2002 NISSAN ALTIMA Structurebody Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOORBOARD WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FLOORBOARD WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING AN OIL CHANGE PERFORMED, HE NOTICED THAT THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FRAME WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. .....UPDATED 01/14/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER STATED THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY FAILURES SUCH AS THIS. UPDATED 1/18/2013*JS

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR PAN RUSTED. HOLES ON BOTH SIDES. *TR

FLOOR PAN UNDER BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FOOTWELLS HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. I'M NOT SURE WHEN THE RUST PERFORATION OCCURRED, AS I PURCHASED THE CAR USED IN MAY 2012 AND NOTICED THE PROBLEM SHORTLY THEREAFTER. *TR

ON THE UNDERNEATH OF THE 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA THE FLOOR IS RUSTING AND CREATING A HOLE. I HAVE BEEN TO DIFFERENT BODY SHOPS TO GET AN ESTIMATE AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN MANY ALTIMA'S WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM RECENTLY. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE NISSAN BODY SHOP THEY ALSO SAID THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OF THE ALTIMA'S WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOORBOARD HAD RUST DAMAGE SO SEVERE THAT IT WOULD TAKE VERY LITTLE PRESSURE FROM HER FOOT TO COMPLETELY GO THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. A DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A BODY SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT FLOOR PANS WERE RUSTED ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND HAVE A PRICE QUOTED. THE FRONT FLOOR PANEL WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRONT SEATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY COULD PUSH THEIR FOOT THROUGH THE FLOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 92,834.

MY 2002 ALTIMA, DRIVEN BY MY SON, WAS BEING CHECKED OUT FOR A PROBLEM WITH A BAD TIRE. WHILE UP ON THE LIFT, THE MECHANIC IDENTIFIED TWO HOLES IN THE FLOOR PAN. ONE IS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND ONE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, EACH AT THE LOCATION OF A SEAT FLOOR MOUNT BOLT. NOT EXACTLY SAFE. THIS CAR WILL NOT PASS STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA SAFETY INSPECTION AS IS. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED NISSAN, AS THAT IS MOST LIKELY FRUITLESS, BASED ON THE MANY COMMENTS I'VE ALREADY READ ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. NISSAN OBVIOUSLY HAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS DESIGN. EVEN IF THE CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD, THE FLOOR PAN SHOULDN'T BE ROTTING AWAY. THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA OBVIOUSLY THINKS THIS IS NOT SAFE. WHY DOESN'T THE NHTSA AGREE? WHAT ARE YOU GUYS WAITING FOR? FATALITIES? *TR

DISCOVERED RUST THRU IN PASSENGER FLOOR PAN DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. CAR WAS GARAGE KEPT MORE THAN 80% OF TIME. WELL MAINTAINED. NO DAMAGE TO THIS AREA FROM ACCIDENTS. NO IMMERSION. DISCOVERED ON THE INTERNET THAT THE PROBLEM COMMON TO THIS MAKE AND MODEL OVER MULTIPLE YEARS. HAVE NEVER HAD A FLOOR PLAN RUST THRU IN ANY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED. IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS EXHAUST GASES MAY ENTER CABIN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR A ROUTINE OIL AND BRAKE SERVICE WHEN THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO RUSTED AREAS ON THE FRONT FRAME. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO RESEAL THE RUSTED AREAS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, PROVIDING NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOOR PANS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE DEALER BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,460.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TIRE SPECIALIST TO HAVE THE TIRES ROTATED WHEN HE WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE TWO HOLES LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT AND REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE COST OF THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

FLOOR PANS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE ARE RUSTED THRU TO THE POINT OF THE ONLY BARRIER BETWEEN THE ROAD AND DRIVER/PASSENGER IS THE FLOOR UPHOLSTERY. IN VIEWING NISSAN FORUMS ONLINE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. *TR

HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES WITH FLOOR PANS, FLOOR BOARDS HAVE DETERIORATED TO THE POINT WHERE SEAT TRACK MOUNTING POINTS ARE LOOSE. YEARS TO INCLUDE 2001 TO 2004 THIS IS VERY CONCERNING CONSIDERING SOME OF THESE CARS HAVE LESS THEN 100000 MILES ON THEM. *JS

PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD RUSTED OUT, PRODUCING A BASKETBALL SIZED HOLE. THE EDGES OF THE HOLE ARE APPEAR THIN AND CONTINUE TO RUST. DEALER SENT PICTURES FOLLOWING AN INSPECTION TO NISSAN, BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH EXPENSIVE REPAIRS. CLAIMS OUT OF WARRANTY (5 YR, 100KMILES). INCIDENTALLY, WE ALSO OWN A 2003 PATHFINDER WHICH HAD A RUST RECALL FOR FRONT WHEEL STRUTS WHICH TOOK A WEEK TO FIX, AND WE NOW HAVE BOTH BACK QUARTER PANELS RUSTING THROUGH, AND NISSAN ALSO REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH REPAIR. *TR

RUSTED OUT FLOOR PAN ON BOTTOM OF CAR UNDERNEATH DRIVERS FEET AREA AND FRONT PASSENGER FEET AREA. TWO SEPARATE LARGE HOLES IN FLOOR. . *TR

WHILE CHANGING THE SERPENTINE BELT ON MY ALTIMA, I NOTICED AN EIGHT INCH CHUNK OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOORPAN RUSTING AWAY STRAIGHT THROUGH TO THE CARPETING. I ALSO SAW THE FLOORPAN BEGINNING TO ROT AWAY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AS WELL. I WAS SHOCKED AND DISAPPOINTED THAT A CAR ONLY 10 YEARS OLD WOULD HAVE THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY A NISSAN. NOW I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET THIS REPAIRED WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK... *TR

THE NISSAN ALTIMA HAS SEVERE RUSTING PROBLEMS WHICH WILL RESULT IN DETERIORATION OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOOR. I PURCHASED MY ALTIMA BRAND NEW IN 2002. 10 YEARS LATER, MY MECHANIC SAYS THERE ARE HOLES IN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD WHICH WILL COST BETWEEN $2000 AND $3000. NISSAN WILL DO NOTHING TO AID THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

I WAS UNDER MY ALTIMA DOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. ON THE RIGHT FRONT FLOOR AREA, I NOTICED RUSTED METAL FLAKING OFF OF THE FLOOR PAN. INSPECTING THE AREA REVEALED THAT A LARGE AREA WAS RUSTED COMPLETELY THRU. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED NO OTHER INVOLVED AREAS OF THE FLOOR PAN. I THOUGHT THIS WAS VERY STRANGE INDEED, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CAR IS RARELY DRIVEN IN THE WINTER AND ALSO THAT THE CAR WAS USED IN A SOUTHERN STATE FOR A LARGE PORTION OF ITS OPERATING LIFE. CHECKING ON THE INTERNET REVEALED THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5. THE CONTACTED STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC, THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS CORROSION UNDER THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHEN SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FLOOR BOARDS WERE CORRODED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000. UPDATED 02/06/12*BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION DUE TO CORROSION OF THE SUB FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER CONFIRMED THE CORROSION OF THE SUB FRAME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 3.5 HAS RUSTED THROUGH, AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE IS WELL ON THE WAY. THE CAR UP TILL NOW HAS BEEN AN RELIABLE, EXCELLENT VEHICLE. BUT WITH ONLY 99,000 MILES ON IT, IT IS BASICALLY TRASHED. IT'S LIKE A SEEMINGLY HEALTHY, ACTIVE 50 YEAR OLD GOING TO THE DOCTOR FOR A YEARLY CHECKUP, AND BEING TOLD "YOU HAVE STAGE FOUR CANCER. IT'S OVER." NISSAN WON'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP OR COMPENSATE, STATING IT IS BEYOND THE PERFORATION WARRANTY. CARS BUILT IN 2002 AREN'T SUPPOSED TO RUST OUT. THERE'S NO VISIBLE BODY RUST ON THE CAR, BUT THE FLOOR IS RUSTED THROUGH. THIS SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION SUIT, AS IT HAS HAPPENED TO MANY ALTIMAS. IT IS TRULY A CRIME. *TR

FLOOR PANS ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES ARE RUSTED THROUGH ENGINE DIES RANDOMLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLOORBOARD ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WAS CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR RUST OUT. DISCOVERED AUGUST 23, 2011. NOTICED WET PASSENGER FOOTWELL AFTER DRIVING IN RAIN. LOOKED UNDERNEATH CAR AND FOUND REST OF CAR TO BE PRISTINE, ALMOST LIKE NEW. CAR AS A WHOLE IN GREAT SHAPE, EXCEPT FOR THIS ONE AREA. CLEAR DESIGN PROBLEM/FLAW. *TR

FLOORBOARDS RUSTED THROUGH ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA PUTTING MY CHILD IN DANGER. *TR

I HAVE AN 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA S 2.5 LITER WITH 95K ON IT. THERE IS HEAVY RUST UNDER THE DRIVERS FLOOR. IT HAS ONLY TAKEN A LITTLE SHORT OF A YEAR TO GO FROM NOTHING TO SOME MAJOR ROT. I AM A PROFESSIONAL DETAILER AND AUTOBODY TECH AND THE CAR HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY WELL MAINTAINED. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN. I NOTICED IT TODAY WHEN I WAS CHANGING MY OIL AND INSPECTING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. *TR

2002 NISSAN ALTIMA FLOORBOARD RUST THROUGH. 90,000 MILES, DISCOVERED LARGE HOLE FROM RUST THROUGH ON PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FLOORBOARD. CAR IS WASHED ON NORMAL BASIS AND WAS PARKED IN UNHEATED GARAGE DURING WINTER MONTHS. *TR

WHILE GETTING NEW TIRES PUT ON MY CAR THE MECHANIC NOTICED A LARGE HOLE IN MY PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR. I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA AND HE MENTIONED THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST CASE ON THIS MODEL OF CAR HE HAD SEEN. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION IT BECAME CLEAR THAT SOMEONE HAD PLACED TAPE AND SOME TIN TO MASK THE PROBLEM. I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM MY GRANDMA WHO HAD NO IDEA OF SUCH AN ISSUE. SHE HAD BOUGHT IN WHEN IT WAS A YEAR OLD. CLEARLY A CAR THAT AGE SHOULD HAVE NO REASON TO RUST AND HAVE A HOLE IN IT, SINCE I MUST ASSUME THE ORIGINAL OWNERS PLACED THE TIN. EVEN A CAR AT 8 YEARS OLD SHOULD NOT HAVE THE RUST THAT IS FOUND UNDER ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE AND A HOLE THE SIZE OF A DINNER PLATE. I HAVE RESEARCHED IT ONLINE AND HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS...

UNDERBODY RUST. AUTO BODY SHOP STATED THIS WAS A VERY UNUSUAL CONDITION FOR A VEHICLE THIS AGE . *TR

I OWN A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. A FEW MONTHS AGO I NOTICED RUST ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE. THE DRIVERS SIDE IS WORSE THAN THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THERE IS AN ACTUAL HOLE IN THE METAL WHERE IT HAS CORRODED. IT HAS RUSTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT, SO IT APPEARS TO ME AS IF IT IS A FACTORY DEFECT. I CALLED NISSAN AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE. SHE TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING NISSAN COULD DO BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I TALKED TO HER SUPERVISOR AND SHE TOLD ME ALSO THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. HER 3 REASONS WERE: (1) IT COSTS TOO MUCH TO FIX (2) SHE DOES NOT KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLE AND (3) THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I BELIEVE THAT THIS DEFECT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN NEED TO FIX IT. *TR

RUSTED FLOOR BOARDS FRONT . FLOOR BOARDS RUSTED SPECIALLY PASSENGER SIDE DUE TO DEFECT IN THE DRAINAGE INSIDE OR POOR DESIGN. PERSONS COULD INHALE GAS FUMES OR FLOOR BOARD SUDDENLY FALL DOWN IF A PERSON IS UNAWARE THAT A RUSTED HOLE IS UNDERNEATH. TOLD OUT OF CORROSION WARRANTY WHICH IS ONLY 5 YEARS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC SHOP FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE THEY FOUND THE FLOOR BOARDS ROTTED OUT ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY TOOK PICTURES OF THE FAILURE AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER CONTACTED HER AND INFORMED HER IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR AND THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR HER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,847.

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5 S. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR ALMOST 8 YEARS AND HAVE CLOSE TO 42,000 MILES ON IT. I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW IN 2002 FROM A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. JUST RECENTLY I HAD A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE DONE IN MY CAR AND MY MECHANIC NOTICED AN ENORMOUS RUSTED HOLE ON THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE FLOOR PANEL UNDERNEATH THE CAR, THE PASSENGER SIDE ALSO HAD A BIG RUSTED SPOT WHERE ANOTHER HOLE IS DEVELOPING. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL NISSAN BODYWORKS REPAIR SHOP WHERE I WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FLOOR PANEL, SINCE IT WAS SO BADLY RUSTED, YOU CAN SEE THE CARPETING THROUGH THE HOLE. THE ESTIMATE CAME OUT TO A TOTAL OVER $2,000. THIS COMES AS A COMPLETE SURPRISE TO ME, SINCE I HARDLY DRIVE MY VEHICLE AND TAKE VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. IT IS...

LARGE HOLE IN PASSENGER FLOORBOARD OF MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. SIZE OF HOLE IS @ 10"X 5". THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IS UNDERCOATED AND THE REST OF THE UNDERSIDE IS SPOTLESS. *TR

HAD OIL CHANGED ON 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA SE AND NOTICE LARGE RUST SPOTS ON THE FLOOR PANELS UNDER BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE RUST HAD CREATED A HOLE RIGHT THROUGH THE FLOOR PANEL - LIFTING THE CARPET, I COULD SEE THE ROAD BELOW. NISSAN DEALERS SAID THAT IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY SO THEY COULD DO NOTHING. *TR

ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARDS ARE ROTTED OUT. THERE ARE HOLES OVER 1 FOOT SQUARE ON EACH SIDE BELOW THE PASS AND DRIVERS FEET. THIS IS A WELL TAKEN CARE OF VEHICLE, PURCHASED NEW,WASHED EVERY MONTH (INCLUDING UNDERCARRIAGE). THE VEHICLE CAME WITH A FACTORY "UNDERCOATING", THAT IS STILL INTACT BUT NO LONGER FULLY ATTACHED TO THE STRUCTURE, IT HOLDS THE WATER AGAINST THE METAL AND ROTS IT OUT, WITHOUT THE OWNER EVER BEING ABLE TO SEE THE DAMAGE BEING DONE UNTIL ITS TOO LATE! IVE NEVER SEEN THIS, EVEN HALF AS BAD, ON ANY CAR THAT WAS TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE (AND IVE BEEN WORKING ON CARS FOR 20 YEARS!) THIS SEEMS LIKE A DESIGN FLAW BY NISSAN.

PA VEHICLE INSPECTOR FOUND LARGE RUSTED HOLES THROUGH FLOOR PAN IN OUR 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA WHICH WAS ALWAYS GARAGED AND HAD ONLY 42,000 MILES. BECAUSE EXHAUST FUMES COULD ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WE COULDN'T USE THE CAR. CALLS TO THE DEALER AND NISSAN WERE FRUITLESS. AN ONLINE SEARCH FOUND SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND A COUPLE HAD ESTIMATES OF OVER $2000 FOR REPAIR. *TR

GAS DOOR WAS NOT CLOSING PROPERLY. IT EVENTUALLY IS VERY CROOKED AND DOES NOT CLOSE AT ALL ANY MORE. I TALKED TO SEVERAL NISSAN ALTIMA OWNER SAME THING HAPPENED. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN SEVERE WIND GUSTS, WE HEARD A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE FRONT, LEFT POST AREA. SOMETIMES THE SOURCE WAS THE RIGHT FRONT. THE NOISE ERUPTED AS THE WIND GUSTED AT SHARP ANGLES AND THE CAR STEERED INTO OR AWAY FROM THE GUSTS. THE NOISE WAS HIGHLY PRONOUNCED. I RULED OUT ANYTHING MECHANICAL BECAUSE WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME NOISE WHENEVER THE GUSTS INCREASED AND THE CAR WAS THROWN LEFT OR RIGHT. TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMED TO CUT RIGHT INTO THE GUSTS AND THE SOUND WAS SO INTENSE THAT WE THOUGHT IT RESEMBLED A BUZZSAW TRYING TO CUT ITS WAY INTO THE WINDSHIELD/POST AREA. WE MENTIONED THIS PHENOMENON TO OUR CAR DEALER (HARBOR NISSAN, PORT CHARLOTTE, FL). THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US HE HAS HAD THIS COMPLAINT FROM OTHER NISSAN OWNERS AND THAT HE, TOO, THOUGHT IT WAS THE WIND REACTING AGAINST THE CONFIGURATION OF THE VEHICLE....

CONSUMER STATES THAT SNOW BUILDS UP IN THE SMALL WHEEL WELLS AND MAKES STEERING DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT TURNS COLD, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THERE IS ALSO EXTREME WEAR ON THE TIRES DUE TO THE ICE BUILD UP, THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO SHIMMY IN THE FRONT END. *SLC