2004 NISSAN FRONTIER Wheels Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE DEFLATED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VALVE STEM WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND ALL THE VALVE STEMS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

AFTER DRIVING MY VEHICLE TO WORK (AROUND 15 MILES), THE LIGHTS BEGAN TO DIM AND THE RADIO TURNED ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. I PARKED IN THE GARAGE WHERE I WORK, AND WENT TO MY OFFICE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH A MECHANIC. ABOUT 1/2 HOUR LATER, A POLICE OFFICER CALLED BECAUSE MY TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE. IT CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE PARKING STRUCTURE, AND OBVIOUSLY TO THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING MELTING MANY OF THE COMPONENTS UNDER THE HOOD, AS WELL AS SMOKE DAMAGE TO THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK. IT WAS TOTALED. *TR

FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THEN THREE YEARS MY REAR AXEL AND WHEEL HAVE COME LOOSE AND VERY CLOSE TO FALLING OFF. BOTH TIMES THE MECHANICS TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE OF A BROKEN WASHER. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT OTHER FRONTIER OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR AXEL PROBLEMS. MECHANICS HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF FRONTIER REAR AXEL PROBLEMS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR MYSELF AND FOR OTHER FRONTIER OWNERS. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS ACCIDENTS THAT COULD INJURE OR KILL PEOPLE. I WAS BLESSED THAT BOTH TIMES MY REAR AXEL FAILED I WAS ONLY GOING AT A SLOW SPEED. IF IT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY AT A HIGHER SPEED I WOULD HATE TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN. AXLES COMING LOOSE SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING. NISSAN SHOULD STEP UP AND DEAL WITH THIS MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR