NHTSA Complaint #11310699 — 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER

VEHICLE WITH NO KNOWN MECHANICAL ISSUES/NEVER INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WAS TRAVELING 50MPH ON A MAJOR STATE ROUTE WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND BEGAN VIBRATING AS IF IT HAD A FLAT TIRE. AS THE DRIVER TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND PULL OVER THERE WAS A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND. THE CONTROL ARM ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE HAD BROKEN FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LICENSED MECHANIC, WHERE UPON INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR SUBFRAME BROKE APART: THE BOLT HOLDING THE CONTROL ARM DID NOT BREAK OFF, A PORTION OF THE FRAME BROKE FROM THE REST OF THE SUBFRAME. THE MECHANIC FOUND NO UNUSUAL RUST OR DETERIORATION ANYWHERE ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS ISSUE ON A VEHICLE AND THERE WAS NO REASONABLE EXPLANATION WHY IT SHOULD OF OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT THE VEHICLE WASN'T INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS ISSUE.