NHTSA Complaint #10410586 — 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA IN JULY 2009. RECENTLY, I HAD MY CAR INSPECTED AND A RUST PERFORATION WAS NOTICED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL WHICH IS THROUGH THE FIRST LAYER OF METAL. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND THEY STATED THAT MY WARRANTY FOR PERFORATION WAS 5 YEARS AND HAS EXPIRED. I HAD PLANNED ON REPAIRING IT MYSELF; HOWEVER, UPON ONLINE RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002-2006 ALTIMA MODELS. THE PERFORATION ON THESE CARS APPEARS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR EXACTLY WHERE MINE IS. THE FLOOR IS DESIGNED WITH TWO PIECES OF SHEET METAL WITH A GAP IN BETWEEN WHICH, UNFORTUNATELY ALLOWS WATER TO BECOME TRAPPED. THIS IS A DESIGN ERROR WHICH CAUSES PREMATURE RUST TO FORM. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF I REPAIR THE RUST, IT WILL INEVITABLY RETURN. I CONTACTED NISSAN CANADA AND WAS TOLD THE SAME STORY REGARDING MY EXPIRED PERFORATION WARRANTY. I EXPLAINED THE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE CONCERNING THIS MATTER AND WAS SURPRISED THAT THE SERVICE AGENT WAS UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED; HOWEVER, IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT THE FLOOR OF THE CAR RUSTED PREMATURELY DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. I TAKE PRIDE AND CARE OF MY VEHICLE AND I EXPECT NISSAN TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS FLAW AND ENACT A RECALL FOR THE FLOOR ON ALL 2002-2006 NISSAN ALTIMAS OR, AT A MINIMON PAY FOR THE REPAIRS ON MY VEHICLE. THANK YOU FOR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER, [XXX] (BHS, RTMR) *KB PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*CC