NHTSA Complaint #10430880 — 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA

AFTER HEARING A RATTLE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, I FOUND THAT THE FRAME SUPPORT UNDER THE RADIATOR WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND FULL OF LARGE HOLES FOR ABOUT 8 INCHES AT THE CENTER OF THE BEAM. THIS POINT IN THE BEAM IS WHERE THE ENGINE SUPPORT BEAM AND FRONT HOOD LATCH SUPPORT ARE BOLTED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP WHICH TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED 'NUMEROUS' NISSAN MAXIMA'S WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. AS THE RUSTED AREA SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND HOOD LATCH, IT APPEARS THAT IT SEVERELY COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR, BOTH FROM AN ENGINE SUPPORT PERSPECTIVE AND IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER, BUT THE REST OF THE UNDERBODY HAS NO SIGNIFICANT RUST LIKE WHAT IS FOUND ON THIS BEAM. IN SEARCHING YOUR DATABASE, I FOUND NO DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS OR SAFETY RECALLS, BUT DID SEE TWO OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. AT THE VERY LEAST, THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE NOTIFIED ABOUT THIS, AS IT APPEARS TO BE MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD THAN THE COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN. I'M NOT A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, BUT IF YOU SAW THE CONDITION OF THIS STRUCTURAL POINT IN THE CAR, YOU WOULD NOT DRIVE IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR