANSMISSION. HE KNEW THIS PROBLEM WELL SINCE HE'S FIXED THEM MANY TIMES. WE CHECKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND COUNTLESS MORE INDIVIDUAL SUCH AS OURSELVES EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC ALSO EXPLAINED THE NEW PATHFINDERS ARE NOT USING THESE FAULTY RADIATORS, SO NISSAN KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM. TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION USING A USED ONE WILL BE $4,000. THAT'S INCLUDING THE USED TRANSMISSION, LABOR, SHIPPING COSTS, TAX, AND FLUIDS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THINGS BREAK AND WEAR OUT, BUT IF A COMPANY SAYS THAT YOU SHOULD BUY THERE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY WILL STAND BEHIND IT, AND THAT THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY HAVE A QUALITY PRODUCT THAT YOU CAN COUNT ON, THEN THEY SHOULD DO AS THEY SAY AND STAND BEHIND THERE NISSAN. WE ARE ONE CAR SHORT WITH NOT MUCH MONEY TO PAY FOR SUCH A EXPENSIVE REPAIR. A RECALL IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, I DON'T THINK SOMEONE HAS TO DIE BEFORE SOMEONE SOMEWHERE STANDS UP TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPENS. OUR FAMILY HAVE ALREADY SUFFERED A LOSS DUE TO A SUV MALFUNCTION. AT LEAST TOYOTA ADMITS THEIR FAULTS AND TAKES CARE OF THE PROBLEMS. NISSAN HAVE LOST ALL CREDIBILITY WITH OUR SIDE OF THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS. *TR