TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND A GRINDING NOISE EMITTED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE THREE OCCUPANTS EXIT FROM THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AND FLAMES WERE NOT PRESENT; HOWEVER, PARTS OF THE ENGINE DETACHED ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO EXCESSIVE LOW OIL CONSUMPTION AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V527000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.