NHTSA Complaint #10386054 — 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA

MY VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. OF COURSE, THIS HAS BEEN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS EACH TIME, AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY LUCKY TO AVOID ACCIDENTS. EACH TIME, WE HAVE HAD TO FIND A WAY TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION, AND HAVE IT TOWED. BECAUSE VARIOUS MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM, WE HAVE GIVEN UP ON DRIVING THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE NOW BEEN THROUGH THREE ALTERNATORS, A BATTERY, AND SOME WIRING. AFTER HAVING PREVIOUSLY SAID PARTS REPLACED, I DECIDED TO TRY THE DEALER. I DROPPED THE VEHICLE OFF AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP ONE MORNING BEFORE WORK. THEY CALLED ME AT WORK AND TOLD ME THAT A BOLT HAD BEEN WELDED TO THE ALTERNATOR, AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME ABOUT $800 TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO ASSURED MY WIFE THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. I TOLD THEM NOT TO FIX IT. WHEN I WENT TO INSPECT IT MYSELF, IT WAS PLAINLY EVIDENT THAT THE BOLT WAS NOT WELDED TO THE ALTERNATOR, IT WAS JUST NOT FULLY TIGHTENED DOWN. SINCE COMPLAINING TO NISSAN RECALLS ABOUT POOR SERVICE AND THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS IN FACT A RECALL ON MY YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL, BUT NOT ON MY SPECIFIC VIN. I HAVE ALSO BEEN PROMISED THAT A REGIONAL MANAGER WOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH ME. I HAVE CALLED BACK ASKING TO SPEAK WITH THIS REGIONAL MANAGER,AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME HE WILL CALL ME IN TWO BUSINESS DAYS. IT HAS BEEN AT LEAST TWO WEEKS NOW. NHTSA ID NUMBER: 03V455000. 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, 3.5SE. *TR