NHTSA Complaint #10486312 — 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA

ON OUR FIRST TRIP FOLLOWING PURCHASE OF THE CAR, WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS NOT TRACKING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS CONDITION WAS NOT NOTICEABLE AT SPEEDS LOWER THAN 65 MPH. ABOVE THAT SPEED, THE CAR WANDERS IN THE LANE REQUIRING CONTINUOUS ADJUSTMENTS TO THE STEERING. INATTENTION TO THE DRIFT WOULD ALLOW THE CAR TO CROSS INTO THE ADJACENT LANE. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY THE NEW STEERING SYSTEM ON THE 2012 ALTIMA. IT USES A POWER-STEERING SYSTEM THAT CONSISTS OF A HYDRAULIC RACK DRIVEN BY AN ELECTRIC MOTOR. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEIR TEST DRIVE SERVICE MANAGER CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM. AFTER HE TALKED WITH NISSAN USA, HOWEVER, HE DISAVOWED EVER SAYING THAT HE NOTICED ANY PROBLEM. NUMEROUS CONTACTS WITH NISSAN USA HAVE RESULTED IN NO ACTION TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE INTERNET INCLUDES MANY 2013 ALTIMA BUYERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NISSAN MANAGEMENT SAYS THAT WE JUST "NEED TO GET USED TO IT." THIS PROBLEM WHILE IT MAY SOUND MINOR, CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE HAVE FOUND THAT WE OFTEN OVERCORRECTION TO THE LANE DRIFT, SENDING THE CAR TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE. *TR