2000 Nissan Xterra

THE STEP BOARDS OF THE 2000 NISSAN XTERRA ARE CORRODING. I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE AND THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE OR UNUSUAL USAGE OF THE STEP BOARDS THAT WOULD HAVE CASUED THE CORROSION. OTHERWISE, THE VEHICLE, BOTH MECHNAICALLY AND BODY, IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. *AK I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TWO BODY SHOPS AND BOTH AGREE THE STEP BOARDS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. ESTIMATES FOR NEW STEP BOARDS AND INSTALLATION RANGE FROM $500 TO $670. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER INDICATES THE STEP BOARDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE VERY DURABLE AND SHOULD NOT HAVE CORRODED. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO GET ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM NISSAN TO REPLACE THE STEP BOARDS. MY DIRECT REQUEST TO NISSAN WAS ALSO TURNED DOWN. SINCE I HAD TO ENTER A DATE IN THE FORM BELOW, I ENTERED THE DATE NISSAN TELEPHONED ME AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT BE ASSISTING ME IN MY EFFORT TO REPLACE THE STEP BOARDS. MY FILE NUMBER WAS 567.8334. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OR DEATHS DUE TO THE DEFECT. HOWEVER, THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE FACTORY INSTALLED PART ON THE VEHICLE.

HEAT SHIELD ON BOTTOM OF 2000 NISSAN XTERRA SE BECAME LOOSE AND REQUIRED TIGHTENING TO STOP RATTLING ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS SINCE BOUGHT CAR NEW IN THE END OF 1999 FROM A DEALERSHIP IN CHICAGO - MAYBE 6-12 TIMES. WHILE DRIVING ON 1/17/07, BRAKES JUST GAVE OUT. WHEN CAR BROUGHT TO SHOP, IT TURNS OUT THE HEAT SHIELD WAS RUBBING ON THE STEEL BRAKE LINE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE/BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE AND VIBRATION/RUBBING HAD FINALLY ERODED THE STEEL BRAKE LINE TO THE POINT IT BEGAN TO LEAK. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT NOTICED EXHAUST SMELL INSIDE THE CAB. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT AN LOOSE UNDERBODY SHIELD WAS THE CAUSE FOR THE RATTLING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE CONTACT NOTICED 14 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NETS WEBSITE REGARDING CRACKED RIGHT HAND EXHAUST MANIFOLD, AND EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE INHALING CARBON MONOXIDE POSED A SERIOUS RISK. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

YESTERDAY MY 2000 NISSIAN WAS BROKEN INTO AND THE STEREO FACE WAS STOLEN. THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS PRIED OPEN. THE ALARM SYSTEM NEVER WENT OFF. WHAT I AM UPSET ABOUT IT THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP AND NISSIAN CORP. STATED THAT IT WOULD COST ME APPROX. $85.00 TO HAVE IT CHECKED. I KNOW THAT THE ALARM WORKS BECAUSE I SET IT MYSELF REACHED THROUGH THE WINDOW AND TRIED TO UNLOCK THE DOOR AND THE ALARM WENT OFF. I TOLD NISSIAN ABOUT IT THINKING THAT THEY MIGHT WANT TO CHECK IT OUT BECAUSE EVIDENTLY THEIVES HAVE FOUND OUT HOW TO UNLOCK THESE WITHOUT SETTING OFF THE ALARM. THEY WEREN'T CONCERNED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD DOCUMENT IT. BASICALLY THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I TOLD THEM HAD HAPPENED. SO IF YOU OWN A NISSIAN DON'T EXPECT YOUR ALARM TO GO OFF IF SOMEONE PRIES OPEN THE DOOR.*AK