NHTSA Complaint #10704173 — 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA

I PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA FOR MY SON IN MARCH OF 2008 BECAUSE HE WAS LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 12,561 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME AND WE REALLY GOT A GOOD DEAL ON THE CAR. MY SON HAS BEEN THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS VEHICLE FROM THE FIRST DAY WE BOUGHT IT, AND NOW HE USES IT AT SCHOOL DOWN IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR FOR HIM AND HE IS REALLY HAPPY WITH IT. HE TAKES EXTREMELY GOOD CARE OF THE CAR, MAKING NECESSARY REPAIRS AS THEY COME UP ALONG WITH THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. WITH ONLY 75,522 MILES ON THE VEHICLE WE FIGURED THE CAR WOULD PROBABLY LAST AT LEAST ANOTHER 50,000 MILES IF NOT MORE. WELL, IT WOULD LAST THAT LONG IF THE FLOOR BOARDS ON THE VEHICLE WEREN'T LITERALLY FALLING OUT FROM UNDER HIM. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM OTHER NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING, ROTTED OUT FLOOR BOARDS DUE TO RUST! I NOW HAVE TO TAKE MATTERS INTO MY OWN HANDS TO TRY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE NISSAN WON'T STEP UP AND ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAULTY WORKMANSHIP. WE WERE HOPING THIS CAR WOULD LAST ANOTHER 2 YEARS UNTIL MY SON IS DONE WITH COLLEGE BUT I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE SO LUCKY. HE IS ALREADY EXPERIENCING A HOLE IN THE FLOOR BOARD UNDER HIS RIGHT HEEL UNDER THE GAS PEDAL. RIGHT NISSAN, THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE AT ALL!!! WHAT ABOUT IF HIS ENTIRE LEG GOES THROUGH THE FLOOR BOARD WHILE HE'S DRIVING....DO YOU THINK THAT MIGHT BE AN ISSUE??? WE MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE AND WE KNOW THAT IT WILL LAST ANOTHER 2 YEARS BUT WITH THIS FLOOR BOARD RUSTING PROBLEM IT MAY FORCE US TO BUY MY SON ANOTHER VEHICLE A LOT SOONER THAN WE REALLY ANTICIPATED DOING. THANKS FOR NOTHING NISSAN! *TR