Nissan to pay $325,000 to settle stolen headlights case

[mikeyb]

NEWARK, N.J. -- Owners of Nissan Maximas whose headlights were stolen between December 2002 and November 2003 will share in part of a $325,000 payment the company is making to New Jersey to settle a lawsuit the state brought over the thefts.



In March 2004, the state sued Nissan North America alleging the automaker failed to warn customers that the super-bright xenon headlights on its Maximas were hot targets for thieves.

More than 750 car owners were victimized by thieves trying to steal the moon-blue lights from 2002 or 2003 Maximas.

That lawsuit was dismissed, but the state appealed.

The settlement announced Thursday will end the state's appeal, and provide for a $325,000 payment to the state Division of Consumer Affairs. Part of the money will be used to reimburse the state's investigative costs, with the rest going to consumers who had their lights stolen, said Peter Aseltine, a spokesman for the state Attorney General's office.

He could not estimate how much individual vehicle owners might receive. The headlights typically cost about $1,800 to replace _ not counting repair costs for other damage done by thieves, which can bring the total to $4,000 or more.

"This is a fair resolution that takes into account Nissan's collaborative efforts to resolve an issue of importance to its customers," said Assistant Attorney General Michael Shipp.

The state noted that the company began a theft deterrent program in November 2003 that included free installation of a theft-deterrent bracket for the lights.

But in its 2004 lawsuit, the state claimed Nissan knew that its lights were being targeted by thieves for a year before telling customers about it.

A message left with the company's media relations office was not immediately returned Thursday.

The state's lawsuit alleges that on Sept. 26, 2002, the company issued a bulletin to its service technicians stating that a replacement connector kit was available for the headlights damaged by theft. Two months later, the lawsuit alleged, Nissan sent another bulletin to service reps informing them that a $175 theft-deterrent kit was available "if a customer requests" and "for customer pay only."

source:http://www.newsday.com/news/lo...story

This is stupid!!!

 

[boostisgood]

bulls***. Thats like saying gun makers need to say that guns can kill. Stupid, Stupid Stupid

 

[D-rock240]

LOL, what a country! What about, don't buy the car? Problem solved.

 

[mazpro]

wow, what people do for money..

 

[03.5MSP]

Thats ****** up. Thats like Mazda telling us, watch out your MSP is a hot target because its rare, and has a turbo. Stupid.

 

[haze20]

This is almost as stupid as the McDonalds lady.

 

[Prodigy]

Only in America...

 

[orlandomsp]

Only in America...

(werd)

 

[hyperboarder]

My mom drives an 02 maxima, never had anyone take a crack at the lights. They're not that great anyway, my 7000k's will be more attractive imo.

 

[p5power]

i hate people

 

[CRZbrussian]

i hate people

(werd)

 

[Newf]

Only in America...

exactly what I was going to say.

They got nothing better to do with their time? Honestly, someone should see this s*** and say don't waste my time with it and **** off...end of story.

 

[JOS3]

unbelieveable.

 

[GHOSTWHISPER]

Im getting so sick of this s***!

 

[GHOSTWHISPER]

Anyone else?

 

[quicksilvermp5]

sue-happy country...*tsk*tsk*tsk* (notcool)

 

[POSEIDON]

absolute insanity.

 

[Revs]

Every HID equppied car these days is a target, just do a search on Ebay for hid projectors and there are many for sale, many of them are probably stolen.

Maybe all the Integra owners who had their cars stolen should sue Acura..."ummm, i didn't know my car was #1 for theives, if not I would have bought a Tiburon"

 

[ion332]

Well, the 2nd amendment was set up to make sure that this sort of tyranny could be taken care of by the citizens if need be.


I think the time is nigh anymore because the whole "checks and balances" system seems to have broke down when it comes to the judicial system. Our judicial system is a tyranny where perfectly LEGAL things like selling someone a good automobile suddenly can be turned into a liability over a mere ALLEGED proof of some imaginary wrongdoing.

Just think about it for a minute: judges are prlly the single most career removed from society.. They cannot be fired, they cannot be sued, they are totally above the law and above criticism of any sort.

Besides its alot easier for lazy judges to go after Nissan than to try to find all the criminals stealing the lights, so, go after the easy and say to everybody "LOOK WHAT GOOD I HAVE DONE FOR YOU!"

No good deed goes unturned.

 

[Hughes412]

Subing