NHTSA Complaint #10506092 — 2001 INFINITI I30

THIS WELL MAINTAINED 2001 INFINITI I30 WITH 74,000 MILES HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROX. 11.5 YEARS BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND SPOUSE IN THE CINCINNATI AREA. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED 99% OF ALL EVENINGS DURING THAT TIME AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. APPROXIMATELY 2008 THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT (FRONT CROSS FRAME TIE BAR) STARTED TO RUST NEAR THE CENTER OF THIS BOXED FRAME MEMBER. PORTIONS OF THE TOP AND FRONT SIDE OF THIS FRAME MEMBER RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY SOME TIME IN 2012. THE HOOD LATCH MECHANISM AND HORN ARE FASTENED TO A VERTICAL STEEL SUPPORT THAT IS BOLTED TO THE FRONT OF THIS FRAME MEMBER, JUST LEFT OF THE RUST PERFORATION. WE INTEND TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR MANY MORE YEARS AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST WITH SEVERAL OTHER CARS IF THIS DOES NOT BECOME A SAFETY PROBLEM, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. MY GUESS IS WE WILL NEED TO HAVE THE FRONT FRAME TIE BAR REPAIRED IF POSSIBLE TO AVOID FUTURE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS (IE. HOOD POPPING OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND/OR UNSTABLE FRONT END CONTROL). THIS RUST PERFORATION MORE THAN LIKELY LESSENS THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CAR IN A FRONT END COLLISION. I HAVE NEVER IN MY 35+ YEARS OF CAR OWNERSHIP ENCOUNTER SUCH A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDELY KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM ON VARIOUS NISSAN AUTOS. EVEN IF NISSAN IS NOT REQUIRED TO RECALL THESE AUTOS FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES AND POSSIBLE MECHANICAL FIXES THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE OWNER. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER.