NHTSA Complaint #10671536 — 2006 NISSAN PATHFINDER

I HAD PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT TO DROP MY CHILD AND ANOTHER PASSENGER AT A SCHOOL PROGRAM, TO MY SURPRISE BOTH REAR DOORS OF MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN, I HAD TO CLIMB IN THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TO UNBUCKLE AND REMOVE ONE CHILD IN A 5 POINT HARNESS AND LET THE 2 OTHER CHILDREN UNBUCKLE AND CLIMB OUT. ONCE HOME I HAD RESEARCHED AND FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM WHERE NISSAN PATHFINDER REAR DOORS WOULD NOT DISENGAGE / OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. I DID NOT WANT TO COMPROMISE WHAT I CONSIDER A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE ADVICE FROM BLOG TO ATTEMPT TO REMEDY. HAVING 2 CHILD PASSENGERS AND GENERALLY CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS CASE#17179820 TO EXPLAIN MY SAFETY ISSUE AND CONCERN THAT BOTH REAR DOORS NOT OPENING / UNLOCKING AT THE SAME TIME IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NISSAN REPORTED NO ADVISORY / RECALLS. I WAS ADVISED TO TAKE TO DEALER AND GET A QUOTE FOR WORK TO FIX AND THE CASE WOULD BE REVIEWED. I WAS ISSUED A $99 DOLLAR DIAGNOSTIC FEE TO BE TOLD TO RESOLVE MALFUNCTIONED DOOR ACTUATOR (2 DOORS) IS $690. NISSAN DID NOT SEE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE OR NEED TO CONSIDER A RECALL AND WOULD NOT COVER THE CHARGES. I STRONGLY FEEL THAT NISSAN SHOULD RECOGNIZE THIS MALFUNCTION AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND COVER THE COST TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM AS WELL ISSUE A RECALL. I AM HOPING OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS DO NOT EXPERIENCE THE SAME ESPECIALLY IF EVER IN A EMERGENCY SITUATION PREVENTING FROM GETTING PASSENGERS OUT OF VEHICLE . I HAVE NOT RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DEEMED THIS NON-SAFETY CONCERN AND WHO HAD ADVISED CONSUMER AFFAIRS THAT THE CUSTOMER IS NOT GOING TO BE FINANCIALLY COMPENSATED. *TR