NHTSA Complaint #10823588 — 2009 NISSAN VERSA

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A 30MPH CHICAGO STREET MY CAR ENGINE JUST SHUT OFF. I HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT AND ACTUALLY REACH A SPACE BUT THAT SPACE WAS TOW ZONE SO I HAD TO SIT THERE WITH MY CAR FOR 3 HOURS WHILE I WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE IT WAS ACTUALLY RUSH HOUR. AFTER TAKING IT TO AAA CAR BODY SHOP, THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE WAS JUST DEAD. AND AFTER THEY TOOK IT APART THEY COULD ONLY SPECULATE BUT WITH SOME CONFIDENCE FROM SEEING SOMETHING SIMILAR IN THE PAST THAT SOME SORT OF CHAIN INSIDE THE ENGINE SNAPPED AND STRUCK THE ENGINE AND CAUSED THE CYLINDERS TO COME TO A HALT. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT HE SAW SOMETHING SIMILAR IN A MID 2000'S SATURN. IN WHICH CASE IT ENDED UP BEING A RECALL FOR THAT LINE OF CAR. HE SAID IF YOU KEEP THE RECEIPT AND SOMEDAY IT ENDS UP BEING A RECALL, I COULD POSSIBLY GET A REFUND. ANYWAYS, THE BIGGER DEAL IS THAT THIS IS A HIGHLY HAZARDOUS BREAKDOWN. IM GLAD I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY WAITING 3 HOURS FOR A TOW. BUT IM ALSO GLAD I COULD COAST ON THE MOMENTUM I HAD. AFTER THE INITIAL BREAKDOWN THAT HAD A POPPING SOUND, MY CAR FELT HEAVY BECAUSE I LOST POWER STEERING AS WELL SO THE TURN INTO THE FORTUNATE PARKING SPACE WAS ACTUALLY DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS NOT JUST TO ME BUT ALSO TO PEDESTRIANS. BECAUSE DURING THAT TIME IF I HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO. ALSO THE BREAKS WERE HEAVY.. I HAD TO REALLY PRESS DOWN ON THEM TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. THATS ABOUT ALL I CAN SAY FROM MY MEMORY OF THIS INCIDENT. I DO HAVE MY RECORDS (RECEIPT FROM AAA)