NHTSA Complaint #10920446 — 2006 NISSAN ALTIMA

DURING A RECENT OIL CHANGE, MY MECHANIC BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE FRONT SEAT FLOOR BOARDS WERE RUSTING ON BOTH THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER SIDES. THE RUSTING AREAS LOOK ALMOST IDENTICAL. I RESEARCHED THIS ON THE INTERNET TO FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002-2006 NISSAN ALTIMAS. THERE APPARENTLY HAVE BEEN A FEW CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS FILED AND SEVERAL TELEVISION REPORTS ON THE MATTER. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN; HOWEVER, THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT A DEFECT. I DISCUSSED WITH A NEIGHBOR RECENTLY WHO ALSO OWNS A NISSAN ALTIMA BUILT IN THAT TIMEFRAME AND FOUND OUT THAT HE TOO RECENTLY DISCOVERED THE RUSTING FLOOR BOARD ISSUE. NISSAN TOLD ME THAT I LIVED IN A SALT STATE AND DID NOT KNOW HOW I MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE; HOWEVER, GIVEN THE HUNDREDS AND PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS FILED, IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE TO BE DUE TO OWNER NEGLIGENCE. MY HOPE WAS THAT MY 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THIS CAR ONCE SHE GETS HER LICENSE, BUT NOW I'M FACED WITH SPENDING THOUSANDS TO EITHER FIX THE ISSUE (WHICH MAY NOT BE FIXABLE GIVEN THAT RUST AREAS GROW) OR TO BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A HOLE THROUGH MY FLOOR BOARD AND IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO ME, ESPECIALLY IF MY DAUGHTER IS BEHIND THE WHEEL.