WTF, can they deny a recall because of vehicle's location?

[bcar240]

I just discovered this recent investigation and subsequent recall on certain Pathfinders and QX4s due to the strut tower having accelerated rust problems and catastrophically failing (in several cases knocking out the steering column).

NHTSA Investigation: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/probl ... mmary=true

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAY ENTER AN ASSEMBLY LOCATION HOLE IN THE UPPER STRUT HOUSING, CAUSING WATER TO COLLECT AT THE MATING SURFACE OF THE STRUT HOUSING PANEL AND THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME, THIS SNOW/WATER AND SALT INTRUSION MAY RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING IN SOME SUBJECT VEHICLES.

My parents just had this exact problem happen to their Pathfinder, and the car is no longer drivable. However, they live in Kentucky (where they bought the car new in 1997), right across the Indiana state line, so this recall excludes them. I was wondering if anyone had heard of something like this and how they can set limits on a recall just because they are registered in a certain state, especially when the vehicle obviously has the problem.

[hannibal]

Ive seen several recalls limited to specific states, often involving "winter problems" or issues related to certain types of gas sold in specific states.

I think they could argue they live in an area with "HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT". But I have no idea how to convince Nissan of that. Maybe start at the dealer they purchased from.

[bcar240]

Ive seen several recalls limited to specific states, often involving "winter problems" or issues related to certain types of gas sold in specific states.

I think they could argue they live in an area with "HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT". But I have no idea how to convince Nissan of that. Maybe start at the dealer they purchased from.

Yeah, really all my dad wants anyway is a reasonable trade-in value of what the car should have been worth. So maybe they will be more inclined to just give him a decent deal on a car then give him the full recall treatment. Though I am not sure if this decision will be able to come from the dealer, but it's as good a place as any to begin.

I just don't see the logic of restricting it to political boundaries. If the car has the problem, it has the problem. If they had purchased the car in Indiana but moved to Florida the next day and lived there for the next 14 years it would still be covered for the issue, but buying and living 3 miles south of the state line they are not. Not to mention that they spent tons of time driving in the recall states over the years. Just seems like a horribly arbitrary way to enforce it.

[Acecool]

They can take it to court, and they can win because this is a problem noted in those areas. They are near the area, the problem happened. Open & shut court case to be honest if the dealership wants to complain.. But, more importantly, if this problem can happen in any of those states, it can happen anywhere else. So anyone having this issue and that lost money on resale or whatever else should open a class action case against them if they refuse to rectify the problem.

[Bubba1]

I just discovered this recent investigation and subsequent recall on certain Pathfinders and QX4s due to the strut tower having accelerated rust problems and catastrophically failing (in several cases knocking out the steering column).

NHTSA Investigation: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/probl ... mmary=true

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAY ENTER AN ASSEMBLY LOCATION HOLE IN THE UPPER STRUT HOUSING, CAUSING WATER TO COLLECT AT THE MATING SURFACE OF THE STRUT HOUSING PANEL AND THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME, THIS SNOW/WATER AND SALT INTRUSION MAY RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING IN SOME SUBJECT VEHICLES.

My parents just had this exact problem happen to their Pathfinder, and the car is no longer drivable. However, they live in Kentucky (where they bought the car new in 1997), right across the Indiana state line, so this recall excludes them. I was wondering if anyone had heard of something like this and how they can set limits on a recall just because they are registered in a certain state, especially when the vehicle obviously has the problem.

Yes, regional recalls are fairly common, particular on rust issues. I had received a regional recall on my 02 Altima for a sub frame rust issue, as I lived in one of the salty states. I doubt Altima owners in Arizona were personally contacted about it but there were service bullitens published about it. I'm confident that if your parents still own the vehicle and it displays the exact same problem as the recall, Nissan would honor the claim. But, if they no longer own the car, they're hosed.

[maxhopper]

Ford recalls that have to due with salt exposure usually include KY. In fact Ford words their recall to include any vehicle sold or currently registered in an affected state.

Best bet would be to call Nissan customer relations.