NHTSA Complaint #10468822 — 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER

I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN JUNE 2011 FROM BENSON NISSAN IN SPARTANBURG, SC. I HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE RADIATOR/TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THESE VEHICLES WERE HAVING &OF COURSE IT WASN'T MENTIONED IN THE SALE. IT WAS ALREADY SLIGHTLY PAST THE 80,000 MILE WARRANTY (THE PREVIOUS OWNER WAS OBVIOUSLY AWARE OF PROBLEMS) FOR THE RADIATOR. LESS THAN 2 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE I TOLD THE SALES PERSON &A MECHANIC THAT THE CAR WAS JERKING AT AROUND 60 MPH WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE MECHANIC BLAMED ?BAD GAS? & ?ETHANOL? & ASSURED ME IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION. LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER?S &TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS STILL JERKING AT 60MPH &ASKED THEM ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. THEY AGAIN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR CONTINUED TO SHAKE WORSE WHEN SHIFTING &I CONTINUED TO CALL NISSAN &COMPLAIN. THE SALES PERSON EVEN OFFERED TO TRADE THE CAR IN FOR ME, BUT RENEGED WHEN HIS MANAGER DECLINED BECAUSE I ?GOT TOO GOOD OF A DEAL ON THAT CAR &(THEY) COULDN'T TRADE IT BACK.? THE SHAKING BEGAN TO GET WORSE &SPREAD TO LOWER GEARS &I ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT I WAS SOLD A LEMON. THROUGH ALL THIS, NO ONE AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP MENTIONED THE TRANSMISSION OR RADIATOR PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT ABOUT IT ONLY AFTER I BEGAN TO RESEARCH HOW TO REPAIR IT MYSELF &BY THEN ALL I COULD DO WAS PRAY. BARELY ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE WHILE ON THE WAY TO MY PARENT?S HOUSE WITH MY CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT, &WHILE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, THE CAR STUCK IN 2ND GEAR. I BARELY GOT IT TO MY PARENT?S HOUSE &ENDURED A LOT OF ANGRY DRIVERS AROUND ME. IT COST $3700 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION &REPLACE THE RADIATOR THAT LEAKED INTO THE TRANSMISSION &FINALLY AFTER GETTING IT BACK THE JERKING WHILE SHIFTING HAS STOPPED. I SHOULD'VE BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT PURCHASE OR AT LEAST AFTER COMPLAINING &NISSAN NEEDS TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR FAULTY PARTS BEFORE SOMEONE IS REALLY HURT. *TR