NHTSA Complaint #10731852 — 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA

I NOTICED A SMELL WHEN I WAS DRIVING A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, SO I TOOK MY 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA INTO A LOCAL MECHANIC THAT I TRUST ON 6/26/15. AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN THE AIR, IT TOOK HIM TWO SECONDS TO NOTE THE PROBLEM: THE FLOOR PANELS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE ARE COMPLETELY ROTTING/RUSTING THROUGH FROM THE INSIDE OUT. YOU CAN SEE MY CARPET THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF MY CAR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. MIND YOU, THERE IS NO HISTORY OF FLOOD DAMAGE TO THIS CAR (I PAID THE $40 FOR A CARFAX TO FIND OUT), AND I LIVE IN TENNESSEE, WHERE WE DO NOT GET ENOUGH SNOW FOR SALT TO CAUSE ANY DAMAGE. I'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB TAKING CARE OF MY CAR AND AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS SITUATION. I'VE ALSO DONE MY RESEARCH AND HAVE NOTICED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, SO I KNOW I'M JUST ONE OF MANY 2004 MAXIMA OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS AN IMMENSE SAFETY HAZARD. I WAS TOLD I MIGHT BE ABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR SAFELY FOR ANOTHER MONTH OR TWO BEFORE I RISK MY SEAT FALLING FORWARD WITH ME IF I BRAKE TOO SUDDENLY. WITH AS MANY CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT THE DAMAGE BEGINS LOCALIZED ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES, RESPECTIVELY, THIS APPEARS TO BE A STRUCTURAL DEFECT IN THE 2004 MAXIMA THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED TO ENSURE THE CONTINUED SAFETY OF THESE CARS' DRIVERS.