1995 Nissan Maxima

POWER WINDOW ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR GOT STUCK IN DOOR AND BURNED OUT REGULATOR AND POWER WINDOW MOTOR. APPROXIMATE COST TO FIX IS $400+ AT AN AUTOBODY SHOP, WHICH INFORMED ME THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH NISSAN MAXIMA'S 1991-1995, SO COMMON THAT NISSAN HAS PROBLEMS KEEPING IT IN STOCK. THE DEALER SAID THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE. I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE AND HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DEALER WOULD NOT CONSIDER THIS A RECALL. I FEEL I, AS THE CONSUMER, AM PAYING FOR A KNOWN PROBLEM AND NISSAN DOES NOT WISH TO DISCLOSE IT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ADVISE.

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20MPH HAD COLLISION WITH 3 OTHER VEHICLES HEAD-ON. MAXIMA'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER'S HANDS, AT 8 & 4 POSITION, WERE SEVERLY INJURED. THE RIGHT FINGERS WENT INTO THE HAND & THE THUMB WENT INTO THE WRIST. OWNER HAD 4 WEEKS OF THERAPY. UNABLE TO USE HAND. NO BURNS TO FACE DUE TO HAVING NYLON AIR BAG. THE SENSORS WERE LOCATED IN BUMPER AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. *AK

THE HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS (GAS FILLED HOOD LIFTS) FAIL DURING COLD WEATHER. THEY DO NOT RELIABLY HOLD UP THE HOOD WHEN THEY ARE COLD (E.G., CAR IDLE OVERNIGHT). WHEN WARMED (E.G., BY ENGINE HEAT), THEY USUALLY WORK AGAIN. NOW THAT THE WEATHER IS WARMER, THEY WORK, BUT NOT AS WELL AS WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW. THEY OBVIOUSLY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO EVENTUAL TOTAL FAILURE. BOTH THE DEALER AND NISSAN HQ HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM BY FAX LETTER. NISSAN HQ HAS ASSIGNED FILE #2816812 TO THE PROBLEM. NISSAN DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEM AS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. FURTHER, A NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE INDICATES THAT HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT; THEIR FAILURE COULD LET THE HOOD DROP ON SOMEONE'S HEAD WITHOUT WARNING. IN MY OPINION, HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS SHOULD BE ALL-WEATHER, SAFETY RELATED PARTS THAT ARE WARRANTED FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR (SOMETHING AKIN TO SEAT BELTS). NISSAN HAS OFFERED TO REPLACE THE HOOD SUPPORT STRUTS FOR ABOUT $100. I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE.

THE PROBLEM LIES WITH THE HYDRAULLIC RODS THAT HOLD UP THE HOOD FOR ANY KIND OF MAINTENANCE. I WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THESE OFTEN FAIL UNDER COLD CONDITIONS, BUT WHEN WEATHER WARMS, THE RODS WILL WORK AGAIN. THIS FAILURE IS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED. THE RODS SHOW NO LEAK AND APPEAR TO BE WITHOUT PROBLEMS. AS I RAISED THE HOOD ON MY MAXIMA, NEVER HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM BEFORE, I REACHED IN TO BEGIN MY INTERIOR INSPECTION WHEN THE HOOD DROPPED STRIKING MY HEAD, BUT ALLOWING ME TO REMOVE MY HANDS BEFORE THE HOOD SLAMMED DOWN. IF IT HAD NOT STRUCK MY HEAD AND FORCED ME BACK, I WOULD HAVE BROKEN OR SEVERED SEVERAL FINGERS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE NISSAN COMPANY HAS OPENED A FILE ON MY COMPLAINT. THE FILE NUMBER IS 2766755. THE CAR IS ONLY 31/2 YEARS OLD. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IN MY OTHERS CARS. NISSAN AGREED TO COMPENSATE FOR 1/2 OF THE REPLACEMENT COST, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A MATERIAL DEFECT THAT HAS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS SO THAT IT WHY I AM REPORTING THIS.