NHTSA Complaint #10471720 — 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER

I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 NISSAN PATHFINDER ON AUGUST 11TH, 2012 WITH MY ENTIRE FAMILY INSIDE THE VEHICLE. WE WERE ROLLING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 40 TO45 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN STOPPED ACCELERATING. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHILE INSIDE THE VEHICLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON, A PASSERBY TOLD ME HE SAW A FIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY GOT MY FAMILY OUT AND CALLED 911 TO HAVE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COME OUT AND LOOK AT IT. BY THE TIME THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT ON SCENE, THE FIRE HAD DIED OUT. I HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP BECAUSE A FIREMAN SUGGESTED IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH MY TRANSMISSION. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME A COOLER UNDER THE RADIATOR BUSTED CAUSING COOLANT TO GET INSIDE MY TRANSMISSION, WHICH CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO GET ON MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHICH STARTED THE FIRE. THEY QUOTED ME $4900 IN REPAIRS, TELLING ME I NEEDED TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR REPLACED. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET BECAUSE FOR ONE, MY ENTIRE FAMILY COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR INJURED INCLUDING MYSELF, MY WIFE, AND 3 SONS AGES 3 9 & 13. SECONDLY, I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 5 AND HALF MONTHS AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT. IN FACT, I OWE JUST ABOUT $1000 MORE ON THE LOAN FOR THE VEHICLE VERSES THE COST OF REPAIRS. SO NOW I AM LEFT WITH NO VEHICLE, NO WAY TO TAKE MY KIDS TO SCHOOL, AND THE UGLY FACT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH VIA THE INTERNET, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A NORMAL OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MODEL. IN CLOSING, I AM JUST LOOKING FOR ANY SORT OF HELP I CAN GET TO HELP GIVE ME AND MY FAMILY SOME RELIEF OF THIS TRAGIC AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. THINGS COULD HAVE ENDED UP MUCH WORSE AND I REALLY FEEL THIS VEHICLE PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD TO OUR ROADWAYS. *TR