2005 Nissan Altima

I DROVE A 2005 ALTIMA 2.5S WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN APRIL OF 2005. IT WAS MAINTAINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH NISSAN RECOMMENDATIONS. CURRENT MILEAGE APPROXIMATELY 21,000. NO ACCIDENTS ,AND WAS IN EXCELLENT TO GOOD CONDITION. WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AND APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT. AS I APPROACHED THE LIGHT, THE CAR BEGAN TO JERK AND STALLED. PRIOR TO THE STALL THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND NO WARNING LIGHTS TO SIGNAL A PROBLEM. UPON STALLING THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN QUICKLY SHUT OFF AGAIN. I TRIED TO START THE CAR. THE CAR STARTED RIGHT AWAY AND BEGAN THE SAME JERKING MOTION. AS I CAME TO THE NEXT LIGHT I WAS ABLE TO TURN RIGHT AND PULL THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD JUST AS THE CAR CAME TO A STALL A SECOND TIME. I CALLED NISSAN. WHILE ON THE PHONE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE HOOD OF MY VEHICLE. IN A MATTER OF SECONDS THE SMOKE BECAME DARKER. I REALIZED THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. I EXITED THE VEHICLE. WHILE ON THE PHONE WITH THE 911 OPERATOR,FLAMES CAME OUT OF THE HOOD. OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST THREE AND ONE-HALF WEEKS I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH NISSAN REGARDING THE CAR FIRE AND WARRANTY. NISSAN TOOK TWO WEEKS TO SEND AN ENGINEER TO LOOK AT THE CAR, AND IT HAS BEEN OVER A WEEK SINCE THE ENGINEER VISITED, AND I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD WHAT RECOURSE WAS AVAILABLE OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT I MAY HAVE TO GO TO ARBITRATION WITH NISSAN TO SEEK ANY DAMAGES. I HAVE SEEN NOTHING BUT A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR PROFESSIONALISM AND SERVICE FROM A COMPANY WHICH TOUTED ITSELF AS A SERVICE-ORIENTED ORGANIZATION. I HOPE THIS COMPLAINT DREW YOUR ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR A SERIOUS INQUIRY INTO POTENTIAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2005 ALTIMA. CAR FIRES WHICH OCCUR IN NEW VEHICLES WERE A DANGEROUS MATTER, AND I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT NISSAN HAS NOT DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE IN A MORE APPROPRIATE WAY. EVERYONE INVOLVED WAS FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS INJURED OR KILLED. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. AT 20 MPH THE VEHICLE STRUCK AN ICE PATCH AND BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED, AND THE IMPACT CAUSED THE FRONT SEAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE TO COMPLETELY RECLINE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES WERE TAKEN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 26500.*AK

TL*- WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH THE 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR, BUT WASN'T QUITE SURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM UNTIL A BYSTANDER INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE BY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, CONTINUING TO BURN UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. THE CONTACT COULD PROVIDE PICTURES OF VEHICLE IF NEEDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 18000.*AK

I HAD NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE; I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED TO HAVE THEM TAKE A LOOK AT IT. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE STUCK INSIDE OF THE CALIPER SLIDES AND WERE NOT RELEASING FROM THE ROTOR. THEY RECOMMENDED REPAIRS COSTING ($320 + TAX). THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THEN ADVISED ME THAT THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO A 1 1/2 YEAR OLD CAR W/ 15,600 MILES ON IT AND HE WOULD SEE IF THE MANUFACTURER WOULD COVER THE CHARGE FOR THE REPAIR WORK NEEDED. NISSAN DECLINED COVERING THE REPAIRS AT THAT TIME AND I COULDN'T AFFORD TO FIX IT RIGHT THEN AND THERE. IN AUGUST OF 2006, I BROUGHT THE CAR TO ANOTHER REPAIR FACILITY TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE AT THE COST AS 338.37, WHICH INCLUDED TAX. TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE AGE AND MILES ON THE CAR, THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM W/ THE BRAKES AND THE SERVICE TECHNICIANS STATEMENT, THIS OBVIOUSLY SEEMED TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT WHICH I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO INCUR THE COST OF TO CORRECT. I SUBMITTED A LETTER WITH THE RECEIPTS FOR THE WORK DONE AND THE ORIGINAL INVOICE FROM THE DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO NISSAN TWO TIMES OVER A 3 MONTH SPAN BEFORE I GOT A RESPONSE FROM THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT. THEIR RESPONSE WAS, ONE, I ALREADY GOT THE WORK DONE SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO NOW AND SECONDLY THESE ARE ALL WEAR AND TEAR ITEMS. I WAS ADVISED BEING THAT I LIVE IN UPSTATE NY AND THE VEHICLE IS EXPOSED TO SNOW AND SALT IN THE WINTER THIS COULD HAPPEN. MY ARGUMENT WAS I'VE LIVED HERE MY WHOLE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER PUT THESE ITEMS ON A VEHICLE W/15K ON IT. NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY REFUSED TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AND MY OPINION NOW OF NISSAN AS A MANUFACTURE IS VERY POOR, THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE IS AWFUL AND OBVIOUSLY THEY MAKE A POOR PRODUCT THAT SHOULD NOT BE SOLD IN STATES WHERE THERE IS SNOW AS THEIR PRODUCT IS NOT MADE FOR ITS INTENDED USE IN THESE AREAS. I WILL NEVER BUY A NISSAN PRODUCT AGAIN AND WOULD ADVISE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE SAME. *JB

I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM MY 2005 ALTIMA THAT I PURCHASED NEW IN SEPT 05. THE FIRST WEEK I OWNED THE VEHICLE MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY SLUGGISH FROM TAKEOFF, I THEN CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD THAT ALL NISSAN ARE SLUGGISH AND NEED TO BE DRIVEN TO GET THE "NEWNESS FROM THE VEHICLE" WHAT KIND OF CRAP IS THAT. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT MY BRAKES ARE SQUEALING AND MY TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, I DON'T EVEN HAVE 20K MILES ON MY VEHICLE SO THIS IS VERY MYSTERIOUS TO ME. NISSAN IN MY OPINION DOES NOT LISTEN TO ITS CUSTOMERS AND CLAIMS TO BE THE VERY BEST TOWARDS THEIR CUSTOMERS ON THE COMMERCIALS BUT IN REALITY THEY ARE JUST ANOTHER BIG COMPANY MAKING MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF "USE TO BE LOYAL" CUSTOMERS". EVERY COMPLAINT ON THIS BOARD I CAN AGREE WITH WHICH IS SAD FOR I TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SEAT BELTS, SHARP BAR UNDER THE PASSENGERS SEAT, ENGINE AND PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG LIGHT SO BASICALLY ALL WE HAVE IS AN EXPENSIVE GOOD LOOKING NON-WORKING PIECES OF CRAP. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH NISSAN. SIGNED - WILL NEVER EVER EVER PURCHASE ANOTHER NISSAN IN MY LIFE. *NM

IN MARCH 06 I BROUGHT MY 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA, WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW, IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AT 19,000 MILES WHEN MY MECHANIC STATED THAT MY REAR BRAKES WERE WORN. I THEN BROUGHT IT TO MY DEALER AND THE TOO STATED THAT MY REAR BRAKES WERE PREMATURELY WORN, THE PAD DOWN TO THE METAL MORE SO ON THE PASSENGER SIDE,THEY DON'T KNOW WHY BUT WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. AFTER NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS TO NISSAN OF AMERICA AND MY DEALER I HAD TO PAY $260 FOR REAR BRAKES. NOW ITS DECEMBER AND 10,000 MILES LATER AND THE REAR BRAKES ARE GRINDING AGAIN. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED AGAIN THAT THEY WERE WORN AND WOULD REPLACE JUST THE RIGHT REAR PADS AND RESURFACE THE ROTOR. I SAID THERE MUST BE SOMETHING WRONG AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WASN'T ANYTHING WRONG AND AGAIN THE DON'T KNOW WHY THE BRAKES WERE WORN. THEY JUST SAID THAT ALTIMAS GO THROUGH BRAKES FASTER. I DON'T BUY IT. I HAVE A CALL INTO NISSAN NOW, MAYBE THIS TIME THEY WILL DO SOMETHING. *NM

HELLO IN 2006 AUGUST, MY 2005 BRAND NEW ALTIMA'S BATTERY EXPLODED AND IT WAS A MIRACLE THAT ME AND MY FRIEND DID NOT GET HURT. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER THE BATTERY. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO A THIRD PARTY SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACE MY BATTERY FUSE (WHICH I WAS TOLD CAUSED THE EXPLOSION) AND MY BATTERY. WHEN I WENT OVER THE DEALERSHIP LATER THEY TOLD ME I SHOULD'VE BROUGHT THE CAR OVER THERE. THEY CLAIMED I WAS LYING WHENI SAID I WAS TOLD BY THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY DON'T COVER THE BATTERY AND DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE CAR. NOW, MY FRONT BUMPER IS COVERED IN BATTERY ACID AND IS NOT REPAIRABLE. I CALLED THE CUSTEMR SERVICE DID EVERYTHING I COULD BUT THEY SIMPLY WON'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH I WOULD IF THEY DIDN'T TOLD ME THEY DID NOT COVER THE WARRANTY ON THE PHONE. I HAVE MY RECEIPT OF THE BATTERY FUSE AND BATTERY REPLACEMENTS BUT I DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE OLD BATTERY. I'M VERY DISSAPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED BY THIS AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I'M NOT LOOKING TO GET ANY KIND OF MONEY OUT OF THIS BUT I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW NOT TO HAVE ANY PROBLEMS ESPECIALLY A BATTER EXPLODING TO MY AND MY FRIENDS FACE. THANK YOU. *NM

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GIVE MY VEHICLE GAS AFTER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, I HEARD A HISSING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I BEGAN TO GIVE THE VEHICLE GAS, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS INCREDIBLY HARD TO TURN. I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND AS A RESULT, I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE STEERING COLUMN FELT AS THOUGH IT DID NOT HAVE POWER STEERING AT THE TIME. WHEN MY VEHICLE CAME TO REST, I WAS FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEDIAN AND HAD ADDITIONALLY TAKEN OUT SEVERAL ROADS SIGNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY AND INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC FOR THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE RIGHT TIE ROD HAD BROKEN. AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE, THE RADIATOR WAS BUSTED, HEADLIGHT BUSTED AND MANY OTHER COSTLY EXPENSES. AT PRESENT TIME, MY VEHICLE REMAINS IN THE BODY SHOP AWAITING REPAIRS. THIS HAS ENDED UP A VERY COSTLY DEFECT IN MY VEHICLE AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER FOR SOME REIMBURSEMENT! THIS ACCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE POLICE. *JB