NHTSA Complaint #10596679 — 2008 NISSAN VERSA

HEAVY METAL SOUND (AS WHEN YOU DRIVE OVER A LOOSE MANHOLE COVER) COMES FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. INSPECTION SHOWED THAT THE COIL SPRING SNAPPED CLEAN - NO RUST. THE SNAPPED COIL WAS NOT CAUSED BY HITTING A POTHOLE OR OTHER ABNORMAL DRIVING. NORMAL CITY & MOSTLY HIGHWAY DRIVING. AN INDEPENDENT AND TRUSTED MECHANIC STATED METAL FATIGUE AND ESTIMATED THE REPAIR AT $800 (BOTH SIDES WILL BE REPLACED). PARTS RANGE FROM $174 - $250 DEPENDING ON THE BRAND. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED NISSAN OR THE DEALER TO SEE IF THIS MIGHT BE COVERED OUT-OF-WARRANTY AS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BASIS. THIS IS THE SECOND METAL FAILURE ON THE VEHICLE. LAST YEAR, THE EXHAUST PIPE JUST FELL APART AT THE WELD. AGAIN, RUST WAS NOT THE CAUSE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF BOTH ISSUES IN MANY PLACES. NISSAN CANADA (OR DEALERS) SEEMS TO BE MORE WILLING TO REPAIR THE FAULTS THAN US COUNTERPARTS. THERE IS ONLY ONE RECALL (GARMIN) FOR THE NISSAN VERSA. THE COIL SPRING IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN - A CLEAN BREAK ON A COIL SPRING IS EXTREMELY SHARP AND CAN RESULT IN TIRE PUNCTURE. AT HIGH SPEEDS THIS WOULD BE FATAL. *TR