Oregon Consumers Force Nissan Recall

  WHAT:     Oregon consumers force Nissan to recall defective airbags as
            federal report discredits company's effort to impugn victims'
            attorney.

  WHO:      A statement from Norma Brainerd of Portland, who was blinded
            in both eyes, was among nearly 40 people suffering moderate to
            severe eye injury from the deployment of the airbags in
            249,000 Nissan 1994-1995 Altimas. The National Highway Traffic
            Safety Administration (NHTSA) report noted that eye injuries
            from air bag deployment are usually minor in nature.

  WHEN:     Thursday, April 24
            Available from 2:30-3:30 PM

  WHERE:    Law Office of Larry Baron
            1515 SW 5th Avenue - Sixth floor Conference room
            Portland, Oregon

  WHY:      NHTSA opened its investigation into Altima airbags in
            March 2001, in response to consumer complaints of eye and facial
            injuries suffered by occupants involved in crashes. Despite
            Nissan's assertion in a press release today, that "accident data
            shows ...  [the 1994-1995 Altima airbag] does a better job at
            protecting its occupants from fatal injuries than
            competitive vehicles," the NHTSA report concluded that the
            number of moderate to serious eye injuries compared to peer
            vehicles was "undisputed."
            Nissan also complained that the company was the victim of an
            aggressive plaintiff's lawyer, a claim NHTSA also rejected.
            NHTSA concluded that their "closing of this investigation does
            not constitute a finding that no safety defect exists," and
            pledged to "take further action is warranted by the
            circumstances."

  CONTACT:  Bob Lawrence:  503-892-2320 or Art Sasse:  503-819-2486

PRNewswire -- April 24