Noises During Shifting problems of the 1997 Nissan Maxima

Clicking noise from my 1997 Nissan Maxima 5 - speed odometer. Shifting problems, no cruise control and no mph reading or odometer reading after clicking stopped. Shifting completely failed after about a month. Mechanic that fixed the problem said that the odometer box located near the gears fell apart and the pieces of the odometer components fell into my gears damaging them and ultimately preventing the use of my vehicle. Mechanic also told me it was nothing I had done to contribute to this failure.