NHTSA Complaint #11387016 — 2010 NISSAN ARMADA

IN JULY 2017 AND AT 90K MILES , MY 2010 NISSAN ARMADA BEGAN LEAKING EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER CABIN AND THE FUEL ECONOMY DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY. I TOOK IT TO AN AUTHORIZED NISSAN SERVICE STATION, WHICH CHARGED ME $150 TO DIAGNOSE A CRACKED CATALYTIC CONVERTER EXHAUST MANIFOLD ON BOTH SIDES. THE REPAIR ESTIMATE WAS ABOUT $4,000 TO REPLACE THE MANIFOLDS AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 80K MILES AND I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ARMADA AND TITAN MODELS. I SHOPPED AROUND FOR ESTIMATES AND HAD THE MANIFOLDS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS FOR A TOTAL COST OF $2,100 WITH A 2-YEAR/24K MILES WARRANTY. IN 2020 AND AT 125K MILES (3 YEARS/30K MILES LATER), THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AND THE SHOP WOULD NOT EXTEND THE WARRANTY. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT ESTIMATES THE REPAIR AT $5,000, AND THE INDEPENDENT SHOP ESTIMATES $1,900. ALL OF THE MECHANICS (INCLUDING THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP) HAVE ADVISED ME THAT THEY DON'T THINK THE CAR IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT AT 130K MILES CONSIDERING THE TRADE VALUE IS AROUND $5K. I CAN'T AFFORD THIS REPAIR TWICE IN 3 YEARS, AND I'M DRIVING MY FAMILY AROUND BREATHING IN CO FUMES THAT COULD HARM OR KILL US. I PRIMARILY USE THE VEHICLE FOR DAY-TO-DAY SUBURBAN DRIVING WITH OCCASIONAL CAMPING TRIPS - NO HARD OR OFF-ROAD USE. NISSAN SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND REIMBURSE THE COST OF REPAIRS AS THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL ISSUE FOR DRIVERS. I AM NOW FACED WITH A DECISION TO INVEST ALMOST HALF THE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE IN A REPAIR THAT MAY FAIL AGAIN, OR TO BUY A NEW CAR I CAN'T CURRENTLY AFFORD IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC. PLEASE HOLD THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE TO ITS US CUSTOMERS.