NHTSA Complaint #10631242 — 2003 NISSAN ALTIMA

WHILE REPLACING FRONT ROTORS/BRAKES, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT A FAIRLY LARGE RUST HOLE IN THE FLOORBOARD, PASSENGER SIDE WAS DISCOVERED. I CALLED A COLLISION SHOP SEEKING ADVICE AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD REQUIRE A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT COSTING APPROX. $2,100/$2,500, AS THIS WAS THEIR POLICY. I CALLED ANOTHER SHOP LOOKING FOR AT LEAST A PATCH REPLACEMENT. PER THEIR INSPECTION, THEIR ESTIMATE IS APPROX. $700.00/$800.00, TAKING AT LEAST 1 FULL DAY TO WORK ON REPAIR. DECIDED TO CHECK ON SIMILAR ISSUES ON-LINE AND MUCH TO MY SURPRISE THERE ARE MANY, MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING RUSTED FLOORBOARDS. NISSANS' RESPONSE WAS THAT SALTED ROADS WAS THE PROBLEM. HOWEVER, MANY COMPLAINTS WERE FROM STATES THAT USE SAND AND/OR IN SUNSHINE STATES. I CALLED NISSAN, MY REFERENCE NO. 15121312. PRESENTLY CAR AT SUBURBAN TROY DEALERSHIP, AS THERE WERE RECALLS ON MY CAR. NO WORD FROM DEALER OR NISSAN ON RUSTED FLOORBOARD ISSUE BEING REPLACED/REPAIRED. WHAT IS NEEDED FOR ISSUING RECALLS, AS WE ALL BELIEVE PROBLEM IS FROM DEFECTED STEEL AND/OR POOR DESIGN ??? SHOULD I (AND ALL OF US) CONTACT OUR LOCAL STATE AND/OR WASHINGTON ELECTED OFFICIALS ???, AS THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT TIME TO DO SO, BEING THAT THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR !!! I'M HOPING THAT THIS WILL NOT BE A CASE OF WAITING FOR A SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH(S) TO OCCUR BEFORE CORRECTIONS TO THIS ISSUE GETS RESOLVED AND IMMEDIATE ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THESE RUSTED FLOORBOARDS. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR LOOKING INTO AND RESOLVING THE "RUSTED FLOORBOARDS" PROBLEMS ! *TR