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Nissan Maxima 1991 Complaint

Complaint about SEATS : FRONT ASSEMBLY : RECLINER

BEN LOMOND, CA

Consumer Complaint:
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH NOT FAR FROM HOME, THE BACK REST PORTION OF THE SEAT COLLAPSED INTO THE BACK SEAT AREA. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR ALTHOUGH I ALMOST WENT OFF THE ROAD DUE TO THE SUDDENESS AND SURPRISE OF IT HAPPENING. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR BACK HOME (WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY) AND INVESTIGATING THE SEATBACK SUPPORT STRUCTURE, I FOUND THE METAL FRAME WAS SHEARED IN TWO AT THE LOWER LEFT PORTION OF THE SEATBACK. THE NEXT DAY I USED A BOARD TO PROP THE SEAT UP TEMPORARILY, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FROM WHOM I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN 1991. THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE SEAT BACK METAL FRAME HAD BROKEN IN TWO PIECES DUE TO "METAL FATIGUE" BUT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY DUE TO TIME AND MILEAGE. I NOTIFIED NISSAN ON THEIR TOLL-FREE NUMBER; THEY ENTERED IN ALL MY INFORMATION, AND ALSO CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS NOT A COVERED ITEM. THIS, IN MY OPINION, IS A SERIOUS SAFETY RELATED DEFECT WHICH HAS APPEARED ON AT LEAST 6 OTHER CARS FROM THIS YEAR'S MODEL, ACCORDING TO NHTSA RECORDS. (ODI ID 978630, 972906, 909103, 811801, 824075 AND 517783. I ALSO FOUND EXAMPLES ON TWO 1992 AND THREE 1990 MAXIMA MODELS. NISSAN HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY MODEL YEARS, AND NO ONE KNOWS HOW MANY MAY HAVE OCCURRED THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTED TO NHTSA. SOME PEOPLE SUFFERED INJURIES DUE TO THIS SEAT FAILURE, AND THAT MAKES IT A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT THAT SHOULD REQUIRE MORE INVESTIGATION SINCE THE MANUFACTURER THINKS THIS IS WITHIN "ACCEPTABLE LIMITS' CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF THESE CARS SOLD. IT MAY BE ACCEPTABLE TO THEM, BUT NOT WHEN IT'S MY OR MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN JEOPARDY. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF ANYTHING FURTHER CAN BE DONE. I'M HAVING THE SEAT REBUILT BY THE DEALER AT MY OWN EXPENSE.

Date of Incident:
19990220