NHTSA Complaint #11034386 — 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA

I CANNOT OPEN MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR USING THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I PULL ON THE HANDLE & IT MOVES BUT NOTHING HAPPENS. THE ONLY WAY I CAN EXIT THE VEHICLE IS TO DOWN THE WINDOW AND PULL THE OUTSIDE HANDLE (HURTS THE ARTHRITIS IN MY SHOULDER) OR CRAWL OVER THE MIDDLE STORAGE COMPARTMENT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THIS SITUATION IS DEFINITELY NOT A SAFE SITUATION IF QUICK EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE IS NEEDED IN AN EMERGENCY. WHAT WOULD A PERSON WITH DISABILITIES OR SENIOR DO? FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE THE DOOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY INSIDE THE DOOR WAS POORLY MADE USING A PLASTIC PART THAT WEARS OUT QUICKLY. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND ACROSS SEVERAL NISSAN MODELS ACCORDING TO A DEALER SERVICE ADVISOR. THE DEALER, CHARLESTON NISSAN, WANTS $180, PARTS AND LABOR, TO REPLACE. I CALLED 1-800-NISSAN1 ON 10/18/2017 TO SEE IF THEY WOULD STAND BEHIND AND COVER A DEFECTIVE PART BUT THEY SHOWED NO INTEREST AT ALL AND DECLINED.