NHTSA Complaint #10631222 — 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA

MY CAR FAILED MA INSPECTION BECAUSE THE DRIVER SIDE FLOOR PAN IS RUSTED OUT. THE HOLE IS APPROXIMATELY 12 BY 10 INCHES. I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. NISSAN REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. NISSAN CLAIMS IT IS CAUSED BY SALT IN THE NORTH EAST, BUT IF THAT WAS TRUE, THE ENTIRE FLOOR PAN WOULD HAVE RUST, NOT JUST ISOLATED TO THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE. LET ME REPEAT, THE REST OF THE FLOOR PAN IS FLAWLESS, NO SIGNS OF RUST WHATSOEVER. CLEARLY THIS IS A DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING FLAW. SOME CUSTOMERS HAVE BOTH FRONT SIDES RUSTED OUT. MY PASSENGER SIDE IS FINE AS THE ASSEMBLY LINE "HOLE" HAS BEEN PROPERLY FILLED IN. I HAVE TO ASSUME THE DRIVER SIDE WAS LEFT OPEN. THERE ARE MANY PICTURES ON THE WEB SHOWING EARLIER PHASES OF THIS PROBLEM SHOWING THAT THE RUST STARTED AT THE ASSEMBLY LINE HOLE. BASICALLY, THIS SMALL HOLE (1 INCH DIAMETER) ALLOWS WATER INTO THE INTERIOR. THE NOISE DAMPENING MATERIAL AND CARPET SOAK IT UP. THE WETNESS GOES UNDETECTED BY THE DRIVER BECAUSE THE FLOOR MAT HAS RUBBER BACKING, THEREBY SHOWING NO SIGNS OF WETNESS. AS WITH ANY PERPETUAL METAL WETNESS PROBLEM, RUST EVENTUALLY BECOMES A MAJOR PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE NISSAN TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *TR