NHTSA Complaint #11417950 — 2014 NISSAN ALTIMA

While turning onto the entrance ramp to the highway, the lower rear control arm on the passenger side cracked and separated from the rest of the vehicle. The only thing holding the wheel on to the vehicle was a suspension coil. Steering and control of the vehicle became intermittent and I had no idea what was happening. I was driving with my pregnant daughter in the passenger seat. The "slippery road" warning light appeared on the dashboard but no other warnings or alerts. We were not injured. The vehicle was towed to our automotive repair shop. The auto repair noted that they had fixed this issue on Nissan Altima in the past and the repair was covered by Nissan. The nissanassist website states there is "a service campaign in states with high road salt usage to replace the rear suspension lower link. On some affected vehicles, and under severe corrosion conditions, one of the rear lower suspension links may corrode and separate at the bushing joint area". I live in Buffalo, NY area which is a high-salt state. Nissan will not cover this repair ($1146.57 includes NYS taxes) because the campaign does not include my VIN and was for 2013 models; my vehicle is 2014. The auto repair shop told us that the lower control arm in my 2014 vehicle was a 2013 part, so it was subject to the same defect that prompted the 2013 recall. Nissan refuses any assistance with this repair and says the VIN number is not included on the lower suspension link repair. If this type of corrosion in a high salt state resulting in breakage is a known covered issue with the 2013 model, and my 2014 model Nissan was assembled with the 2013 control arm parts, then my vehicle should not be excluded.