NHTSA complaint: 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA — STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
I JUST PURCHASED A 2005 NISSAN ALTIMA FROM COOPER NISSAN IN EASTON, PA. PROBLEM: THE TRUNK LID IS POORLY DESIGNED AND IT WILL NOT STAY UP ON A SLOPING DRIVEWAY.*AK WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR AND OPENED THE TRUNK ON MY DRIVEWAY. THE TRUNK LID WOULD NOT STAY UP, WHEN PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY. ABOUT A 15 DEGREE INCLINE. THE TRUNK LID HAS FALLEN ON ME SEVERAL TIMES BUT I WAS NOT CUT. I CONTACTED THE COOPER SERVICE DEPT AND THEY ORDERED NEW TORSION BARS. AFTER THEY WERE INSTALLED IT APPEARED TO WORK. ON 8/14/04 I WASHING VACUUMING OUT MY TRUNK. THE TRUNK LID FELL DOWN ON MY AND CAUSED A PUNCTURE WOUND TO THE BACK OF MY HEAD AND THE BLOOD STARTED FLOWING&. EVENTUALLY WITH A COMPRESS THE BLOOD FLOW STOPPED AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR BUT THE HEADACHE LASTED FOR HOURS! I CALLED THE COOPER SERVICE DEPT AND THEY ESSENTIALLY SAID" THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING, THATS THE WAY ITS DESIGNED- SORRY" I THEN CALLED THE NATIONAL NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT AND THEY REVIEWED MY COMPLAINT AND SUGGESTED A COURSE OF ACTION OF CHECKED MY CAR AGAINST OTHERS ON THE LOT AND TO REPLACE THE TORSION BARS AS NEEDED. BUT I HAD ALREADY DONE THAT. AND THEIR FINAL POSTION WAS " THATS THE WAY ITS DESIGNED AND THATS ALL THEY COULD DO, SORRY IT DOESN'T WORK ON YOUR DRIVEWAY - YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO HOLD UP THE LID WHEN YOU USE THE TRUNK" AND WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU NEED TWO HANDS TO PUT SOMETHING IN YOUR TRUNK??? I HAVE REPEATLY ASKED FOR A CHEAP , EASY FIX TO ADD ADDITIONAL STRENGTH TO THE TRUNK LID BUT I BEEN
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation