NHTSA Complaint #10366786 — 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA

2001 NISSAN MAXIMA EXHIBITING DIFFICULTY STARTING 3-4 TIMES, THEN DYING AT IDLE. THEN IT WOULD START, BUT DIE WHEN PUT IN GEAR. WE HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER - THEY SAY "BAD ENGINE MOUNTS" CAUSED THE WIRING HARNESS TO SHORT OUT, DESTROYING IT, THE ECM, AND THE IAC VALVE. THEY QUOTE 3875 TO REPAIR, AND SAY THAT SOMETIMES WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE AIR FUEL METER NEEDS REPLACING TOO. FROM READING OTHER REPORTS, I DOUBT THE "BAD ENGINE MOUNTS" STORY. THIS SOUNDS LIKE AN ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED IDENTICALLY ON THIS MAKE/MODEL YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE UNEXPLAINED ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS, THAT CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY A FEW MONTHS AGO ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY REPLACED THE AIR FUEL METER WHICH FIXED THE ENGINE LIGHT. I SUSPECT THE HARNESS WAS DETERIORATED THEN, CAUSED THE AFM TO FAIL AND THE PHONY WARNING LIGHTS, AND NOW IT HAS DETERIORATED FURTHER. CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED, SERVICED REGULARLY, DEALER SAID NOTHING ABOUT ENGINE MOUNTS WHEN IN FOR THE AFM REPLACEMENT A FEW MONTHS AGO. WE DID NOT HAVE A FIRE, AND WHEN THE CAR DIED IN TRAFFIC WE GOT THE POLICE THERE QUICKLY TO CONTROL TRAFFIC, BUT ONLY AFTER SEVERAL NEAR REAR-END COLLISIONS. AS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH RISK OF FIRE OR ACCIDENT, THIS SHOULD BE ESCALATED. *TR