NHTSA Complaint #10790519 — 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA

THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER IS FAILING/HAS FAILED, THERE IS AN ENGINE KNOCKING NOISE THAT CAUSES THE 3.5L V6 TO SOUND LIKE A DIESEL, AS OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBED. IT COMES DIRECTLY FROM THE LOCATION OF THE TIMING CHAIN. I DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS OR HOURS AND HOURS IT REQUIRES TO REPLACE THE TENSIONER JUST YET. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR AT LEAST 15,000 MILES. IF THE TIMING CHAIN JUMPS BECAUSE THE TENSIONER WAS NOT A QUALITY PART AND BROKE, THE ENGINE WILL LOCK UP, AS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS, AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A WRECK IF OTHER CARS ARE AROUND. NISSAN SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL TO INVESTIGATE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. THAT IS ALL I ASK. I WANTED TO REPORT THAT I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE FOR MY VEHICLE AS OTHERS OF THE SAME KIND DO, SO IT CAN GET FIXED BEFORE SOMETHING DANGEROUS HAPPENS TO ME OR MY WIFE.