NHTSA Complaint #11110025 — 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. SAW THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG "OFF" INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED ON WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED ALONG WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT BLINKING IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (ALL THE TIME). UPON INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE, I FOUND THAT THE "VARISTOR" IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT (OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM) IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS BAD. THIS VARSITOR IS THE SWITCH THAT ENGAGES THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG WHEN THE SEAT IS OCCUPIED. THIS WAS RECALLED FOR 2007 NISSAN ALTIMAS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V521000. I CONTACTED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA ABOUT THE ISSUE AND WAS TOLD MY CAR (BY VIN) WAS NOT AFFECTED. WHEN I QUESTIONED WHY I WAS HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE FOR MY REGION WOULD CALL ME. WHEN I WAS CONTACTED, I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS ALREADY CHECKED AND THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED HOW MY CAR WAS CHECKED WHEN I WAS TOLD IT WASN'T AFFECTED, I WAS TOLD I COULD TAKE IT TO ANY DEALER AND THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO DIAGNOSE/REPAIR THE ISSUE. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL AND THE COST FOR REPAIR THE REP. TOLD ME MY CAR WAS "X" MONTHS AND "X" MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. I EXPLAINED THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR A REQUIRED SAFETY DEVICE TO BE REPAIRED NOT A ALTERNATOR OR WATER PUMP. THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS VERY SMUG AND BASICALLY TOLD ME TOO BAD. I ASKED IF IT WOULD TAKE SOMEBODY BEING INJURED IN ONE OF THEIR CARS WITH THIS ISSUE FOR THEM TO DO THE RIGHT THING BUT AGAIN WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO ANY DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE REPRESENTATIVE WOULD NOT EVEN HEAR THAT THE ISSUE IN MY CAR COULD BE RELATED TO THE RECALL ISSUE. PHOTO TAKEN WITH ME SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.