NHTSA Complaint #10377106 — 2005 NISSAN XTERRA

*** IPDM AND DOUBLE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE IN 2005 NISSAN XTERRA *** MY 2005 NISSAN XTERRA ENGINE ONCE SHUT DOWN AS I AM DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET; I HAD TO LET THE XTERRA COAST A SHORT DISTANCE WITHOUT POWER TO PULL OVER AND STOP MY SUV TO THE SIDE OF A SAFER SECTION OF THE ROAD. I COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE CAR. AFTER WAITING ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO RESTART AND DRIVE THE SUV. THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER NEVER WENT AWAY. PERIODICALLY THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. IT FINALLY GOT TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR WOULD NOT START AT ALL. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TWICE, INCLUDING A TOW TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SANTA MONICA. THE INCIDENT BEGAN IN APRIL 2010. IN MAY 2010, THE NISSAN DEALER IN SANTA MONICA CHECKED THE PROBLEM AND INDICATED THAT THE IPDM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR. SHORTLY AFTER THE IPDM WAS REPLACED, 1 OF 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN THE XTERRA FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. 6 MONTHS LATER (DECEMBER 2010), THE OTHER CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. I BELIEVE THE IPDM ISSUE IS SEVERE. I BELIEVE THE IPDM ISSUE IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH (AND LIKELY TO BE THE CAUSE OF) THE FAILURE OF CATALYTIC CONVERTERS IN THE VEHICLE. IN MY CASE, IT IS DOUBLE FAILURE SINCE BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FAILED 6 MONTHS APART FROM EACH OTHER. FAILURE OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN. *TR