NHTSA Complaint #10556071 — 2008 NISSAN ALTIMA

I WAS TRAVELING ON THIS DATE FROM CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA WHERE I WORK AS AN ENGINEER AT WESTINGHOUSE HEADQUARTER OFFICE TO WEST CHESTER, OHIO WHERE MY FAMILY RESIDE FOR A FAMILY THANKSGIVING GATHERING. IT WAS 6:30 AM AND IT WAS SNOWING. THE TRAFFIC AHEAD BEGIN SLOWING DOWN FOR SOME REASON. THE VISIBILITY WAS BECOMING QUITE POOR. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 3-LANE I-79 HEADING SOUTH-WEST. HENCE I WANTED TO PUT ON MY HAZARD SIGNAL TO ALERT THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME OF THE DANGER AHEAD. IN THE PROCESS I PUSHED ON THE ON/OFF START BUTTON. THE ENGINE DIED RIGHT AWAY WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT 50 MPH. ALL CONTROL WAS IMMEDIATELY LOST IN THE PROCESS. UNABLE TO STEER MY CAR EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT I PUSHED ON THE HAZARD BUTTON TO ALERT THE VEHICLE BEHIND OD MY DISTRESS. LUCKILY FOR ME, THE FELLOW BEHIND SLOWED DOWN AND STAYED BEHIND ME UNTIL I BROUGHT MY CAR TO A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND PUT IT IN PARK TO RESTART THE ENGINE AND SLOWLY CONTINUE MY TRIP WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I WAS EXTREMELY SCARED AND SURPRISE THAT IT WAS POSSIBLE AT ALL TO KILL THE ENGINE WHILE AT SPEED ON THE ROAD IN THIS VEHICLE. I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR FLAW THAT COULD HAVE BEEN QUITE SERIOUS UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES. IMAGINE IT HAPPENED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN IN WEST VIRGINIA WHERE I WAS HEADING NEXT..... THANK YOU *TR