NHTSA Complaint #10630257 — 2008 NISSAN VERSA

I WAS MERGING FROM THE LH TO THE RH LANE ON AN INTERSECTION WHEN MY CAR WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY AN ON-COMING PICK-UP TRUCK. AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION I WAS STRUCK ON THE RH SIDE OF MY HEAD BY THE CAR'S RADIO WHICH WAS APPARENTLY DIS-ENGAGED FROM THE CAR'S INSTRUMENT PANEL. I WAS THE ONLY PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE, WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY HEAD INJURY WAS TREATED ON-SITE BY AN EMS UNIT AND I WAS TRANSFERRED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CONCUSSION. ON 8/13/2014 MY CAR WAS TRANSFERRED TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER (WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE) FOR INSPECTION BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. AT THE DEALERSHIP THE RADIO ISSUE WAS COMMUNICATED BY MY HUSBAND TO TO THE DEALERSHIP COLLISION MANAGER, A DEALERSHIP SALESMAN AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY ADJUSTOR. THE ADJUSTOR AND MY HUSBAND TOOK PHOTOS OF THE EXPELLED RADIO THAT CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED BROKEN PLASTIC ASSEMBLY/LATCH TABS. THE RADIO AND PHOTO WAS SHOWN TO THE NISSAN SALESMAN. THE COMMENT FROM THE DEALERSHIP COLLISION MANAGER TO MY HUSBAND WAS "HE SEES THIS ALL THE TIME WITH NISSANS" AS THE RADIO IS NOT BOLTED AND CAN BECOME DISENGAGED WHEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS COMPRESSED. MY HUSBAND COMMUNICATED THIS INCIDENT TO NISSAN NORTH AMERICA CONSUMER AFFAIRS (FILE NUMBER 15337234). ON AUGUST 19, 2014 THEY RESPONDED "BASED ON THE AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND THE MILEAGE OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE, NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. FINDS THAT AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE IS NOT NECESSARY." IN MY OPINION THIS RESPONSE IS NOT A SATISFACTORY ANSWER TO A POTENTIAL DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE RESULTING IN A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR