NHTSA Complaint #10413208 — 1999 NISSAN MAXIMA

I AM A NISSAN TECHNICIAN, AND I HAVE BECOME CONCERNED WITH THE AMOUNT OF FOURTH GENERATION (1995-1999) MAXIMAS I HAVE SEEN WITH SUBSTANTIAL RADIATOR SUPPORT RUST. THIS OF COURSE CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH THE CROSSMEMBER, WHICH ATTACHES TO THE SUPPORT TO FORM THE LOWER ENGINE CRADLE. IN MANY INSTANCES, THE RUST GETS SO BAD THE CROSSMEMBER DROPS AND CAUSES A VERY REAL DANGER FOR DRIVERS, AND OTHERS -- IF THE CROSSMEMBER WERE TO GET CAUGHT ON THE EDGE OF A NASTY POTHOLE AS THE CAR GOES OVER, AN ACCIDENT IS GUARANTEED. THE EASY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO BRING THESE CARS BACK, AND JUST SECTION IN A PIECE OF GOOD STEEL, TAP IT, AND BOLT THE CROSSMEMBER BACK UP, AND UNDERCOAT THE REPAIRED AREA. THIS ISSUE CAN BE RECTIFIED, AND MANY CARS CAN BE SAVED FROM THE SCRAP HEAP, FOR THIS PROBLEM IS ENOUGH TO RENDER AN OTHERWISE TROUBLE-FREE CAR UNFIT FOR THE ROAD. I HOPE THIS ISSUE IS CONSIDERED, AND ACTED UPON BY NHTSA & NISSAN, SINCE IT OCCURS ONLY IN CONDITIONS OF HIGH SALT\CALCIUM WINTER ROADS. I AM NOT AWARE OF THIS ISSUE OCCURRING OUTSIDE OF WHAT IS TERMED THE RUST BELT - SO ITS NOT AS IF AN EXORBITANT NUMBER OF CARS WOULD REQUIRE REPAIRS. *TR