Nissan Altima Customer Becomes Irate When Dealer Refuses To Fix His Car For Free, “He Slammed His Knee Into the Seatbelt Buckle Crushing One Of My Fingers”

What should have been a routine Nissan Altima customer coming in for a recall issue turns ugly. Find out what happens when the customer is told his car will not be fixed for free. It's not pretty. 

This Nissan customer's experience was bad. However, the Nissan dealer’s was worse. 

Imagine the frustration of a customer who comes into a Nissan dealer, believing the hood latch on his Nissan Altima caused him to get in an accident. As reported by Automotive News, his frustration turns to anger when the dealer refuses to fix his recalled car for free.

The report states, "Ronald Robinson went to Orr Auto Mall in Russellville and adamantly demanded that it repair his wrecked vehicle under warranty. He firmly believed a defective latch caused the hood to malfunction, rise up, block his vision, and cause a crash."

The Nissan Altima did have a recall. 

The vehicle was among the 2013-15 model Altimas that Nissan recalled for faulty hood latches. The report does not say if the customer's Altima had been fixed.  

It's unsure if the faulty Altima hood latches were known to cause the hood to malfunction, rise, and block the driver's vision, potentially leading to a crash. 

Despite being told he was responsible for financing the repairs himself, Robinson refused to leave the store. His determination was evident when he resisted the police's attempts to arrest him, leading to a 'push-and-pull struggle'.

Officers said Robinson did "everything he possibly could to get away, including kicking manically, jerking and striking the officers with his legs and feet," the September 4 decision said. He resisted efforts to put him into the patrol car, and once he was in it, the officer said he "slammed his knee into the seatbelt buckle, crushing one of my fingers."

It won't go well when you resist arrest and strike an officer. But it wasn't Robinson's first run-in with the police. 

Despite his claims, a jury convicted him of battery, resisting arrest, criminal trespass, and disorderly conduct. On appeal, he unsuccessfully contended the jury shouldn't have been allowed to hear testimony about his arrest two weeks earlier for injuring two deputy marshals who were taking him into custody in another case. The court found that his previous run-ins with the law were relevant to his behavior in this case.

The judge was not lenient with Robinson.

The Arkansas Court of Appeals upheld a 2-year prison term for Robinson, who became combative, resisted arrest, and then crushed an officer's finger. If it would have been his first offense, he may have gotten off with a lesser sentence. However, do it twice, and you'll get the maximum prison sentence. Ouch. 

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via Nissan