ATLANTA — Channel 2 consumer investigator Jim Strickland has found a glaring problem that has hundreds of drivers complaining.
Some Nissan car owners complain their dashes are melting, creating a shiny surface that reflects the sun and they end up blinded by the light.
Chris Howell drives a 2008 Nissan Altima. For the past year, he said he's dealt with a dashboard that's a sticky mess.
The melted portion of the dashboard turned shiny, almost mirror-like. Howell said the streak of white glare was right in his line of sight.
"It's very dangerous. It's very hard to see around the glare coming off the dash because the dash shines the glare onto the windshield," Howell said.
Howell isn't alone. On the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website, Strickland found drivers griping about dashboards melted causing a very shiny surface and the problem is the glare.
Of the last 150 complaints about the '08 Altima, 70 percent are about the dashboard.
"A manufacturer will discover they have the defect and correct it the next model year, but for the people with the dash, you're looking at a thousand dollar repair bill," said Clarence Ditlow with the Center for Auto Safety.
The Center for Auto Safety has requested recalls for this condition in the past, but NHSTA doesn't see the need.
"They don't see glare as a safety problem," Ditlow said.
Howell would like to see the road.
"If I get in an accident because I can't see, then that's a problem with the car," Howell said.
NHTSA released a statement in which it says it doesn’t see a safety issue that warrants action at this time.
"NHTSA is aware of the situation and will continue to monitor complaints. Based on NHTSA's review of available data to date, the agency has not identified a safety defect trend that would warrant further action at this time."
Nissan said the problem is isolated to hot, humid areas, and that they're working with each driver individually.
"The cases are predominantly located in a limited area of the country. We are assessing the situation and taking appropriate steps in dealing with each case. We are committed to providing the highest level of customer satisfaction."
WSBTV
