NHTSA Complaint #10606443 — 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA

WHILE CHANGING MY OIL I INSPECTED THE UNDERBODY OF MY CAR AND NOTICED A RUSTED OUT AREA OF FLOORBOARD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I CHECKED FURTHER SAW THAT AN AREA THE SIZE OF A LARGE GRAPEFRUIT IS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT. I LOOKED AT THE PASSENGER SIDE AND SEE THE START OF THE SAME DAMAGE DUE TO RUST. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DRAIN HOLE WHERE THE RUST STARTS. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE YOU CAN SEE THE ORIGINAL DRAIN HOLE AND THE RUST STARTING AROUND IT. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE RUST IS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH THAT THE DRAIN HOLE IS SIMPLY GONE. IN TALKING WITH REPAIRS SHOPS AND CHECKING THE INTERNET I CAN SEE THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH NISSAN ALTIMA'S OF MY DESIGN - 2002- 2006. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE (ALLOWS FUMES IN THE CAR IF CARPET WASN'T THERE AND COULD BE STRUCTURAL IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT) CAUSED BY A DESIGN ISSUE (OPEN DRAIN HOLE IN THE FLOOR TRAPPING SALT/WATER), I'D LIKE TO SEE NISSAN ISSUE A RECALL TO REPAIR. THANKS *TR