2010 Nissan Altima Hybrid

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000.

TOYOTA PRIUS HYBRID RECALL - TOYOTA HYBRID PRIUS SYSTEM WHICH IS CURRENTLY UNDER TWO HYBRID SYSTEM RECALLS USED BY NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRIDS 2007-2011. MY VEHICLE UNEXPECTLY AND SUDDENLY LOSS ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, NO WARNING LIGHTS OR PRIOR MECHANICAL ISSUES PRIOR TO THIS EVENT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO THE ENGINE WIRING HARDNESS WHICH CONNECTS TO THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (HYBRID COMPUTER)AND DAMAGED MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPONENTS (ECU, COILS, AND AUXILARY BATTERY. OPEN NISSAN CASE NUMBER [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WAS WITHIN THE SENSOR FOR THE SEAT DETECTION. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V138000 (AIR BAGS), 13V069000 (AIR BAGS), 11V408000 (AIR BAGS) AND 12V055000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS SCHEDULED FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND TO BE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I AM WRITING TO REPORT A VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP INVOLVING MY WIFE'S 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID AT THE INTERSECTION OF RTE 231 & I-495 SERVICE RD (E/B) IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY. NISSAN WAS CONTACTED, AS WELL AS MY INSURANCE CARRIER, MET LIFE, AND OTH SENT INDEPENDENT ARSON INVESTIGATORS TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE AND IDENTIFY A CAUSE/ORIGIN OF THE SPONTANEOUS IGNITION WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. MET LIFE'S INVESTIGATOR FOUND NOTHING POINTING TO THE MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THIS SPONTANEOUS IGNITION. NISSAN SENT THEIR INVESTIGATOR, WHOM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR, IDENTIFIED THE COMPONENT FAILURE AS A WIIRNG HARNESS NEAR OR ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM. NISSAN HAS CONTACTED ME STATING THEY "....CONDUCTED A DETAILED INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PRODUCT PROBLEM, FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT". IF THE INSURANCE CARRIER ...WHICH PAID ME....ABSOLVED THE MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION AS CAUSATION OF IGNITION (AND THEY HAVE A REASON TO FIND MY MAINTENANCE OR OPERATION AT FAULT TO ABSOLVE THEM FINANCIALLY) AND IDENTIFIED A WRINING COMPONENT/SYSTEM AS THE CAUSE/ORIGIN OF THE IGNITION, HOW CAN NISSAN SO BLATANTLY ABSOLVE THEMSELVES FROM ANY LIABILITY?? THERE IS NO MAINTENENACE RECOMMENDED WITH THIS SYSTEM OR COMPONENT, AND AS SUCH IS AN IMPLIED WARRANTY BY NISSAN. I AM NOW IN DEBT HAVING TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE WHICH IS CONSIDERABLY LESS THAN WHAT THE INSURANCE BOOK VALUE OF THE DESTROYED ALTIMA (BURNED UP AT A COMPLETE STOP!). MY WIFE ALMOST WAS TRAPPED IN THE INFERNO. NISSAN IS ACCEPTING NO LIABILITY, PRODUCT WARRANTY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ASAP AS EVERY NISSAN OWNER IS POTENTIALLY AT RISK! THANK YOU. *TR

WHILE AT A FULL STOP AT A RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF I-495 (EXIT 51 E) AND RT 231 IN SUFFOLK, NEW YORK, MY WIFE'S 2010 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID, WHILE IN ELECTRIC HYBRID MODE, EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH OCCURRED MARCH 8, 2014 AND IGNITED WITH VISIBLE SPARKS REPORTED BY EYEWITNESSES UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO COMBUSTION. AGAIN, THE VEHICLE WAS AT A FULL AND COMPLETE STOP AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT. FORTUNATELY MY WIFE NARROWLY ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE......WITH NO VEHICLE WARNING LIGHTS OR INDICATION/ANOMALIES WHICH WOULD WARN HER OF THE IMPENDING DANGEROUS VEHICLE IGNITION. NISSAN AND METLIFE, MY INSURANCE CARRIER, ARE INVESTIGATING BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT IS IN BOTH PARTIES INTERESTS TO BLAME THE OTHER....WITH ME AS THE INNOCENT VICTIM CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE. MY FEAR IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IS AT THE ROOT CAUSE AND OTHER UNSUSPECTING POTENTIAL VICTIMS ARE OPERATING THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE INTERVENE AND INQUIRE AS TO THIS PRODUCT'S OBVIOUS FALWED DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE BEFOR FATALITIES OR SERIOUS INJURIES ARE INFLICTED ON UNKNOWNING CONSUMERS. THANK YOU. *TR

THE VEHICLE SET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT A STOP LIGHT. I SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO BE TOLD THAT DUE TO THE ENGINE IN THE HYBRID VEHICLE STARTING AND STOPPING A LOT IT BUILDS UP CARBON IN THE CYLINDER. (A HYBRID VEHICLE STARTS AND STOPS BY DESIGN WHEN SWITCHING FROM ELECTRIC TO GAS AND VICE VERSA) I JUST GOT IT IN UNDER THE WARRANTY OF 60,000 MILES. MY ENGINE DID NOT SEIZE IN THIS INSTANCE HOWEVER THIS IS CLEARLY A DESIGN FAILURE AND NOT A USAGE FAILURE. IF THE HYBRID VEHICLE IS MARKETED AS A FUEL SAVER AND COST SAVINGS OVER IT'S USEFUL LIFE A $5,000 TO $10,000 BILL FOR ENGINE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT NEGATES ALL POSSIBLE SAVINGS. I WONDER IF THE DESIGN FLAW CREATES MORE CARBON EMISSIONS THAT NEGATES THE SPECIFICATION. *TR