NHTSA Complaint #10923821 — 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER

THE REAR LIFT GATE HAS STOPPED FUNCTIONING FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR ON 12/21/2012. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE TO REPLACE THE MOTOR AGAIN IN 4 YEARS AND TO BE TOLD BY NISSAN THE MOTOR WILL NOT BE COVERED UNLESS THE STRUTS ARE ALSO TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THEIR OWN FAULTINESS. NOT ONLY IS THIS A COSTLY AND INCONVENIENT REPAIR, BUT THE MOTORS ARE ON BACK ORDER ACCORDING TO NISSAN PARTS. THERE IS NO ESTIMATE OF A DELIVERY DATE. THE DOOR WON'T LATCH IF THE MOTOR ISN'T FUNCTIONING. SO, AS A RESULT, I AM DRIVING AROUND WITH A REAR LIFT GATE THAT CAN'T BE MANUALLY CLOSED DUE TO A POOR DESIGN BY NISSAN. SINCE THE LIFT GATE WON'T LATCH MANUALLY THE LIFT GATE HAS HAD TO BE TIED DOWN INTERNALLY TO PREVENT THE LIFT GATE FROM FLYING OPEN WHILE DRIVING. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE SINCE THE DOOR WON'T LATCH AND THIS MAKES THE HAZARD LIGHTS START FLASHING EXTERNALLY AND INTERNALLY IN ADDITION TO WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON CONTINUOUSLY IN THE MESSAGE CENTER. THERE ARE LOUD BEEPS THE ENTIRE CAR RIDE WHICH ARE INCREDIBLY ANNOYING. CARS DRIVING BEHIND ME ARE NOT SURE IF I AM IN DISTRESS OR HAVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY SINCE THE LIGHTS START FLASHING AT WILL. I AM CONCERNED I WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT! IT HAS BEEN ONE WEEK AND NO RESOLUTION IN SIGHT. I HAVE TO PAY TO GET A NEW MOTOR TO CLOSE MY TAILGATE EVEN IF I WISH TO USE THE MANUAL CLOSE METHOD. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! *TR