NHTSA Complaint #702183 — 1995 NISSAN MAXIMA

THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE HYDRAULLIC RODS THAT HOLD UP THE HOOD FOR ANY KIND OF MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THESE OFTEN FAIL UNDER COLD CONDITIONS, BUT WHEN WEATHER WARMS, THE RODS WILL WORK AGAIN. THIS FAILURE IS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. THE RODS SHOW NO LEAK AND APPEAR TO BE WITHOUT PROBLEMS. AS I RAISED THE HOOD ON MY MAXIMA, NEVER HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, I REACHED IN TO BEGIN MY INTERIOR INSPECTION WHEN THE HOOD DROPPED STRIKING MY HEAD, BUT ALLOWING ME TO REMOVE MY HANDS BEFORE THE HOOD SLAMMED DOWN. IF IT HAD NOT STRUCK MY HEAD AND FORCED ME BACK, I WOULD HAVE BROKEN OR SEVERED SEVERAL FINGERS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE NISSAN COMPANY HAS OPENED A FILE ON MY COMPLAINT. THE FILE NUMBER IS 2766755. THE CAR IS ONLY 31/2 YEARS OLD. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IN MY OTHERS CARS. NISSAN AGREED TO COMPENSATE FOR 1/2 OF THE REPLACEMENT COST, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A MATERIAL DEFECT THAT HAS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS SO THAT IT WHY I AM REPORTING THIS.