NHTSA Complaint #10637445 — 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA

I OWN A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA COUPE WITH APPROXIMATELY 60K MILES. WHEN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 60MPH, THE CAR DECELERATES WITH NO WARNING. DURING THE FIRST INCIDENT, I WAS ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF A SEMI TRUCK CAUGHT IN THEIR BLINDSPOT WHILE THEY WERE TRYING TO SWITCH LANES. I ATTEMPTED TO PASS THIS TRUCK ONLY TO HAVE MY CAR SLOW DOWN COMPLETELY, EVEN WITH GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLES BEHIND ME HAD TO CHANGE LANES SUDDENLY TO AVOID REAR ENDING ME, AND I ALMOST BECAME THE VICTIM OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THIS SEMI TRUCK. FEARING A SIMILAR INCIDENT ON THE TRIP BACK, I STAYED SAFELY IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE GOING JUST BELOW THE POSTED SPEED (70MPH). AS I APPROACHED AN INCLINE ON THE INTERSTATE, NOT ONLY WOULD MY CAR NOT SPEED UP, IT WOULD NOT EVEN MAINTAIN SPEED. IT QUICKLY WENT FROM 66MPH TO 55MPH. ONCE AGAIN, I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS COLLISION WITH THE UNSUSPECTING VEHICLES BEHIND ME. AFTER GETTING A DIAGNOSIS DONE AT MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHEATING. NISSAN HAS ADMITTED TO KNOWING THESE ISSUES, BY AUTOMATICALLY EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THESE CVT TRANSMISSIONS TO 10YR/120K. HOWEVER, THE WAY AROUND ACTUALLY PAYING TO FIX THESE DEATH TRAPS IS TO INFORM THE CONSUMER THAT THE "FIX" IS NOT A NEW TRANSMISSION, RATHER AN EXTERNAL COOLER THAT NEEDS TO BE INSTALLED. THESE ARE COMMONLY FOUND IN LARGER SUV'S AND TRUCKS TO HELP COMPENSATE FOR THE ADDITIONAL STRESS ON THE TRANSMISSION, DUE TO LARGER SIZE/WEIGHT. I DRIVE A 2-DOOR ALTIMA. I AM NOT TOWING BOATS OR PAVERS. IF MY TINY CAR NEEDS AN EXTERNAL COOLER TO HELP ITS FAULTY TRANSMISSION FUNCTION SAFELY AND PROPERLY, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AT MANUFACTURING. THE OUT OF POCKET COST FOR THIS COOLER IS $1000+. NISSAN NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FAULTY PRODUCT THEY MANUFACTURED. THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *TR