NHTSA Complaint #10393771 — 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA

THIS IS A FORMAL REQUEST PETITIONING NHTSA TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION FOR AN INADEQUATE REMEDY OF RECALL 03V-084 (NISSAN # NTB03-070D) 3/8/11-MATERIAL FROM A DAMAGED PRE-CATALYST ENTER THE ENGINE CAUSING INTERNAL DAMAGE WHICH INCREASED THE OIL CONSUMPTION TO 1 QT OF OIL PER 100 MILES. 1/20/11-OIL CHANGE AT 74,243 MILES, IN PERFECT RUNNING CONDITION NOT CONSUMING ANY OIL. 3/8/11-875 MILES LATER, HEARD ENGINE NOISE AND SCHEDULED SERVICE INSPECTION. ENGINE NOISE DUE TO LOW OIL LEVEL. FILLED OIL AND THE ENGINE NOISE STOPPED. CAR SMOKES AT HIGHER RPM'S. MECHANIC ASKED IF RECALL NUMBER 03V-084 WAS PERFORMED. NISSAN CLAIMED THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL. LATER ADMITTED TO A RECALL BUT CLAIMED OUR CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED, AND THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR FOR THE AGE AND MILEAGE. 8 YEAR/80,000 MILE EMISSIONS WARRANTY EXPIRED 10/5/10, 3/10/11-SENT EMAIL TO NHTSA. NHTSA SAID, FROM VIN LISTINGS, OUR CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED, AND SENT A REQUESTED FOR RECALL HISTORY TO NISSAN. 3/15/11-NHTSA SAID RECALL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED 3/2008, AT 54,000 MILES. THE RECALL OWNER LETTER STATES, 'THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT CERTAIN ENGINE OPERATING CONDITIONS MAY CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE PRE-CATALYST. MATERIAL FROM INSIDE THE DAMAGE PRE-CATALYST COULD ENTER THE ENGINE AND RESULT IN INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION'..THE NISSAN DEALER WILL REPROGRAM THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE TO PREVENT ANY FUTURE DAMAGE TO THE PRE-CATALYST.' THE RECALL SERVICE PERFORMED IN 3/2008 DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION AGAINST PREMATURE PRE-CATALYST FAILURE WHICH CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE TO REQUIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THE RECALL PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE AT 54,000 MILES SHOULD HAVE PROTECTED ME MORE THAN THE 21,118 MILES. THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE PRE-CATALYST SHOULD BE LONGER THAN 75,118 MILES, OR AT LEAST ADDRESSED UNDER THE RECALL INSPECTION AND CORRECTED WHILE UNDER THE ORIGINAL EMISSION WARRANTY PERIOD. IT IS FOR THESE REASONS I AM PETITIONING THE NHTSA TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION FOR AN INADEQUATE REMEDY OF THIS RECALL. *TR