1996 Nissan Altima

I AM AWARE OF TECH. SAFETY BULL. NTB 96-009; 009A; 009B. TRANSMISSION FAILED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE AND NEUTRAL GEAR WAS A FORWARD GEAR. DRIVE GEARS WERE NOT CORRECT, OFTEN NEUTRAL. 1ST 2 TIMES, PROBLEM CORRECTED ITSELF AFTER ABOUT 1 HR. DEALER REFUSED TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM UNTIL 3RD FAILURE, CLAIMING THEY NEEDED TO SEE THE ACTUAL PROBLEM BEFORE DEALING WITH IT. THEY DID INSPECT CAR AFTER 1ST FAILURE BUT FOUND NOTHING. 3RD TIME THEY DID LINE AND PRESSURE (?) TESTS, WHICH THEY COULD HAVE DONE 1ST TWO TIMES BUT DID NOT. TRANSMISSION FAILED. THEY DID NOT ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURE, CLAIMING THAT NISSAN CORPORATE INSTRUCTED THEM TO REPLACE AND NOT INVESTIGATE. TOLD ME THEY WERE PUTTING A "NEW" TRANSMISSION IN. FOUND OUT AFTER WORK DONE THAT IT WAS A REMANUFACTURED ONE. THEY ALSO REPLACED RADIATOR. NISSAN CORPORTATE CONTACTED AFTER 1ST FAILURE, BUT REFUSED TO DEAL WITH PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED OVER SAFETY AND INSTALLATION OF REMANUFACTURED TRASMISSION. I OWN 2 OTHER ALTIMAS, A 96 AND A 94. SHOULD THIS BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL AND SHOLD NISSAN BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SHARING DATA ON INVESTIGATION OF FAILED TRANSMISSIONS WITH YOUR OFFICES IN LIGHT OF TSB? *AK

DEBRIS COLLECTS IN THE WINDSHIELD WELL OF MY CAR. IT THEN APPARENTLY FALLS DOWN INTO THE HEATING VENT SECTION. AS A RESULT, I HAVE HAD SMOKE COME OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE HOOD OF MY CAR, AND A BURNING SMELL POUR INTO THE CAR CABIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NO FILTER ON THE CAR TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, AND WANTS TO CHARGE ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM (BY CLEANING OUT DEBRIS). WHEN I ASKED HIM HOW I PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, HE TOLD ME NOT TO PARK UNDER TREES. THIS IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO DO WHERE I LIVE.

THE UPPER OIL PAN SEAL IS NOT SECURE. THIS CAUSES OIL TO LEAK FROM ENGINE. I AM FAMILIAR WITH FOUR OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ( ALTIMA OWNERS). THE SEAL ITSELF IS VERY INEXPENSIVE, BUT THE LABOR TO LIFT THE ENGINE TO REPLACE THE SEAL, IS ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY $450 TO $600. WITH FIVE ALTIMA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN ERROR. ANY HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! *AK

PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY DEFECT IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS FLASHING CONTINIOUSLY. AFTER THE BODY WORK WAS REPAIR, THE BODY SHOP TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FLASHING INDICATOR LIGHT. THEY LEARNED THAT THE SENSOR MODULE WAS DAMAGED. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY PAID AN ADDITIONAL $500+ TO REPLACE THIS. HOWEVER, WHEN THEY REPLACED IT, AN ERROR MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED WHICH SAID: "PASSENGER AIRBAG DISENGAGED." THUS, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED FROM THE ACCIDENT, ALTHOUGH THE AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT SUSTAINED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT IF THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, IT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE FACTORY. THEIR LOGIC IS THAT THE IMPACT COULDN'T HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. NISSAN REFUSES TO ABSORB THE COST BECAUSE OUR VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. AT PRESENT, WE ARE STILL WITHOUT OUR VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN 3 MONTHS AND THIS IS OUR ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION.