NHTSA Complaint #10459810 — 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER

WE PURCHASED A NEW 2000 NISSAN PATHFINDER IN MARCH OF 2000. THE VEHICLE HAS 116,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN DRIVEN EXCLUSIVELY ON URBAN ROADWAYS AND HIGHWAYS (NO OFF-ROAD USAGE). THERE HAS BEEN NO UNUSUAL USAGE OF THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE NOT USED IT FOR TOWING OR TRANSPORT OF HEAVY OR CORROSIVE MATERIALS. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PER THE MANUFACTURER REQUIREMENTS. WHEN NOT IN USE, THE VEHICLE IS STORED IN A GARAGE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY EVALUATED AND INSPECTED BY NISSAN MECHANICS DURING THE FREE INSPECTIONS OFFERED BY NISSAN DEALERSHIPS. THEY NEVER REPORTED ANY SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. ABOUT A MONTH AGO, WE DEVELOPED A NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP FOR AN EVALUATION. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT A PORTION OF THE FRAME WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND HAD CRACKED. I IMMEDIATELY REQUESTED THAT THEY INSPECT THE REST OF THE FRAME FOR CORROSION. THEY REFUSED AND TOLD ME THAT ANY REPAIR WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE BY A BODY SHOP. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. . AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE I IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP FOR EVALUATION AND REPAIR. THE AUTO BODY SHOP REMOVED THE ENGINE FROM THE VEHICLE AND INSPECTED THE FRAME. THEY FOUND EXTENSIVE CORROSION OF THE FRAME. THERE ARE MANY LOCATIONS IN THE FRAME WHERE IT HAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THROUGH. THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER MUST HAVE IMPROPERLY OR INADEQUATELY APPLIED ANTI-CORROSIVE MATERIALS TO THE FRAME. IT IS OBVIOUS NISSAN IS AWARE OF CORROSION ISSUES WITH PATHFINDER FRAMES. NISSAN REPAIRED A CORROSION RELATED PROBLEM WITH THE STRUT HOUSING WHILE THE CAR WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REFERENCES TO PATHFINDER FRAME CORROSION ON THE INTERNET. *TR