NHTSA Complaint #706047 — 1995 NISSAN MAXIMA

THE HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS (GAS FILLED HOOD LIFTS) FAIL DURING COLD WEATHER. THEY DO NOT RELIABLY HOLD UP THE HOOD WHEN THEY ARE COLD (E.G., CAR IDLE OVERNIGHT). WHEN WARMED (E.G., BY ENGINE HEAT), THEY USUALLY WORK AGAIN. NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS WARMER, THEY WORK, BUT NOT AS WELL AS WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW. THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO EVENTUAL TOTAL FAILURE. BOTH THE DEALER AND NISSAN HQ HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM BY FAX LETTER. NISSAN HQ HAS ASSIGNED FILE #2816812 TO THE PROBLEM. NISSAN DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. FURTHER, A NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE INDICATES THAT HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT; THEIR FAILURE COULD LET THE HOOD DROP ON SOMEONE'S HEAD WITHOUT WARNING. IN MY OPINION, HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS SHOULD BE ALL-WEATHER, SAFETY RELATED PARTS THAT ARE WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR (SOMETHING AKIN TO SEAT BELTS). NISSAN HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS FOR ABOUT $100. I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE.