NHTSA Complaint #10376722 — 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER

WE BROUGHT OUR 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER IN FOR THE YEARLY INSPECTION. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO AN EXTREMELY LARGE CRACK THROUGH THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL AND ALONG THE WHOLE LENGTH OF THE INNER FENDER WERE THE STRUT MOUNT IS LOCATED. THEY ATTEMPTED TO WELD IT TOGETHER BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL DUE TO THE ROT AND THINNESS OF THE FRAME. WE ARE NOW LEFT WITHOUT A CAR. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO OUR LOCAL DEALER, QUIRK NISSAN, FOR EXAMINATION. THEY TOLD US IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. WE THEN BROUGHT IT TO A THIRD MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD US IT WAS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND TO AVOID ALL POTHOLES. IF WE HIT A POTHOLE WE WOULD PROBABLY LOOSE ALL CONTROL OF THE CAR BECAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCATED NEXT TO THE STRUT. THIS WAS EXACTLY WHAT THE FIRST MECHANIC TOLD US AS WELL. NISSAN IS THE ONLY ONE TO SAY IT IS SAFE. THIS HAS BEEN OUR PRIMARY CAR FOR THE LAST YEAR. ALL OTHER ASPECTS OF THE CAR ARE IN GOOD SHAPE. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW, BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER FOR THE FIRST 100,000 MILES FOR ALL MAINTANCE AND WORK. WE NEVER TOOK IT OFF ROADING OR ON TO THE BEACH. IT HAS NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO SALT WATER. WE ARE APPALLED THAT NISSAN HAS NOT CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. FROM WHAT WE HAVE READ ONLINE AND FROM SPEAKING WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP TOLD US WHAT WE WERE READING WAS FOR PREVIOUS MODELS NOT OUR MODEL. THIS IS NOT TRUE! I AM GRATEFUL THAT WE, MY HUSBAND, 5 MONTH OLD BABY, AND I WERE NOT INJURED OR KILLED. NISSAN NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT AND CONDUCT A RECALL. *TR