NHTSA Complaint #10661628 — 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER

THE SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE IS HELD IN PLACE BY A CHAIN UNDER THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. ITS HOISTED INTO PLACE FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN CHECKING THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE SPARE TIRE, I FOUND THE SPARE TIRE RIM BADLY RUSTED. I'M AFRAID THAT THE RIM'S HOLES WILL ULTIMATELY BECOME SO LARGE SO AS NOT TO HOLD THE LUG NUTS. IF THE SPARE WITH RUSTED LUG NUT HOLES THAT WERE TOO LARGE, WAS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE, THE SPARE COULD POSSIBLY COME OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. FURTHERMORE, THE ANCHOR POINT ON THE SPARE TIRE HOIST IS ALSO RUSTING BADLY. IT MAY FAIL TO SUPPORT THE SPARE TIRE WHICH COULD THEN DROP FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IF THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING WHEN IT FELL, IT COULD BOUNCE AND STRIKE THE GAS TANK, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *JS