NHTSA Complaint #10626367 — 2005 NISSAN MURANO

WE HAVE A 2005 NISSAN MURANO THAT HAS HAD THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAIL REPEATEDLY SINCE WE'VE OWNED THE CAR. WHEN THE LOCKS FAIL, THE DOORS AND REAR HATCH CAN NOT BE OPENED OR LOCKED WITH EITHER THE REMOTE FOB OR THE ELECTRIC CONTROLS ON THE DOORS. THEY NEED TO BE OPENED MANUALLY BY RELEASING THE LOCKING LEVER BY HAND. OFTEN WHEN THEY FAIL THE REAR HATCH CAN NOT BE OPENED BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A MANUAL RELEASE THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS STYLE OF DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS DEEMED THE REPAIR OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND EVER SINCE. THE INDIVIDUAL ACTUATOR FOR EACH DOOR APPROACHES $500 IN COST. THEY'VE ADVISED TO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, BUY A NEW VEHICLE WHICH IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES OF INTERNET COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. GENERAL MOTORS IGNORED THEIR PROBLEMS FOR YEARS AND NISSAN IS EFFECTIVELY IGNORING THIS PROBLEM. THE DESIGN OF THE LOCK ACTUATOR ITSELF IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WITH A BETTER DESIGNED COMPONENT. *TR