Amazing this happened, my wife could of been killed.

[1969chargerrtse]

We have a rental 2011 Nissan pathfinder.  My wife told me the car was vibrating on her way home from her job about 15 Min's away.  I took it for a ride and sure enough it was shaking.  I pulled over and checked the tires and lugs and couldn't find anything wrong.  I put it in gear and moved forward.  Bang clunk bang bang.  The drive shaft fell off!    She has a 7 hour trip for a Cheerleading competiton soon and is going with 3 others.  I told her if that shaft dropped while she was flying down a highway it could grab a lip in the road and flip the car over or come right through the floor.  Someone forget to tighten the bolts or what?

[b5blue]

    U-Joint looks new? Had it been replaced? Thank the Lord!

[1969chargerrtse]

   U-Joint looks new? Had it been replaced? Thank the Lord!

They look new because it's a new car.

[Fred]

Oh my God! That could have been disastrous.   

[tan top]

    you was lucky 

[Rolling_Thunder]

That's a bad day for sure

[Fred]

That's a bad day for sure

No..............it was a good day.................no one was hurt.

[b5blue]

So much for Japan's infallible Q.C. process! Very Lucky! 

[1969chargerrtse]

That's a bad day for sure

No..............it was a good day.................no one was hurt.

Agree

[1969chargerrtse]

So much for Japan's infallible Q.C. process! Very Lucky! 

Gotta tell ya.  Not inpressed with the car/truck.  Loud and engine noise compared to our Honda Pilot.

[69 OUR/TEA]

Very lucky Rob!!!!!

[Bobs69]

Yeah yeah the car that's too bad....... You said something about a cheerleader contest!? 

[1969chargerrtse]

Yeah yeah the car that's too bad....... You said something about a cheerleader contest!?  

Ha,  that's funny.    Yep, my daughter has a passion for it and I'm so proud of her.

[resq302]

Seeing that one bolt in there still, Im almost wondering if the threads where stripped.  Id definitely have it brought attention to Nissan or at least the rental car company as they gave you an unsafe vehicle.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Out of curiousity, what cheerleading competition? My daughter is at one this weekend by myrtle beach.

[rt green]

looks like they forgot the locktight thats usally on those

[1969chargerrtse]

Out of curiousity, what cheerleading competition? My daughter is at one this weekend by myrtle beach.

I'll Pm.  They won 1st place last week.  Watch out.  

[1969chargerrtse]

Seeing that one bolt in there still, Im almost wondering if the threads where stripped.  Id definitely have it brought attention to Nissan or at least the rental car company as they gave you an unsafe vehicle.

The rental place knows as they had someone flat bed it away, to a garage.  The garage guy couldn't believe it.  I emailed the National Highway Safety assy to put the info out there in case it's a common problem.

[1970Moparmann]

That's crazy.   You can look on Ralph Nadars website and see if this is a common issue. 

[Ghoste]

I can't imagine a Ralph Nader site being too reliable.

[1969chargerrtse]

Every time I hear his name it reminds me of the restored 69 Corvair conv I was behind one day, and the plate said " NADER "

[Bobs69]

Seeing that one bolt in there still, Im almost wondering if the threads where stripped.  Id definitely have it brought attention to Nissan or at least the rental car company as they gave you an unsafe vehicle.

The rental place knows as they had someone flat bed it away, to a garage.  The garage guy couldn't believe it.  I emailed the National Highway Safety assy to put the info out there in case it's a common problem.

If anyone else rents that vehicle and has problems then their lawyers could possibly dig up that dirst and put the blame where it belongs.  Possibly?

[resq302]

You said the rental place knows.  Did this happen before?  Or was it that they know now because you told them about it.

[TUFCAT]

I'd be so pissed! ...that rental company better be kissing you ass right about now! (and throwing some free coupons your way)! 

[1969chargerrtse]

You said the rental place knows.  Did this happen before?  Or was it that they know now because you told them about it.

They know now because I told them their car is stuck at............  They just called a garage and the garage is stunned also but fixing it.  Of course stupid questions are asked, like did you hit something?  Yeah 4 bolts fell off because even though there's no damage, we hit something. 

[1969chargerrtse]

I'd be so pissed! ...that rental company better be kissing you ass right about now! (and throwing some free coupons your way)! 

The girl behind the desk has no clue, that's why I emailed NHTSA.  Of course I haven't heard from them, but I did the best I could.  Maybe I'll email Nissan?

[Bobs69]

Yeah email Nissan but do it by forwarding, and adding to the email you sent NHTSA, and why not send a copy to yourself and the rental place so everyone knows you are tracking it.

[69rtse4spd]

Glad no one was hurt, make sure the rental company does not try to blame you for a quality issue. I see another recall coming up.

[1970Moparmann]

I can't imagine a Ralph Nader site being too reliable.

When I had a major issue with my Dodge Dakota, a lawyer advised to write up a report on Naders website, so I did.   I was floored on how many reports there was for the same thing.   People were getting killed by the airbag issue that Dodge wouldn't do crap about back in 2000.

[1969chargerrtse]

I can't imagine a Ralph Nader site being too reliable.

When I had a major issue with my Dodge Dakota, a lawyer advised to write up a report on Naders website, so I did.   I was floored on how many reports there was for the same thing.   People were getting killed by the airbag issue that Dodge wouldn't do crap about back in 2000.

Hmmm.  Nader again, O.k maybe I'll go that route?  I did write Nissan also.

[Cooter]

Hate to say this, but how do you guys know this wasn't just at "Johnboy's and Billybob's" Garage for trans/rearend work and was left loose? You are assuming it's a Nissan quality control issue. You may never know what actually happened here. Looks to me like someone has been into that driveshaft. Good luck even attempting to find out who.

[bill440rt]

Glad to see no one was seriously injured, Rob.

I agree, though. Check out that last remaining bolt in the pic you posted. Looks like there MAY have been an impact socket on it judging by the corners on the bolt. 
If there was ANY previous maintenance work on it, the rental company would have records of it.
Good luck to you.

[1970Moparmann]

If there was ANY previous maintenance work on it, the rental company would have records of it.
Good luck to you.

It should show up on a Car Fax report also.

[Tilar]

Hate to say this, but how do you guys know this wasn't just at "Johnboy's and Billybob's" Garage for trans/rearend work and was left loose? You are assuming it's a Nissan quality control issue.

You must have missed this one on the first page...

   U-Joint looks new? Had it been replaced? Thank the Lord!

They look new because it's a new car.

[bill440rt]

Hate to say this, but how do you guys know this wasn't just at "Johnboy's and Billybob's" Garage for trans/rearend work and was left loose? You are assuming it's a Nissan quality control issue.

You must have missed this one on the first page...

   U-Joint looks new? Had it been replaced? Thank the Lord!

They look new because it's a new car.

That may or may not matter.
I was at a GM dealer the other day. They had construction going on, and one of their cars sitting on the lot was damaged. Pretty badly I might add.
You guessed it, fixed & put back on the lot. 

[resq302]

Thinking about something I remembered that my drive shaft on my F150 is held in by the 12 point bolts, not the 6 point bolts shown in the pic.  I wonder if Nissan uses 6 points or 12 point bolts.  If so, thats a sure sign that someone had messed with it!

[1969chargerrtse]

I'd bet that nothing's been touched from being new. The bolt was slapped around that why it looks rounded or used with a gun.