NHTSA Complaint #10874945 — 2011 NISSAN CUBE

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD I NOTICE A BURNING SMELL AND LOUD MUFFLER/EXHAUST NOISE. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO LOOK UNDER THE REAR OF THE CAR TO INSPECT THE MUFFLER I SAW A LARGE WHOLE IN THE REAR BUMPER AND THE MUFFLER HAD LOOSENED. THE MUFFLER POINTED UP SO THAT IT WAS DIRECTLY AIMED AT THE INSIDE OF THE REAR BUMPER. THIS CAUSED IT TO IGNITE AND BURN A HOLE IN THE REAR BUMPER. I CALLED NISSAN CORPORATE TO FILE A CLAIM AND THEY INFORMED ME I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND IS NOW UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A LARGER FIRE AND IGNITE THE FLOORBOARD OR THE MUFFLER COULD FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WOULD REPLACE THE MUFFLER AND NECESSARY PARTS AT MY OWN COST OR WELD IT BACK, BUT IT WOULD BE THE SAME PARTS THAT ARE KNOWN TO EASILY DEFECT IN THIS MANNER. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WITH CUBE'S AND OTHER NISSAN'S AROUND THE SAME YEARS OF PRODUCTION. SOME ISSUES APPEARED AS EARLY AS 12,000 MILES AND THE MANUFACTURER COVERED THE COST UNDER WARRANT, BUT MINE WON'THE SINCE IT HAS 70,000 MILES. I HAVE NO UNDERCARRIAGE DAMAGE SO THEY BELIEVE IT WAS RUSTED OUT BECAUSE OF SALTS ON THE ROAD TO TREAT ICE AND SNOW IN MY REGION.