NHTSA Complaint #10503060 — 2009 NISSAN VERSA

WITHIN DAYS OF BUYING THE NEW CAR IN 2009, I NOTICED A LOUD, CLUNKING SQUEAK AND A POP FROM AROUND MY FRONT WHEELS WHEN I WOULD MAKE A TURN AFTER SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. THIS HAD BEEN HAPPENING DURING THE ENTIRE 3.5 YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THE CAR, SO I FIGURED IT WAS NORMAL AND HARMLESS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS ALREADY DOING IT BRAND NEW (RIGHT NOW THERE ARE STILL ONLY 37,343 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, I PARK IT IN MY GARAGE, AND IT HAS HAD NO ACCIDENTS.) HOWEVER, LAST NIGHT, THE SOUND SEEMED TO BE LOUDER AND LOOSER NEAR THE FRONT-RIGHT WHEEL. THEN THIS MORNING I DROVE OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND AS I BEGAN ACCELERATING TO 50 MPH, A LARGE PIECE OF METAL FLEW OUT VIOLENTLY FROM UNDER MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO FIND IT IN THE ROADWAY, SO I BACKED UP AND INSPECTED THE PART. IT IS THE BOTTOM COIL OF THE COIL SPRING THAT IS OVER THE RIGHT-FRONT WHEEL. LUCKILY IT DID NOT HIT ANYBODY BEHIND ME OR CUT MY TIRE. THE METAL WAS NOT ONLY BROKEN, BUT THE FACE OF THE BREAK WAS ALREADY SLIGHTLY RUSTED, AS IF IT HAD BEEN CRACKED FOR A WHILE BEFORE SNAPPING. *TR