2001 NISSAN MAXIMA Structurebody Problems

THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT BAR AND SURROUNDING LOWER STRUCTURE STARTED RUSTING AWAY AFTER ABOUT 4-5 YEARS FROM NEW. THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT IS NOW ALMOST ENTIRELY GONE. THE DEALER QUOTED $5400 TO REPAIR. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE REP THAT IF/WHEN THE CORE SUPPORT LET GO, THE ENGINE COULD FALL CAUSING A WRECK.

I WAS TRAVELING ON SOUTH BOWENS MILL RD. IN DOUGLAS GA WHEN A VEHICLE THAT HAVE ON THEIR TURN SIGNAL INVOLVED ME HITTING THE BACK OF HER VEHICLE. THERE WASN'T MUCH DAMAGE TO HER VEHICLE BUT MY VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED SEVERELY. THE AIRBAG SHOULD'VE CAME OUT BUT DIDN'T. IN 2015, I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM NISSAN STATING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON NISSAN AIRBAGS, SO I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN TIFTON, GA. I'M NOT EVEN SURE IF THEY REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG OR NOT BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABOUT TO CLOSE WHEN THEY BEGAN TO WORK ON MY VEHICLE. MY APPOINTMENT WAS AT 9AM AND I DIDN'T GET OUT OF THEIR TO CLOSING. THE EMPLOYEES WAS READY TO GO ABOUT THE TIME THEY BEGAN TO WORK ON MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, LOOKING AT THE DAMAGES TO MY VEHICLE, THE AIRBAG SHOULD'VE CAME OUT BUT IT...

THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT BEAM RUSTED OUT CAUSING THE ENGINE SUPPORT TO BRAKE FREE FROM THE BEAM. NOW THE ENTIRE LOWER SUPPORT BEAM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH COST OF LABOR AND PARTS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO ALL THE CAR WEBSITES AND THE YOUTUBE VIDEOS SHOWING HOW TO CHANGE OUT THE BEAM. I DO NOT SEE ANY RECALLS FOR THIS. FOR AS MANY PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. PEOPLE WERE HAVING THIS PROBLEM 5 YRS AGO ACCORDING TO THE VIDEOS AND REPORTS. ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THIS TYPE OF CORROSION ISSUES WITH THIS NISSAN MODEL AND YEAR. ACCORDING TO WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT CAN OCCUR WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IF THE BEAM BREAKS WHILE IN MOTION AT HIGH...

WENT TO FIX THE PASSENGER AIR BAG RECALL AND DEALER INFORMED THAT FRONT CROSS FRAME/BAR'S METAL IS FALLING APART BECAUSE OF SEVERE CORROSION/RUSTING WHICH IS MAIN SUPPORT FOR THE RADIATOR AND THE ENGINE. ALSO ADVISED THAT IT'S HIGHLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE SINCE ENGINE/RADIATOR CAN JUST FALL ANYTIME WHEN IT LACKS THE SUPPORT. WHEN NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS IS APPROACHED THEY FAILED TO ADMIT THE DEFECTIVE MATERIAL USED BUT RESPONDED THAT VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NOT COVER. ALSO OBSERVED SIMILAR RECENT COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS, HOPE OUR COMPLAINTS GETS FURTHER ATTENTION AND CONCERNS ARE ADDRESSED. *TR

FRONT CROSS SUB FRAME STEAL DEFECT. SO RUSTED...ENGINE AND TRANS COULD DROP LEADING TO IMMINENT DANGER. *TR

AFTER HEARING A RATTLE IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR, I FOUND THAT THE FRAME SUPPORT UNDER THE RADIATOR WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND FULL OF LARGE HOLES FOR ABOUT 8 INCHES AT THE CENTER OF THE BEAM. THIS POINT IN THE BEAM IS WHERE THE ENGINE SUPPORT BEAM AND FRONT HOOD LATCH SUPPORT ARE BOLTED. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP WHICH TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD REPAIRED 'NUMEROUS' NISSAN MAXIMA'S WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. AS THE RUSTED AREA SUPPORTS THE ENGINE AND HOOD LATCH, IT APPEARS THAT IT SEVERELY COMPROMISES THE INTEGRITY OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR, BOTH FROM AN ENGINE SUPPORT PERSPECTIVE AND IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL COLLISION. THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN IN THE NORTHEAST WHERE SALT IS USED IN THE WINTER, BUT THE REST OF THE UNDERBODY HAS NO SIGNIFICANT RUST LIKE WHAT IS FOUND ON THIS BEAM. IN...