— A Nissan Altima rusted floorboard lawsuit alleges the floors in the 2002-2006 Altima can rust so severely owners feel like they have become the Flintstones.
Plaintiff Marie DeMaria filed the proposed class-action lawsuit that alleges rust and corrosion can cause the floorboards to rust so severely the occupants can see the road. Additionally, the holes are deceptively dangerous because the interior carpet can hide the rust and corrosion from Altima owners.
Those hidden rust holes in the floorboard can allow harmful exhaust fumes and road debris into the car. In the event of an accident, the rust can weaken the structure and affect the seats in the Altima.
Expensive Repairs and Failed Inspections
The lawsuit also alleges for areas that require vehicle inspections, the cars can't pass inspection without the floorboards replaced, a job that could cost $3,000. For Altima owners who can't pay for repairs, they're left with parking the cars. Furthermore, selling the cars can be useless because no driver wants to drive a car that allows you to see the road below while driving.
DeMaria claims the rusted floorboards can't be blamed on outside forces such as weather or road salt because the rust begins from the inside and works its way to the outside of the floorboards. The lawsuit says hundreds of complaints have been filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and those complaints come from Nissan Altima owners across the country.
CarComplaints.com has also heard from owners spread out across the U.S.
"Just took my car to an auto body to get a quote on how much it would cost to fix the hole in my driver's side floor board and was quoted anywhere between $500-$1500 to fix this one hole. Come to find out, Nissan apparently sucks and isn't owning up to their hack-job of an undercarriage." - 2006 Nissan Altima owner / Holbrook, Massachusetts
"Floorboards rusted out on the left and right sides. The perforated type rust on both sides about 12 to 14 inches wide and over 24 and 26 inches in length. We still have the vehicle, will most likely fix this the spring and sell it. We would have bought another Nissan, but not with this going on from what I have read Nissan will not stand behind this problem or compensate in any form." - 2006 Nissan Altima owner / Tomah, Wisconsin
Nissan Knows It
The plaintiff claims Nissan has known about the rust problems since at least 2008, yet has never offered an extended warranty or a recall of the cars. Furthermore, it's unlikely a recall will ever occur because statements from Nissan make it clear the automaker doesn't consider the rusted floorboards a safety hazard.
The Nissan Altima rusted floorboard lawsuit alleges one person sustained injuries in an accident related to the alleged defect, while hundreds of owners have complained they are afraid to drive their cars.
Plaintiff Marie DeMaria wants Nissan to cover the cost of replacing the floorboards and warn drivers about the alleged defect.
The Nissan Altima rusted floorboard lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois - Marie DeMaria v. Nissan North America, Nissan Motor Company, LTD.
The plaintiff is represented by Gibbs Law Group LLP, Greg Coleman Law PC, and Morgan & Morgan Complex Litigation Group.