2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A CURB, THROUGH A FENCE, AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE APPROVED BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,109 UPDATED 07/19/12*LJ UPDATED 07/23/12

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) DEAR SIR/MS., I WOULD LIKE TO INFORM YOU THAT MY CAR (2007 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID) ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND ABRUPTLY (FIRST FORWARD AND THEN BACKWARDS), FULL THROTTLE, ON FEBRUARY 21, 2010, WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PARK IT IN THE GARAGE. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THIS INCIDENT. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR, OUR HOME AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. THE COSTS FOR REPAIR OF OUR HOME AND CAR, AND REPLACEMENT OF PERSONAL PROPERTY ARE ENORMOUS (>$30K). I BELIEVE THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE ELECTRONICS/COMPUTER/ ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS INSTALLED IN THE CAR. NISSAN HAS INSPECTED THE CAR, BUT HAS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR ACCOUNTABILITY. I DO NOT CONSIDER THIS VEHICLE SAFE, AND ACCORDINGLY, I DO NOT INTEND TO GET IT REPAIRED. AT THE SAME TIME, I DO NOT HAVE ANOTHER VEHICLE FOR USE, AND AS A RESULT I AM IMMOBILE AND GOING THROUGH GREAT DIFFICULTIES. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO COOPERATE AND RESOLVE THIS MATTER. I WOULD LIKE NISSAN TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY/ACCOUNTABILITY, PAY FOR THE DAMAGES TO MY HOME AND PERSONAL PROPERTY, TAKE THIS CAR BACK, PAY FOR AN ALTERNATE VEHICLE, AND WAIVE ALL FUTURE PAYMENTS TO NISSAN MOTOR ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION (NMAC), OR REFUND ALL MONIES PAID SO FAR TO NMAC BY ME. I WOULD APPRECIATE IF YOU COULD INVESTIGATE THIS MATTER AND RESOLVE IT TO MY SATISFACTION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND SUPPORT. [XXX] *TR UPDATED IVOQ 10/29/10 UPDATED IVOQ 11/17/10

PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED AT RANDOM TIMES (SOMETIMES FOR ENTIRE 20+ MINUTE TRIPS) REGARDLESS OF THE WEIGHT OF PASSENGER (ALL MORE THAN 100 POUNDS, SOME MORE THAN 200 POUNDS). I BELIEVE THE SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE. NISSAN HAS RECALLED SEVERAL VEHICLES OF MY MODEL YEAR, 2007, AND EVEN MY MODEL, ALTIMA HYBRID, HAS A RECALL, BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. I BELIEVE THAT MY CAR HAS THE DEFECT THAT LED TO THE RECALL, AND EVEN THOUGH I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THRICE, THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING OTHER THAN RUN IT ON THE COMPUTER FOR ERROR CODES. GOD FORBID WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAG DOES NOT INFLATE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND IS ONGOING. THANKFULLY WE HAVE NOT NEEDED THE AIRBAG. *TR

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT RANDOMLY GOES ON WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE CAR IS DRIVING. IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES - ONCE WHILE IT WAS HAPPENING BUT SERVICE WAS CLOSED ON THAT SATURDAY AFTERNOON. THREE OTHER TIMES THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE PROBLEM. WAS TOLD IT WOULDN'T EFFECT SAFETY OF PASSENGER. JUST GOT RECALL IN MAIL (1-9-2009) AND READ ONLINE THAT THE RECALL WAS BACK IN NOVEMBER, HAD I KNOWN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER LEMON LAW. *TR

ON 6/2/2008, I REPORTED TO THE NISSAN DEALER THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ALERT LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON SEVERAL INTERMITTENT OCCASIONS WHEN AN ADULT WAS FULLY SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE AND REPORTED: "INSPECTED EVERYTHING WORKING AS DESIGNED". ON 10/2/2008, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V521000 REPORTED A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON 12/4/2008 AND THE DEALER PERFORMED NISSAN'S TEST FOR THE PROBLEM UNDER THE RECALL. THE DEALER REPORTED THAT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. ON THE NEXT DAY AND TWICE MORE IN THE FOLLOWING SEVERAL DAYS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ALERT LIGHT WAS AGAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN AN ADULT WAS FULLY SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. I RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON 1/7/2009 AND THE DEALER AGAIN CHECKED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NISSAN'S PROCEDURES AND STATED THAT NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. IT SEEMS CLEAR THAT NISSAN'S PROCEDURE EMPLOYED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE RECALL IS NOT FULLY RELIABLE IN DIAGNOSING THE CONDITION THAT CAUSES THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THIS LEAVES FRONT SEAT PASSENGERS IN POTENTIAL DANGER. *TR

AIR BAG FAILURE NISSAN HYBRID-- THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG AUTOMATICALLY DEACTIVATED ITSELF EVEN WHEN ADULT (EG. 110 POUNDS AND 5FEET 2 INCHES TALL) SITS UPRIGHT. IT ALSO DEACTIVATES OR ACTIVATES FREQUENTLY WHEN THE PASSENGER IS NOT ADJUSTING HIS/HER POSITION AND THERE IS NO NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN ROAD CONDITION. THE BEHAVIOR IS ERRATIC AND HAPPENS 75% OF THE TIME. I AM AFRAID FOR THE LACK OF PROTECTION BY THE AIR BAG SYSTEMS IN THE CASE OF DISASTER. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY NISSAN SO FAR. 2 DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT AREN'T ABLE TO EXPLAIN THE SYMPTOMS. ONE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT SHOULD WORK BEYOND 120 POUNDS. NISSAN'S GUIDELINE IS FIFTY POUNDS AND NOT 100. THE OTHER DEALERSHIP RAN AN ELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTIC ON THE CIRCUITRY AND DIDN'T IDENTIFY ANY MALFUNCTION. *TR