Pacific Northwest Consumers Force Nissan to Recall Defective Airbags As Federal Report Discredits Company's Effort to Impugn Victims' Attorney

   WHO:     Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen, a nonprofit
            consumer advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Larry
            Baron and Paul Whelan, attorneys representing survivors blinded
            or severely injured from the deployment of the airbags in nearly
            one-quarter million 1994-1995 Nissan Altimas. The National
            Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report noted that
            eye injuries from air bag deployment are usually minor in
            nature.

   WHEN:    Friday, April 25 -- 2:00 p.m. PDT

   WHERE:   Law Office of Stritmatter, Kessler, Whelan, Witley and Coluccio,
            LLP
            200 Second Avenue West
            Seattle, Washington

   WHY:     NHTSA began investigating Altima airbags in March 2001, in
            response to complaints of eye and facial injuries suffered by
            occupants involved in crashes. Despite Nissan's assertion in a
            press release Thursday, 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 if warranted by the circumstances."

   CONTACT: Bob Lawrence:  503-892-2320, 503-805-7169 (cell)
            Karen Besserman:  206-850-1041

PRNewswire -- April 25