NHTSA Complaint #10388609 — 2010 NISSAN FRONTIER

(1) THE TRUCKS SPRAY-ON BEDLINER HAS HOLES AND CRACKS THAT EXTEND THE WIDTH OF THE BOX, PARALLEL TO THE TAILGATE (ABOUT 50CM FROM THE TAILGATE). THE ISSUE BECAME APPARENT BECAUSE WHITE SALT RINGS FORMED ON THE SURFACE OF THE BEDLINER (BOX IS COVERED) DUE TO SALT MIGRATING UP FROM THE ROADWAY. PER THE DEALER, THE BOX IS MISSING METAL AND/OR WELDS, AND CANNOT BE FULLY INSPECTED DUE TO THE EXISTENCE OF SAID BEDLINER. (2) THE BOX APPEARS TO BE IMPROPERLY CONNECTED TO THE TRUCKS FRAME. SPECIFICALLY, WHEN STANDING BY THE SIDE OF THE TRUCK, AND LOOKING INTO THE REAR WHEEL WELLS, THE VISIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BOX AND THE FRAME IS SLOTTED FOR A BOLT, BUT IS NOT BOLTED. THE DEALER WAS TOLD BY NISSAN THAT THE AREA IS HELD TOGETHER BY WELDS. HOWEVER, THERE IS A 5MM-THICK RUBBER SHIM/WASHER THAT IS PLACED BETWEEN THE BOX AND FRAME AT THIS POINT. THIS BEGS THE FOLLOWING QUESTION: HOW CAN THE AREA BE WELDED IF THE AFOREMENTIONED METAL SURFACES ARE NOT IN PHYSICAL CONTACT? THAT NOTWITHSTANDING, THE RUBBER SHIMS HAVE BOTH STARTED TO SHIFT OUT OF POSITION.