NHTSA Complaint #10838062 — 2014 NISSAN VERSA

THE HEAT SHIELD COVERING THE EXHAUST UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES AND WAS REPLACED 2 TIMES. THE CRACKING OCCURS WHERE THE HEAT SHIELD IS HELD TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE BY SCREWS AND BOLTS. THE WASHERS AND BOLTS ARE TOO SMALL FOR THE PREDRILLED HOLES AND CAUSES STRESS FRACTURES AT THE HOLE. THIS CAUSES THE HEAT SHIELD TO COME LOOSE AND RATTLE AGAINST THE EXHAUST. THERE ARE OTHER MODELS WITH SIMILAR HEAT SHIELDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE MATERIALS ARE THE SAME. THE RATTLE CAUSES DISTRACTED DRIVING AS WELL AS POSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD IF THE ENTIRE UNIT WERE TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT COULD CAUSE UNSAFE VEHICLE OPERATION OR HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE.