Nissan Recalls Sentra Vehicles

Nissan Motor Company has recalled more than 236,000 of its Sentra vehicles due to a problem with the front tie rods. The tie rods are those parts that move the front wheels in or out in response to steering wheel movement. In this case, the tie rods can bend or break causing a steering control issue. The vehicles involved in this recall are limited to 2020 through 2022 Nissan Sentra. Owners are cautioned to to be aware that if their steering wheel is off center or they feel a vibration, they should get their vehicle to a dealer for inspection and repair as soon as possible. Dealers will replace both the left and right tie rods, free of charge, as soon as a new design becomes available. Owner notification of the recall is scheduled to begin on October 5 of this year when letters will be mailed to all known owners. A second letter will also be mailed when the parts become available. It should be noted that these same vehicles were recalled in 2021 for the same problem. Those vehicles recalled in 2021 and repaired will have to have the tie rods replaced with the new design as well. For additional information, consumers can contact Nissan Customer Affairs by calling 1-800-867-7669.

Nissan Recalls Altimas for Second Time

Nissan USA has issued a recall for their 2013 – 2018 Altima sedans for a problem with the hood latch.  Corrosion has been found to attack the primary hood latch and when it fails, it can prevent the secondary hood latch from engaging.  Failure to engage the latch can result in the hood flying open while the vehicle is moving, obstructing the driver’s view and resulting in a crash.  Driver’s can determine if the hood is about to open by watching whether it is fluttering or making noise as the vehicle is moving.  This recall is an extension of the original recall which was applied to 2013 – 2015 year models.  The current recall has included 2016 – 2018 Altimas.  All together the recall affects approximately 1.8 million vehicles.  It should be noted that if a vehicle has been previously repaired, it will have to be repaired again.  Nissan expects to begin notifying owners on August 1^st.  For additional information owners can contact Nissan by calling 1-800-647-7261.  Owners can also contact their dealer for recall assistance.

Nissan to Begin Implementing Automatic Braking

 

Nissan North America has announced that it will begin adding automatic braking to its vehicles beginning with some 2018 models. The feature will use sensors, cameras or radar to detect objects and either stop or slow the vehicle down to reduce the impact of a collision.  Those vehicles that will have automatic braking will include Rogue, Rogue Sport, Maxima, Altima, Murano, Leaf, and Pathfinder vehicles.  Nissan has also pledged to equip 90% of its vehicles with the feature by 2020 and all of its vehicles by 2022. The move to incorporate automatic braking is in response to an agreement with the government signed by Nissan as well as Toyota, General Motors and others to incorporate the technology and hopefully reduce rear end collisions.

Takata Air Bag Recall, Part 2

Back in May of this year, it was announced that Takata had recalled its air bags used in several different vehicle manufacturer’s vehicles.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Takata has extended that recall to include 19 million vehicles from 12 manufacturers.  The current list of manufacturers includes BMW, Honda, Mazda, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Daimler Trucks North America, Daimler Vans USA, Subaru, Ford, Toyota, and General Motors.  Owners are advised to go to www.safercar.gov and click on the “Takata Recall” button on the toolbar to see of their specific vehicle is on the list of those recalled.  Note that the list is extensive and should be reviewed carefully.  The website also offers owners an option to enter their vehicle identification numbers to check for recalls.  The vehicle identification number can be found on most vehicles on the lower left corner of the windshield or the manufacturers sticker located on the inside edge of the driver’s side door or pillar.  The vehicle identification number is a seventeen digit number unique to each vehicle.  Owners can also check with their dealers for recall information.

Vehicle Recalls

Recently, some major manufacturers have recalled some of their vehicles for some serious defects. First, General Motors has recalled 1.4 million of its vehicles for an oil leak that can result in an engine fire. This particular recall is also part of a series of recalls for this same problem; that were initiated in 2008. At one time, the problem was thought to have been caused by leaky valve cover gaskets. Currently, GM is saying that drops of oil can be deposited on a hot exhaust manifold and ignite. But, GM is not saying what the source of the oil is; only that they are working on a repair. The vehicles that are involved in this recall are:

1997-2004 Pontiac Grand Prix

2000-2004 Chevrolet Impala

1998-1999 Chevrolet Lumina

1998-2004 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

1998-1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue

1997-2004 Buick Regal

All of the above vehicles are equipped with 3.8 liter, V6 engines. Owners should take their vehicles to their GM dealerships for repair. For additional information, owners can contact GM by calling 1-800-222-1020 for Chevrolet vehicles, 1-800-762-2737 for Pontiac, and 1-800-521-7300 for Buick.

Second, GM isn’t the only car maker with problems. Nissan is recalling 46,846 model year 2013-2016 Altimas and 2016 Maximas. This is in addition to the already recalled 5,500 model year 2016 Maximas. These vehicles are all equipped with 3.5 liter, V6 engines. The problem with these vehicles is that an O-ring installed between the fuel tank and fuel sending unit was improperly installed and can leak in the event of a crash. Fuel in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire. Nissan has already begun notifying owners. Owners should take their vehicles to a Nissan dealer for a free repair. For additional information, owners can contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Third, BMW is recalling approximately 86,000 Mini hatchbacks for a steering problem. The vehicles that are involved are 2002-2005 Mini Cooper, Cooper S, and 2005 Cooper and Cooper S convertibles. These vehicles can lose their electro-hydraulic power steering assist and as a result, drivers can find it more difficult to control the vehicle. It is possible for a crash to occur if the driver cannot apply the extra effort required to steer the vehicle and maintain control. Mini will begin notifying owners on or about December 1, 2015. Mini dealers will also inspect and replace components as necessary free of charge. For additional information, owners can contact MINI customer service by calling 1-866-825-1525.

 

 

Takata Airbag Recall

Earlier this year, several automobile manufacturers announced recalls of different vehicle makes as a result of faulty airbags manufactured by a Japanese company called Takata.  Takata manufactured airbags for both driver and passenger’s sides in the recalled vehicles.  After investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and others, it has been determined that the propellant used in the airbags has a tendency to deteriorate in humid areas.  As a result, when the airbag is deployed, the combustion of the propellant which produces the pressure to inflate the bag can do so with greater than necessary force.  The excessive force can cause the inflator to rupture sending pieces of metal to the occupant of either the driver or passenger seat resulting in greater risk of injury to the occupant.  The vehicles that are involved in this recall are Acura, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, and Toyota.  The recall covers models years generally from 2002 through 2008.  In order to determine if the recall applies to a specific vehicle, owners can go to the manufacturer’s website and use its VIN lookup tool or contact a dealer and ask to speak with a service writer then give that person the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).