NHTSA Complaint #10783082 — 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA

I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2013 AS A USED 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THIS PAST JUNE OF 2015, MY MECHANIC NOTICED LARGE RUSTED OUT AREAS BEHIND EACH FRONT TIRE ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE DRIVER SIDE WAS RUSTED SO BADLY THAT ONE COULD EASILY TAKE CHUNKS OF RUSTED UNDERCARRIAGE OFF. I QUICKLY NOTICED A LARGE HOLE, REALIZING THAT WITHOUT CARPET BENEATH MY FEET I WOULD HAVE HAD MY LEFT FOOD THROUGH TO THE GROUND. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ALL TOO FREQUENT OCCURANCE IN NISSAN ALTIMAS MADE IN 2002-2006, AND NISSAN REFUSES TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND/OR PAY FOR DAMAGES. WITH THESE FACTS IN MIND, ONE CAN SEE THAT THIS IS CLEARLY NOT AN ISSUE OF POOR CARE AND MAINTENANCE BY THE OWNER, NOR CAN IT BE BLAMED ON SALT AND CHEMICALS ON THE ROAD IN SNOWY AREAS. THIS ISSUE WAS UNSAFE TO MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS. IF THE RUST HAD SPREAD, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO OTHER AREAS OF THE CAR, RISKING PERMANENT DAMAGE, AN UNSAFE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD, AND CAUSING POTENTIAL HARM TO MY PASSENGERS AND MYSELF. THE REPAIR FOR THIS SAFETY ISSUE DID NOT COME AT A LOW PRICE, AND THE SCENARIO IS ETERNALLY FRUSTRATING. I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN ALTIMA AGAIN, AND WILL CONTINUE TO WARN FRIENDS AND FAMILY AGAINST PURCHASING NISSANS.