2001 Nissan Quest

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE THE PLASTIC TRIM COVER AROUND THE BASE OF THE FRONT SEAT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE TRAPPED BETWEEN THE SHOULDER OF THE RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE BOLT AND THE SEAT PEDESTAL. THIS COULD EVENTUALLY ALLOW THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE BOLT TO LOOSEN.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE OCCUPANT SEATED IN THAT LOCATION MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT. SOME BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES MAY REQUIRE REPLACEMENT.

THE WHOLE UNDERNEATH OF MY VAN IS RUSTING OUT I WENT AND HAD IT CHECKED AND THEY SAID IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME AND THE WHOLE VEHICLE WILL JUST DROP.

THE MAIN ENGINE SUPPORT FRAME MEMBER TO WHICH THE BOTTOM-FORWARD MOTOR MOUNT IS ATTACHED RUSTED COMPLETELY FREE WHERE IT ATTACHES AT THE AREA UNDER THE RADIATOR. THIS CAUSED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO DROP. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. REPAIR REQUIRES EXTENSIVE STRUCTURAL WORK. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM IN ADVANCE OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICE REGULARLY. THE COMPROMISED AREA WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY VISIBLE AS IT IS CONCEALED BY A SPLASH GUARD. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED, DUE TO POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF CONTROL RESULTING FROM COMPROMISED STEERING, BRAKING AND OTHER SYSTEMS. NISSAN HAS NOT ISSUED ANY BULLETINS, RECALLS FOR INSPECTION, OR OTHER COMMUNICATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE. A BRIEF INTERNET SEARCH PRODUCES NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. MANY OF THE COMPLAINTS STATE NISSAN HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO COMPLAINTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN QUEST GL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR FROM THE INTERIOR, THE FRONT PASSENGER INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CAUSED LACERATIONS TO THE CONTACT'S FINGERS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL SHARP, FINE METAL SHAVINGS ON THE INNER PART OF THE HANDLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 134,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN QUEST. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DRIVERS SIDE SLIDING DOOR WHEN THE DOOR DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY WEAR AND TEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WOULD NOT COME FREE. I HAD TO JIGGLE OUT OF THE SEAT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME THE PART WAS GOING TO COST ME $39 TO REPLACE NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I HAD TO PAY TO FIX SINCE MY WIFE COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE SEATBELT WORKING CORRECTLY. IT STARTED TO LOCK UP ONCE IN A WHILE AND YOU JUST HAD TO BE SLOW WHEN UNBUCKLING THE SEATBELT. NOW IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK AT ALL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN GOOD OVER THE YEARS WITH ONLY ONE OTHER ISSUE THE DEALERSHIP CORRECTED THREE TIME BEFORE BEING HASSLE FREE. NO ONE COULD TELL ME WHY THE BUCKLE WOULD NOT OPEN JUST THAT I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE. *TR

THE REAR MOST PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW BRACKET GETS IN THE WAY OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR, EFFECTIVELY LOCKING IT CLOSED. THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE AND SOMEONE ON THE OUTSIDE NEEDS TO USE A SHIM TO PUSH THE BRACKET BACK INTO PLACE TO PROVIDE ENOUGH CLEARANCE FOR THE DOOR TO OPEN. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT OF A RUSTY, CORRODED BRAKE LINE WHICH REDUCED BRAKING ABILITY. I HAD RUSTY PORTION OF THE BRAKE LINE REPLACED AT A SERVICE STATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN QUEST. THE VEHICLE HAS TBC CLASSIC RADIO SR TIRES, SIZE 215-65R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND REPLACE THE TIRE. HE TOOK THE TIRE TO A TIRE SHOP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,000.

AUTOMATIC WINDOWS DEFECTIVE ; REGULATORS AND MOTORS GRIND RESULTING IN HOT MOTOR SMELL AND WINDOWS FAILING TO OPERATE UP OR DOWN .DO NOT USE FOR FEAR OF FIRE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO CLOSE WINDOWS AT ALL. SAFETY CONCERNS AND FEAR OF ENTRAPMENT IF IN AN ACCIDENT..DEALER REFUSED TO FIX OR REPAIR DEFECTIVE DEVICES..

I WAS IN A LOW IMPACT WRECK--NO DAMAGE TO MY 2001 NISSAN QUEST VAN. MY 7 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE VERY BACK BENCH SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES TO AVOID BEING HIT BY THE OTHER VEHICLE MY SON'S SEAT BELT RELEASED AND HE WENT FLYING INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THEN HIT THE SIDE DOOR. I WANT AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED IN A LOW IMPACT CRASH. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO A DEALERSHIP TO GET IT LOOKED AT. MY SON WAS INJURED IN THE CRASH AND HAD TO BE TRANSPORTED TO A TRAUMA UNIT. *TR

I PUT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ON AND CAN NOT GET IT OFF, IT'S STUCK. I CAN NOT GET OUT OF MY SEAT BELT. IT WILL NOT UNBUCKLE. I HAD TO WIGGLE OUT OF IT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. IF I WERE IN A WRECK I WOULD'VE DIED IN THAT SEAT BELT. I STILL CANNOT UNBUCKLE IT. I HAVE TO SLIP INTO THE SHOULDER PART TO EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE. MY AUTO MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE SPRING INSIDE THE LITTLE MECHANISM THAT HOLDS AND/OR RELEASES THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. HE SAID HE WASN'T TOUCHING IT. HE SAID TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WILL DO THAT TOMORROW. BELOW, I AM ASKED TO LIST THE NUMBER OF FAILURES, I PUT ONE BUT IT IS ONGOING. IN OTHER WORDS, IT HAS FAILED EVERYTIME I HAVE TRIED TO UNBUCKLE IT. IT'S SIMPLY STUCK AND WILL NOT COME UNDONE. *JB

THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE, SLOWED AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING. I HAD TO PULL THE WINDOW UP WHILE WORKING THE BUTTON. THE SAME DAY THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS MAKING THE SAME SOUNDS AND ALSO FAILED. I TOOK OFF THE INSIDE OF THE PASSENGER'S DOOR, I NOTICED THAT A PLASTIC PIECE HOLDING A METAL CABLE ON THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAD BROKEN IN HALF. WHEN I CHECKED THE DRIVER'S DOOR I SAW IT HAD BROKEN IN THE SAME SPOT. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO CATCH THE PROBLEM BEFORE BOTH MOTORS BURN OUT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CABLE TO TANGLE AROUND THE REGULATOR'S WHEEL ASSEMBLY, IT KINKED AND FRAYED THE CABLE. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND PURCHASED BOTH ASSEMBLIES AT A VERY STEEP PRICE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

MY MIDDLE DRIVERS SEAT BELT CLIP HAS BROKEN. ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO THE SLEEVE IT IS IN STARTED TO SLIP AND COME LOOSE. UNTIL IT FINALLY CAME OFF AND FEEL APART. I WENT TO THE DEALER, AT FIRST THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY THEN WHEN I TOLD HIM IT HAD A LIFETIME WARRANTY HE CHECKED ON IT AND SCHEDULED ME WITH A SERVICE APPOINTMENT IN A WEEK. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE, I WAS TOLD THEY NEEDED TO ORDER A PART AND IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK OR SO. IT HAS NOW BEEN 16 DAYS AND I HAVE NOT BEEN TOLD THE PART IS IN. WHEN I CALLED THEY PUT ME TO PARTS, BUT NO ONE ANSWERED AFTER 5 MINUTES. I CALLED THEM BACK AND DID NOT GET ANY ANSWER FROM THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. NO ONE SEEMS CONCERNED THAT MY MINI VAN, WHICH IS USED TO HAUL CHILDREN, DOES NOT HAVE A WORKING SEAT BELT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE SLIDING DOOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IT RELEASED FROM THE TRACK AND THE BACK PORTION FELL TO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT MADE AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO REATTACH THE DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC WINDOW SLOWED AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED WORKING. BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE WE HAD TO LEAVE OUR VEHICLE IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT AT ONE POINT WITH THE WINDOW FULLY OPEN. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND INVITES THEFT AMONG OTHER THINGS. ONE MONTH LATER THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS MAKING THE SAME SOUNDS AND ALSO FAILED. WHEN I TOOK OFF THE INSIDE OF BOTH DOORS, THE EXACT SAME FAILURE HAD OCCURRED. A PLASTIC PIECE HOLDING A METAL CABLE ON THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAD BROKEN IN HALF IN THE SAME SPOT ON BOTH WINDOWS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE FAILURE WAS SO BAD THAT IT ALSO CAUSED THE WINDOW'S MOTOR TO BURN OUT. I CAUGHT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW'S SYMPTOMS IN TIME BEFORE IT HAD A CHANCE TO DESTROY THAT MOTOR. THE FAILURE ON THAT SIDE CAUSED THE CABLE TO TANGLE AROUND THE REGULATOR'S WHEEL ASSEMBLY. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE MANUFACTURER. *NM

2001 NISSAN QUEST TIRES EXPERIENCING TREAD SEPARATION.*MR WHEN THE TIRE SEPARATED IT CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE SPINNING OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE. *NM

DT: CALLER SAID BOTH FRONT AXLES BROKE. CAR MADE A NOISE AND WHEN SHE TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT THE DEALER SAID THAT THE RIGHT ONE RUSTED AND THE LEFT ONE BROKE. BOTH WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE WINDOWS 4 TIMES. A MECHANIC WAS FIXING THE AXLES. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND CALLER IS WAITING FOR THEM TO CALL HER BACK. THE DATE WAS WHEN THE WINDOWS STARTED GOING BAD. THE AXLE PROBLEM STARTED ON JULY 6, 2005. *AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 NISSAN QUEST VAN, TRAVELLING AT BETWEEN 30 AND 35 MPH, A DRIVER OF A FULL-SIZED PICKUP TRUCK COMING FROM A SIDE STREET, DIDN'T SEE HIS STOP SIGN. HE WAS ALSO TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH. I NOTICED HIM ONLY IN TIME FOR MY FOOT TO REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL BEFORE IMPACTING THE PASSENGER SIDE OF HIS TRUCK AT THE REAR OF THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE IMPACT SPUN HIS VEHICLE 180 DEGREES AND MINE ABOUT 25, FROM THE DIRECTION OF ORIGINAL TRAVEL. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND FOR MY VEHICLE TO DECELERATE FROM 35 TO 0. THE IMPACT TO MY VEHICLE WAS FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DAMAGE WAS ENOUGH TO PUSH THE RADIATOR BACK AT ABOUT A 35 DEGREE ANGLE FROM VERTICLE. I SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE OTHER PASSENGERS SUSTAINED NO TREATABLE INJURIES. IN MY OPINION THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED, BUT DIDN'T. THIS IS THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT.

2001 NISSAN QUEST SE VAN [XXX]. AT FIRST START UP EACH DAY OR AFTER SITTING AN HOUR OR SO A LOUD GRINDING ENGINE NOISE IS HEARD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. WILL REPORT THIS TO THE DEALER ASAP. THIS HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR FOUR MONTHS AND IT HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT NOW. WE BOUGHT IT USED WITH 7,000 MILES ALREADY ON IT. *JB *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

2 COMPLAINTS - SIDE WINDOW LATCHES DO NOT STAY LATCHED IF OPENED EVEN ONCE. HAD THEM REPLACED, THEN THEY WERE REOPENED AND NOW WILL NO LONGER STAY LATCHED PROPERLY, THEY CONTINUALLY POP OPEN. 2ND COMPLAINT - HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YEARS AND THE BOOTS FOR THE FRONT END KEEP TEARING. WE ARE REPLACING ONE OF THEM FOR THE 2ND TIME ALONG WITH CV JOINT.*AK