NHTSA Complaint #10481259 — 2006 NISSAN XTERRA

ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A WHINING NOISE. WAS NOT NOTICED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, IT WAS NOTICED AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP. WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE NOISE IS DUE TO THE PLASTIC TIMING CHAIN GUIDES THAT WEAR DOWN AND THEN THE TIMING CHAIN BEGINS TO RUB ON METAL. FAILURE TO CHANGE OUT THE ENTIRE TIMING CHAIN KIT MAY RESULT IN THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKING AND RUPTURING THE OIL PAN. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT THE PLASTIC GUIDES WERE A FAULTY PART BUT IT WAS NOT A RECALL, IF THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. I DON'T THINK ANY CAR WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES SHOULD NEED SUCH A PRICEY "WEAR AND TEAR" FIX AND I BELIEVE THIS PART IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. IN ADDITION, SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2010 I HAVE HAD A DIFFERENTIAL SEAL LEAK AND A REAR AXLE SEAL LEAK. ALL OF WHICH I HAVE BEEN TOLD ARE NORMAL "WEAR AND TEAR" WITH A REPAIR PRICE TAG OF A FEW THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. *TR