NHTSA Complaint #10766524 — 2002 NISSAN PATHFINDER

THERE IS A ACTIVE RECALL FOR EXCESSIVE CORROSION IN THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER HOUSING WHICH CAN CAUSE BINDING ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I RECEIVED A RECALL IN 2011, BUT NEVER A FOLLOW UP LETTER AS STATED WOULD HAPPEN FOR THE REMEDY PROCESS. I TOOK MY 2002 VEHICLE IN SINCE IT WAS STILL ELIGIBLE FOR REPAIR.I WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS NOT REPAIRABLE ,I WOULD BE TOLD SO AND THEN IT WOULD ESCALATE TO NISSAN NA. AFTER BRINGING IN THE VEHICLE, IT IS NOW NOT DRIVABLE AT ALL DUE TO THE DEALERSHIP TRYING TO DO THE RECALL AND DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION CROSS-MEMBER THAT IT DROPPED 8". THE WHOLE INSIDE OF THE TOWER WAS BADLY RUSTED AS WAS MUCH OF THE UNDER CARRIAGE. IN FACT THEY LET ME DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME (43 MILES) ON THE DAY I BOUGHT IT IN DUE TO MY TIME SCHEDULE WAS NOT FREE FOR 4 HOURS TO WAIT AND THEY HAD NO LOANER VEHICLE. A MECHANIC THAT WAS READY TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND SHOWED TO MY AMAZEMENT, THE TOWER WAS ALREADY EMBRACING THE STEERING COLUMN IN SUCH A WAY AS IT WAS EMBEDDED IN THE STEEL. WE HAVE PICTURES AND DOCUMENTATION. SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THEY WENT AHEAD AND DID THE "REPAIR" ON THE TOWER. I WAS CALLED THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS "ALL SET" AND READY TO BE PICKED UP. TO MY WIFES AND MY SURPRISE THE NEXT AM ARRIVING AT THE DEALER SHIP, WAS THE OBVIOUS CROSS-MEMBER HANGING DOWN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE GM OF SERAFINI HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO MY RESIDENCE IN HOPES OF THIS ALL GOING AWAY AFTER HE WAS GOING TO CHECK THE "PAPER TRAIL". WHEN WE GOT THE VEHICLE BACK LATER ON, ONLY THEN DID WE RECEIVE A INVOICE (ATTACHED) TELLING US THE CAR WAS UNINSPECTED(FALSE) AND NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. IT WAS GIVEN TO THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR AND HE GAVE IT TO US. THEIR WAY TO SETTLE IT WAS TO HAVE A JUNK YARD PICK IT UP FOR $400.00