NHTSA Complaint #10532183 — 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA

YESTERDAY WHILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, HEARD A SOUND OUT OF THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CAR AND AFTER PREVIOUSLY SEEING HUNDREDS OF POSTS ABOUT THE WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED REAR SWAY BAR DEFECT IN THE 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA, I CAME HOME, JACKED THE CAR UP, CRAWLED UNDER, AND FOUND WHAT I SUSPECTED; THE REAR SWAY BAR HAD SNAPPED ON THE INSIDE OF THE MOUNTING BRACKET TOWARD THE CENTER OF THE CAR. IT'S NOT DANGLING DOWN BECAUSE IT'S HELD UP BY THE LEFT SIDE BRACKET. THE PORTION REMAINING CONNECTED TO THE RIGHT END LINK IS STILL HELD BY THE RIGHT SIDE BRACKET. IF SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT CARS HAD EXPERIENCED THIS DEFECT, THEY MAY HAVE DRIVEN FOR HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF MILES, PLACING THEMSELVES, THEIR PASSENGERS, AND OTHER DRIVERS IN DANGER DUE TO A DIMINISHED CAPACITY IN THE HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE. NISSAN IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, YET FAILS TO OFFER OWNERS ANY ASSISTANCE. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THE CAR WILL BE REPAIRED WITH A SOLID STEEL REAR SWAY BAR, NOT THE HOLLOW OEM TYPE FROM NISSAN. THERE IS LESS THAN $20 DIFFERENCE IN THE COST OF THE PARTS (OEM CRAP VS BETTER QUALITY SOLID STEEL). IT'S PAST TIME FOR NISSAN TO STEP UP AND OFFER AT LEAST PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT TO EVERYONE THAT HAS HAD TO REPAIR THEIR KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART, AND RECALL THE CAR TO REPLACEMENT THE PART FOR THOSE THAT HAVE YET TO FAIL. IT'S PAST TIME FOR NHTSA TO "PERSUADE" NISSAN TO TAKE ACTION. WHAT MAY BE NEEDED IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT TO BEGIN THE PROCESS OF COMPENSATING ALTIMA OWNERS THAT HAVE PUT THEMSELVES AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS UNKNOWINGLY IN DANGER. I COULD ALSO MENTION THE WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH IN THE 2007 2.5L ALTIMA, BUT THERE WOULDN'T BE SPACE HERE TO DO IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I WILL NEVER RECOMMEND A NISSAN TO ANYONE, OR EVER BUY ONE AGAIN. *TR