NHTSA Complaint #10543078 — 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA

IN EARLY AUGUST 2013, I NOTICED A RUSTED PIECE OF METAL HANGING FROM THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA. DURING A RECENT OIL CHANGE, I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO LOOK AND SEE WHERE THE PIECE OF METAL WAS COMING FROM. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR'S FLOOR PANEL ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HAD COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH LEAVING A GAPING HOLE THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL IN FRONT OF WHERE THE PASSENGER SEAT IS LOCATED. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM COVERING 3 MODEL YEARS, 2003 THRU 2006 AND HAS AFFECTED THOUSANDS OF ALTIMAS. MY 2003 ALTIMA WAS A "CERTIFIED USED CAR" THAT WAS PURCHASED AT ARLINGTON NISSAN, ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL IN 2006. IT'S CURRENT MILEAGE IS 126,000. THERE IS NOT ONE SPOT OF RUST ON ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR. IT HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE I PURCHASED IT. I CALLED ARLINGTON NISSAN ON 9-11-13, TO ASK IF THERE HAD BEEN SOME SORT OF RECALL ON THE VEHICLE ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, NO RECALL HAD BEEN INITIATED BY NISSAN CORPORATE. THEY TOLD ME TO CONTACT NISSAN'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION WHO THEN INSTRUCTED ME TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT COMPLETE WITH ESTIMATED REPAIR COSTS FROM ARLINGTON NISSAN. NISSAN'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION WOULD THEN TURN THE CLAIM OVER TO THE REGIONAL OFFICE THAT OVERSEES ARLINGTON NISSAN. THAT OFFICE WOULD GET BACK TO ME WITH A DECISION ON REPAIRING THE DEFECT. THERE WAS NO PROMISE OF THEM FIXING THE PROBLEM AT NO COST OR REIMBURSING ME THE COSTS OF HAVING AN INDEPENDENT BODY SHOP DO THE REPAIR. NOW IT IS THE WAITING GAME. THE NHTSA SHOULD MANDATE A NATIONAL RECALL ON THIS OBVIOUS DEFECT AS IT POSES A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE FOR ANYONE DRIVING A 2003-2006 NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR