NHTSA Complaint #734785 — 1992 NISSAN STANZA

WITH NO WARNING, THE TIMING CHAIN SKIPPED SPROCKETS ON STARTUP, CAUSING VALVE, CYLINDER, AND CRANKSHAFT DAMAGE. THIS NECCESSITATED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE AT A TOTAL COST OF $3902.21. NISSAN WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT REIMBURSING ANY OF THE EXPENSE DUE TO A TENSIONER DESIGN DEFECT, SINCE THE AUTO WAS OUT OF WARRANTEE. SINCE INTERNAL TIMING CHAINS USUALLY LAST THE USEFUL LIFE OF AN ENGINE, ABOUT 120-140K MILES, THIS WAS VERY PREMATURE. WHILE, THE INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE THE AUTO WAS STATIONARY, IT COULD VERY WELL HAVE HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. THE ENGINE WOULD POSSIBLY SEIZE, WITH AN INSTANT DECELERATION WITH A MANUAL SHIFT CAR.