NHTSA Complaint #10650778 — 2006 NISSAN XTERRA

BEGAN HEARING A WHINING NOISE FROM ENGINE, INCREASING WITH RPM. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED IT WAS BAD TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER SHOES/GUIDES. SERVICE ADVISOR INDICATED THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE, AND NISSAN REDESIGNED THE PARTS SINCE THE ORIGINALS WERE FOUND TO WEAR THROUGH, ALLOWING THE TIMING CHAIN TO RUB DIRECTLY ON THE METAL POST OF THE TENSIONER. THE TIMING CHAIN SYSTEM SHOULD LAST FOR THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE, NOT REQUIRE A $1700 REPAIR ONLY ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE ENGINE LIFE. THIS IS ALSO A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION, SINCE A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE COULD QUICKLY DESTROY THE ENGINE, LEAVING THE CAR WITHOUT ENGINE POWER OUT ON THE ROAD. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR