2007 Nissan Altima Hybrid

Defect. NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

WAS TOLD CAR NEEDED NEW HYBRID BATTERY, HAD REPLACED, NEXT TOLD INVERTER NEEDED REPLACING, CAR STILL NOT WORKING. NISSAN ENGINEER HAS NOW LOOKED AT CAR TWICE, LAST TIME 10/26 AND STILL WAITING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG. VEHICLE STOPPED STARTING ORIGINALLY AND WAS TOLD HYBRID BATTERY PACK.

VEHICLE FIRST WOULD NOT START, EVEN WHEN KEY INSERTED. AFTER SEVERAL TIMES OF PRESSING BRAKE CAR STARTS. CAR NOW SHOW VDC SLIP, ENGINE WARNING LIGHT, AND OTHERS COMING ON. CAR WILL NOT START AFTER NOT USING FOR TWO DAYS. DEALERSHIP STATES HYBRID BATTERY NEEDS REPLACEMENT @ COST OF OVER $6000.00. CAR ALSO WOULD LOOSE POWER ON TALE OFF FROM LIGHT. STARTING PROBLEMS ERRACTIC. DEALERSHIP STATE BRAKE SWITCH NEEDS REPLACEMENT.

WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 60MPH, CAR GAVE SHRIEK WARNING BEACON, WITH ALL INDICATORS LIT UP & ABRUPTLY CAME TO A HALT. IN THIS INCIDENT CAR LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. HENCE I WAS ONLY ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR VIA MECHANICAL KNOB AND RUN TO THE SHOULDER TO SAVE MY LIFE. CAR HAS TO BE TOWED FROM FREEWAY TO A MECHANIC SHOP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. MECHANIC FOUND THE BATTERY FUSE BEING MELTED & RECOMMENDED ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. UPON DIAGNOSIS, DEALER CONFIRMS THAT MAIN WIRING HARNESS THAT GOES FROM THE ENGINE THROUGH THE VEHICLE TO THE EV BATTERY THAT IS LOCATED IN THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE IS SHORTING OUT DUE TO THE WIRE BEING MELTED/HARNESS BEING MELTED CAUSING A RESISTANCE WITHIN THE CABLE & HENCE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL & LOSE ALL POWER. THIS IS SIMILAR TO ANOTHER COMPLAINT FILED ON NHTSA WITH ID NUMBER : 10560398 THE CAR IS WELL MAINTAINED FOR PAST 7 YEARS WITH ALL MAJOR & MINOR MILESTONE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP. LOOKS LIKE CHECKING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OF THE CAR WAS NOT PART OF NISSAN'S RECOMMENDED PLAN. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECOMMENDATION FROM DEALER DURING ANY OF MY MAINTENANCE VISIT ABOUT FAILURE IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. I AM LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, DESPITE MY CAR ABRUPTLY CAME TO A HALT IN FREEWAY. BUT, NISSAN SHOULD CONSIDER RECALLING THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE AND INCLUDE CHECK FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THEIR RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE PLAN. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OF A CAR IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT AS THE MECHANICAL COMPONENTS OF THE

TO START THIS CAR YOU PRESS THE BRAKE AND PRESS THE START BUTTON. I PRESS THE BRAKE PRESS START AND IT GOES TO ACC INSTEAD OF ON, THEN I PRESS IT TO ON AND IT WONT START. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES BEFORE BUT I TRY IT AGAIN AND IT STARTS WITHIN A FEW TRIES. NOW I AM TRYING TO START MY CAR AND IT WON'T START AT ALL. ALL THE LIGHTS ARE ON RADIO WORKS, ETC BUT THE CAR JUST DOESN'T TURN OVER OR TRY TO TURN OVER AT ALL IT JUST SITS IN THE ON POSITION. I READ ONLINE MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE A SPARE KEY AND I TRIED THE OTHER KEY (KEYLESS START KEY) AND IT DOES THE SAME THING SO IT IS NOT JUST THE KEY BATTERY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR 2 YEARS AGO AND HAVE ONLY PUT 40000 MILES ON IT. I HAD TO TAKE A TAXI TO SCHOOL AND BACK AND WILL HAVE TO TO WORK UNTIL IT GETS FIXED! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

SWAY BAR BROKE AFTER NO PARTICULAR INCIDENT. THE MECHANIC, A FRIEND WHO I TRUST GREATLY AND HAVE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME, SAID IT SEEMED ODD THAT THIS PIECE WOULD BREAK FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE PIECE WAS NOT RUSTED OR CORRODED IN ANY ABNORMAL MANNER. *TR

HAD TO REPLACE REAR STABILIZER BAR AT DEALER TODAY. PART LOOKED DEFECTIVE. IT WAS HOLLOW, RUSTED AND CORRODED. IT JUST SNAPPED ON ITS OWN. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS POSTINGS AND COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART ON THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR, WHERE THE OWNER HAD THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND WAS FORCED TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. I BELIEVE NISSAN SHOULD RECALL THIS PART. *TR

HAVE PROBLEMS WITH CAR GOING TOTALLY DEAD, NO LIGHTS ENGINE WON'T START ETC. HAD BATTERY REPLACED BUT THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM.CAR STILL DIED A COUPLE MORE TIMES UNTIL IT FINALLY WOULD NOT START OR FUNCTION IN ANY WAY...NO LIGHTS (NOT HAZARD,BRAKE,ETC.) WOULD FUNCTION,ENGINE WOULD NOT START, NOTHING... CAR IS DEAD.TOWED TO DEALER FIRST TOLD IT WAS THE BODY MODULE COMPONENT? ONE OF THE BRAINS IN THE CAR. THEN INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. TOLD TODAY IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS AND WILL COST $3,500.00+ THIS IN MY OPINION IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE ESPECIALLY AS WE COMMUTE IN THIS CAR. IT COULD HAVE DIED/STALLED ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO WARNING AND NO ABILITY TO USE HAZARD LIGHTS,ETC.WOULD NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO MOVE CAR WITH DEAD ENGINE IF WE WERE CAPABLE OF DOING SO,MEANING IF WE DID NOT SUFFER AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE NOTED AND PEOPLE INFORMED OF THIS DANGER! WOULD LIKE NISSAN TO TAKE THE CAR BACK!! I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FAILURE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. LIFE THREATENING AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. *TR

VEHICLE LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *TR

NOTICED A HANGING PIPE/BAR NEAR MY REAR LEFT WHEEL WHEN CHECKING TO SEE WHAT WAS MAKING NOISES WHEN I DRIVE. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THAT WAS BUT AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I CONFIRMED THAT IT IS THE REAR SWAY BAR FOR MY NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID. READING ONLINE AND TALKING WITH MECHANICS I LEARNED THAT MANY PEOPLE SHARE THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM AS ME! BASICALLY A LOT OF PEOPLE DRIVE THEIR CAR NORMALLY AND ONE DAY ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BAR BREAKS! WITHOUT A SWAY BAR THE CAR NOW HAS DEGRADED HANDLING AND IS A HAZARD TO DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. NISSAN USA SHOULD DEFINITELY ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY REGARDING THIS SWAY BAR PROBLEM. IT IS LONG OVERDUE AND THERE IS PLENTY OF EVIDENCE OF BAD DESIGN/MATERIAL DECISIONS. NISSAN IS OBVIOUSLY NOT RECALLING NOW NOT BECAUSE IT IS UNAWARE BUT BECAUSE IT IS MORE FINANCIALLY BENEFICIAL TO GET SUED AND SETTLE. PERHAPS IT IS TIME FOR A GROUP TO SUE NISSAN OVER THIS. *TR

MY HYBRID WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE HYBRID WATER PUMP HAD FAILED. NIACIN DID NOT HAVE THEIR OWN HYBRID TECHNOLOGY IN 2007 SO THE HYBRID SYSTEM IS FROM TOYOTA. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE HYBRID WATER PUMPS FOR THAT MODEL YEAR BECAUSE OF FAILURES. WHEN I TOLD THE DEALER NIACIN OF BOURNE IN MASSACHUSETTS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND FAXED HIM THE INFORMATION ON THE RECALL I ASKED HIM TO CONTACT NIACIN ABOUT THE ISSUE. HE STATED THERE WHERE NO CURRENTS RECALLS ON THE PART AND REFUSED TO INFORM NIACIN. I ASKED TWICE IF HE READ THE INFORMATION I FAXED HE SAID THEY RECEIVED IT AND HE HAD NOT, HE TOLD ME TO CALL 1-800-NISSAN1. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR I ASKED FOR THE PARTS AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE I DID NOT ASK FOR THE PART IN ADVANCE THAT THEY WERE THROWN AWAY. I CALLED ON NIACIN CORP ON NOVEMBER 15 AND WAS TOLD I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK BY THE END OF BUSINESS ON NOVEMBER 16. I CALLED TWO MORE TIMES AS OF 1:25 PM 11/20/2012 NO ONE HAS CALLED ME BACK. I BELIEVE THAT THIS MAY REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE IN REGARDS TO THE NIACIN ALTIMA HYBRIDS SINCE NO ONE FROM NIACIN CALLED ME BACK I FEEL I HAVE TO FILED THIS COMPLAINT. *TR

I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGE DONE AND WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE REAR STABILIZER BAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS BROKEN AND A SECTION OF IT WAS HANGING DOWN. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY PLACED IT ON THE RACK AND CONFIRMED THIS INFORMATION. THE BROKEN STABILIZER BAR WAS REMOVED AND AN ORDER PLACED FOR THE NEW PART. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT "THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ABUSE" AND THAT THEY JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THIS! *TR

WHEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON. THIS IS CAUSED DIFFICULTY FOR CAR TO START. BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH SETTING WAS ADJUSTED OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, BUT FINALLY IN MARCH OF 2011 I NOTICED IT AGAIN WHILE FOLLOWING THE CAR HOME ONE NIGHT THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT COMING ON. IT TURNS OUT THAT NISSAN HAD AN NTB10-139 ON THIS PROBLEM CALLING FOR COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND HARNESS. THIS LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF THE DRIVER IS SAFETY HAZARD. NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL. I HAD TO PAY $430 TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE ON APRIL 1, 2011. OTHERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE GREENHYBRID.COM WEBSITE. *TR

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

HEARD UNUSUAL NOISES UNDER THE CAR AND STOPPED BY FOR MECHANIC TO TAKE A LOOK. HE REPORTED THAT THE REAR SWAY BAR HAS SNAPPED AT THE CONNECTION POINT WITH NO SIGN OF DAMAGE OTHERWISE TO THE BAR. I AM BASICALLY THE ONLY DRIVER OF THIS CAR AND THERE IS NO REASON WHATSOEVER WHY THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. I SEE FROM RESEARCHING ONLINE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 ALTIMA - THE BAR IS OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AND THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY NISSAN. AND I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $500 TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR

BRAKE LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY TURNS ON AND OFF. BRAKES WEAR AND TEAR FASTER THAN ANY OTHER CAR EVERY OWN. *TR

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH SYSTEM IS FAILING ON THE NISSAN ALTIMA. HYBRIDS AND 2.5S THE RESULT IS THAT YOU DRIVE THE CAR WITHOUT KNOWING THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BECAUSE ISSUED NTB10-139 REQUIRING REPLACMENT OF SWTICH AND HARNESS SUB ASSEMBLY. *TR

2007 NISSAN ALTIMA REAR SWAY BAR BROKER FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I WILL HAVE TO CALL DEALER FOR RESOLUTION. THE INTERNET NOTES THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS CAR. *TR

IN MARCH 2010 WHILE IN FLORIDA THE ENGINE IN MY 2007 HYBRID ALTIMA DEVELOPED A "KNOCK" OR "RAP" WHEN COLD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN VENICE, FL AND AFTER KEEPING IT OVERNIGHT THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE INDEED HAS A PROBLEM THAT SOUNDED LIKE VALVES, BUT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO WORK ON HYBRID VEHICLES. I CONTACTED THE SELLING DEALER IN MAINE AND THROUGH THE NISSAN REP FOR NE FOUND A DEALER IN FT MYERS FLORIDA WHO WOULD LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THEY HAD EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND TALKED WITH NISSAN AND BELIEVED THE NOISE WAS A BUILDUP OF CARBON ON THE EXHAUST VALVES. NISSAN WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND WAS COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. WHEN WE RETURNED TO MAINE IN MAY THE DEALERSHIP IN BANGOR MAINE SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM OTHER THAN NORMAL NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THEY COULD FIND NO NISSAN RECORD OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS. AFTER CONTACTING NISSAN I WAS TOLD TO WAIT FOR THE FLORIDA NISSAN FACTORY REP TO CONTACT ME. *TR

2007 NISSAN ALTIMA HYBRID- WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (APPROX. 65 MPH) THE CAR SHUDDERED AND VIBRATED. THE SHUDDERING AFFECTED MY ABILITY TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS CARBON BUILDUP IN THE ENGINE. PART OF THE ENGINE (INCLUDING THE ENTIRE CYLINDER HEAD) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. APPARENTLY NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM- SINCE THEY GAVE THE DEALERSHIP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED ENGINE PARTS- BUT HAS NO PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP EXPECTS THE CARBON BUILDUP TO REOCCUR IN THE FUTURE CAUSING SHUDDERING/VIBRATING WHILE DRIVING AND POSSIBLY REQUIRING THE ENGINE PARTS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 45000 MILES ON IT. *TR