NHTSA Complaint #10702543 — 2008 NISSAN FRONTIER

HEARD A HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE OF MY NISSAN 2008 CREW CAB 4 WHEEL DRIVE FRONTIER. MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE ISSUE EVALUATED AT THE SAME NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE (NISSAN OF ATLANTIC CITY - FORMERLY ADMIRAL NISSAN). I PURCHASED THE USED FRONTIER IN JUNE 2011; APPROXIMATE MILEAGE WAS 40 - 41K. I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THAT TIME - 48 MONTHS, 48 THOUSAND MILES (EXPIRATION 6/15/15). AFTER EVALUATING THE PROBLEM, A NISSAN SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN AND ITS COMPONENTS - COST OF REPAIR $1900.00 - 2000.00 PLUS 7% SALES TAX. I ASKED HIM IF THE REPAIR WAS COVERED BY THE EXTENDED WARRANTY I PURCHASED. HE SAID NO! HE INFORMED ME THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED FOR MILEAGE; I WAS OVER BY A FEW HUNDRED MILES. THIS IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM. NISSAN HAD KNOW OF, AND BEEN DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE WELL BEFORE I PURCHASED MY 2008 FRONTIER IN JUNE 2011. HOWEVER, THIS INFORMATION WAS NEVER MADE AVAILABLE DIRECTLY TO THE CONSUMER. WHEN THE ENGINE WHINE FIRST BEGAN IT WAS LOW - BARELY NOTICEABLE, BUT THE MORE I DROVE THE WORSE IT GOT. IF I HAD BEEN AWARE OF THE SERVICE BULLETINS SENT TO THE DEALERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I WOULD HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE CHECKED OUT BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED; THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD A $50.00 DEDUCTIBLE. MY FINAL COST FOR THE REPAIR ON 3/28/15 WAS $1974.16. NISSAN OF AMERICA IS AT FAULT AND SO IS THE DEALERSHIP - NISSAN OF ATLANTIC CITY. THEY ARE BOTH RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAD THE INFORMATION ABOUT EXISTING TIMING CHAIN PROBLEMS AND FAILED TO DISCLOSE IT. *TR