NHTSA Complaint #10669949 — 2010 NISSAN VERSA

I NOTICED THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH "FEEL" OF RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SO TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AND ASKED SERVICE TO CHECK ON THAT WHEEL ISSUE. HE CALLED ME IN TO SEE THAT THE RIGHT FRONT SUSPENSION SPRING HAD TOTALLY CRACKED AND BROKEN OFF AND HAD BEEN RUBBING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE CREATING A DEEP GROOVE IN THE RUBBER. IT WAS WORN THROUGH AND CLOSE TO PUNCTURING AND COULD NOT EVEN BE DRIVEN TO A DEALER. THIS VEHICLE HAS UNDER 37000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN TOTALLY MAINTAINED AND NOT DRIVEN ON ANY POOR ROAD SURFACES. THIS WAS A 15 MONTH OLD TIRE WITH ABOUT 14000 MILES. TOTALLY DESTROYED IN WHAT WAS A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION DUE TO A FAULTY PART. NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR FOR SPRINGS. THE MECHANIC SAID HE SEES THIS SPRING BREAKAGE ON A LOT OF VERSAS AND THE NISSAN DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THAT NISSAN IS "AWARE" OF THIS PROBLEM! THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND ALL SUSPENSION SPRINGS REPLACED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE THERE IS A FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE KNOWING THE LEFT SIDE COULD CRACK AT ANY TIME. I AM ALSO CONCERNED THAT IF ONLY NISSAN DEALERS ARE REPORTING THE REPAIRS THAT THEY DO, MANY REPAIRS BY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS ARE GOING UNREPORTED TO NISSAN. *TR