NHTSA Complaint #739538 — 1995 NISSAN QUEST

WHILE TRAVELING ON A FAMILY TRIP FROM CLEARWATER, FL. TO BOONE NC, I NOTICED A SCRAPING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AS I SLOWED TO A STOP. I INVESTIGATED AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. I RESUMED MY TRIP AND AS I WAS ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEED A KNOCKING SOUND STARTED AND IT APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I PULLED OFF AT THE NEXT EXIT AND AGIN INVESTIGATED. I CHECKED THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FINDING NOTHING. I LOOKED AROUND AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FORD/LINCOLN/ MERCURY DEALER CLOSEBY. I WENT THERE AND ASKED IF THERE WAS SOMEONE THAT COULD TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR FOR ME AS I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT END. THE SERVICE REP TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND FOUND THAT THE WHEEL COVER HAD SEVERAL BROKEN RETAINERS AND THAT IT MIGHT BE CAUSING THE NOISE. HE SWITCHED THE FRONT WHEEL COVER WITH THE REAR AND ASKED ME TO DRIVE AROUND AND SEE IF THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. I DROVE AROUND AND HEARD THE NOISE AGAIN. I RETURNED AND ASKED THE SERVICE GUY TO RIDE WITH ME SO THAT HE COULD HEAR WHAT I HEARD. HE DID AND ANNOUNCED THAT IT MIGHT BE A BAD CV JOINT. HE REFERRED ME TO ANOTHER REPAIR FACILITY DOWN THE STREET. I DROVE THERE AND HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE WHEEL HAD TWO CRACKS WHICH WAS ALLOWING THE WHEEL TO FLES THUS CRETING THE NOISE I HEARD. HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT HE AND NEVER SEEN A STEEL WHEEL CRACK LIKE MINE. HE WELDED THE CRACKS INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY AND INSTALLED IT ON THE RIGHT REAR POSITION. *AK