NHTSA Complaint #750891 — 1986 NISSAN PICKUP

MANUL FOR 86 PICKUP "RECOMMENDS" REPLACING TIMING BELT AT 60,000 MILES. THIS IS NOT A "RECOMMENDATION, IT IS A REQUIREMENT. THE SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES CAN BE DEADLY. I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS TYPE FAILURE, COMMON PLACE WITH NISSANS AND HONDAS. I DELAYED REPAIR UNTIL I HAD TIME TO INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OF THE BELT CAUSES THE VALVES TO CONTACT THE PISTONS BENDING THE VALVE STEMS. THERE IS NO WARNING OF IMMINENT FAILURE NOR AN INDICATOR TO SHOW THAT THE BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEM AND A CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR THE MAJOR COST TO REPLACE A TIMING BELT. HOW CAN ANY MANUFACTURER PERMIT A SUBSTANDARD PART TO DESTROY THE ENGINE?*AK