Franklin, Tenn. – Nov. 7, 2017 – Nissan North America has recalled more than 17,000 vehicles potentially equipped with defective steering components, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017-2018 Infiniti QX30 hatchback sedans assembled between Aug. 10, 2015 and June 16, 2017. Nissan estimates 1 percent of the models referenced in the recall actually contain the defective parts.

The Defect

The vehicles named in this action could contain broken steering column module clock springs that are insufficiently grounded. These components may produce electromagnetic charges that ascend the steering column, enter air bag assemblies and prompt inadvertent air bag deployment. These fixtures pose a serious safety hazard to occupants – especially those traveling at high speeds, as the accidental activation of vehicle safety features could lead to a collision. However, Nissan has yet to receive reports connecting the defect to any accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

In October 2017, Mercedes-Benz USA recalled nearly 500,000 vehicles with defective steering columns prone to discharging electromagnetic currents and activating air bags, according to the NHTSA. This action came as the result of a two-year investigation in which Mercedes engineers had discovered that the steering columns in more than three dozen models contained broken clock springs and suffered from electromagnetic incompatibility.

One month before Mercedes publicized its recall, Daimler AG, the automotive conglomerate that controls Mercedes, contacted Nissan, with whom it shared suppliers, and made the Japanese company aware of the potential safety issue. Throughout October 2017, Nissan engineers met with DAG personnel to better understand the defect. Over this same span, Nissan confirmed that the defective steering column assemblies installed in the recalled Mercedes models had been used during the production of 2017-2018 Infiniti QX30 sedans. Following its meetings with DAG, Nissan chose to conduct its own voluntary safety recall Oct. 26. The car manufacturing company notified dealers Nov. 2.

The Solution

Nissan has asked dealers to reinforce the grounding in the steering assemblies installed in the affected vehicles, according to a recall acknowledgment document from the NHTSA. This work, which involves the installation of a commutator ring designed to optimize grounding, will be performed free of charge. In the meantime, Nissan is developing a more effective long-term solution that will be released to dealers when ready. The automaker plans to notify owners Dec. 18. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Nissan customer service at (800) 622-6200. Callers should choose option seven when prompted. Owners can also reach out to the NHTSA directly using its toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Franklin, Tenn. – Oct. 2, 2017 – Nissan North America has recalled more than 800 vehicles believed to be equipped with defective driver-side air bag assemblies, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2017 Infiniti Q50 and Q50 Hybrid sport utility vehicles with production dates ranging from Dec. 22, 2016 to Jan. 19, 2017. The car company suspects 1 percent of the models referenced in the recall actually contain the defective feature.

The Defect

The vehicles named in this campaign could include driver-side air bag assemblies with insufficiently welded initiator collars and closure plates. This could cause cracks to form during deployment and allow gas to leave the initiator housing. Consequently, air bag assemblies in the recalled vehicles may not deploy properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury for drivers. However, Nissan has yet to receive reports connecting the defect to any accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

In April 2017, parts supplier Nihon Plast contacted Nissan regarding an instance in which an installed air bag assembly failed to deploy properly during a low-temperature test conducted at -40 degrees Fahrenheit. The automaker investigated the test result and found that a crack in the inflator welding had inhibited air bag deployment. Nissan then requested Nihon to quarantine the affected parts to be used in a forthcoming root-cause investigation. In May, Nissan met with Nihon and the Daicel Corporation, which supplied parts for the air bag assembly involved in the failed test. The three parties agreed to conduct a joint investigation. This inquiry revealed that staff at Daicel had not effectively cleaned and inspected weld jigs during the air bag assembly process, resulting in misalignment of closure plates and poor welding.

In June, Nissan requested Daicel to conduct internal tests in an effort to duplicate the defective parts and further understand the mechanisms of the ineffective processes that led to their creation. Daicel agreed and launched this initiative, along with a parts collection program to analyze other previously fabricated fixtures. Both of these efforts concluded in July. Nissan then met with the parts provider to review the results, which included data on inflator weld strength. One month later, the automaker confirmed the root cause of the failed air bag deployment observed during the April trial. Quality assurance personnel then reviewed internal records to identify possibly affected vehicles and launched an internal investigation to study the safety risks associated with the defective air bag assemblies.

On Sept. 7, Nissan confirmed that the defective parts posed a serious threat to owners and issued a voluntary safety recall. The car company notified dealers Sept. 15.

The Solution

Nissan had directed dealers to replace the driver-side air bag inflators in the affected vehicles free of charge, according to a recall acknowledgment document from the NHTSA. The automaker plans to notify owners via first-class mail Oct. 30. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Infiniti customer service personnel at (800) 662-6200. Owners can also reach out to the NHTSA directly through the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Franklin, Tenn. – Aug. 15, 2017 – Nissan North America has recalled more than 44,000 pickup trucks with noncompliant seat belt components, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2016-2016 Nissan Titan crew cab models produced between Sept. 29, 2015 and Feb. 24, 2017, as well as Titan XD diesel crew cab models with production dates ranging from Aug. 4, 2016 to Feb. 24, 2017. Nissan suspects 100 percent of the vehicles named in the recall contain the noncompliant components.

The Defect

The vehicles named in the recall could be equipped with seat belt fixtures that do not meet automotive assembly requirements established in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 201, which states that such components cannot have passenger head injury criterion values exceeding 1,000, according to the NHTSA. The Titan pickups referenced in the campaign contain seat belt assemblies that recorded a HIC value of 1007.9 in factory safety tests. These parts pose a serious threat to passengers, who, due to overly lax restraint features, could come into contact with hard metal seat belt bolt rim caps during accidents. However, Nissan has yet to receive reports connecting the noncompliant components to accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

In January 2017, Nissan conducted internal HIC tests to assess the safety features on multiple vehicles, according to company documents submitted to the NHTSA. During these trials, engineers for the automakers learned that multiple models of the Nissan Titan pickup did not meet FMVSS requirements. In February, the NHTSA’s Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance sent an information request to Nissan asking for HIC readings. As engineers prepared this data, they performed further tests to ascertain the root cause of the readings and pinpoint any possible seat belt assembly defects that might have caused them.

Nissan responded to the OVSC request in March and continued internal tests to see if the noncompliant readings created real-world safety concerns. Engineers soon discovered that the restraint features present in vehicles that registered HIC values over 1,000 were slightly skewed – specifically, the D-ring bolt trim caps and C-pillars were installed so as to create an approach angle of 15 degrees, when the FMVSS recommended they be installed to accommodate an approach angle of 0 degrees.

With this information in hand, Nissan established that the installed equipment created a significant safety risk and issued an official recall. The car company notified dealers July 31.

The Solution

Nissan has ordered dealers to the seat belt bolts and bolt caps in affected vehicles, free of charge. Owners should expect to receive notification Sept. 26 via first-class mail. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Nissan customer service personnel at (800) 647-7261 or call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Franklin, Tenn. – Aug. 11, 2017 – Nissan North America has recalled more than 14,000 Infiniti sedans possibly equipped with defective fuel pump control module software, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2016-2018 Q50 models produced between March 10, 2015 and April 5, 2017, as well as 2017 Q60 models with production dates from July 30, 2015 to April 5, 2017. Nissan suspects 100 percent of the vehicles referenced in the recall contain the defective software.

The Defect

The models involved in the recall could include FPCM software that references the incorrect fuel pressure map and, as a result, may not effectively filter gasoline from the reserve tank to the primary tank when its fuel levels drop. This could result in complete engine shutoff, as the small amount of fuel left in the main tank is inaccessible to the fuel pump. This scenario could increase the likelihood of an accident and poses a serious safety risk to vehicle operators. However, Nissan has yet to receive any field reports connecting the defect to any accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

In December 2016, the car company received a report from the U.S. market detailing an Infiniti sedan that experienced fuel pump issues. Nissan launched an investigation immediately. More than a month later, engineers succeeded in replicating the problem in-house, using parts retrieved from the vehicle named in the initial report. In March 2017, the automaker launched a monitoring program to collect more data on the defect and assess its impact.

One month later, engineers involved in the initial investigation submitted evidence connecting the issue to the fuel pressure mapping components in the vehicle’s FPCM software. Nissan amended the software at the point of production and then reached out to the NHTSA. However, the car company had not yet gathered enough information to launch an official safety recall and continued to monitor the field for more data related to the fuel pump defect. This program lasted until early July, by which point Nissan had collected enough field insights to initiate a recall.

The car company met with NHTSA officials for the final time on July 12, launched an official safety recall July 19 and notified dealers July 27.

The Solution

Nissan has ordered dealers to reprogram the FPCM software in affected vehicles, free of charge, according to internal documentation submitted to the NHTSA. The automaker plans to notify owners via first-class mail by Aug. 21. Those in need of more immediate assistance can contact Infiniti customer service representatives at (800) 662-6200 or call the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Franklin, Tenn. – May 4, 2017 – Nissan North American has recalled more than 28,000 vehicles equipped with defective air bags, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects Leaf hybrid-electric hatchbacks produced between Sept. 20, 2014 and Dec. 12, 2016, as well as Sentra sedans with production dates ranging from Sept. 25, 2014 to Sept. 22, 2016. It is unknown what percentage of these vehicles actually contain the problematic air bag assembly.

Just over 24,000 of the vehicles originated from dealers in the U.S. Roughly 2,600 were sold in unspecified foreign markets, while over 1,400 went to Canadian showrooms. Approximately 10 were shipped to Mexico.

The Defect
Vehicles named in this recall contain front passenger-side air bag assemblies with faulty components. Specifically, the inflator modules in these safety systems may hold defective coolant with diminished compression strength. As a result, the air bags may not inflate properly in the event of an accident, leaving occupants defenseless. Nissan has traced the coolant issue to two separate phenomena: oxidization due to ineffective storage methods and excessive wear from factory tooling practices. This defect obviously poses serious risk to owners. However, Nissan has not learned of any accidents or injuries connected to the faulty air bag inflator modules.

Timeline of Events
In October 2016, Nissan conducted safety tests and discovered that air bag assemblies in Leaf and Sentra models failed to fire properly. The automaker soon notified Japanese chemical firm Daicel Corporation, which supplied the coolant used in the fixtures. Daicel initiated an internal evaluation. Between November and December 2016, engineers for both companies reviewed the production workflows at the Daicel plant to determine the cause of the issue. The two teams also reached out to other suppliers involved in the production of the inflator modules, including Fuji and the Japanese vehicle design company Nihon Plast. The latter began internal testing.

Nihon Plast completed its evaluation in February 2017 and summoned Nissan officials to review the results. As this unfolded, the automaker launched field tests to pinpoint any accidents that could have been attributed to the malfunctioning air bar assembly. Nissan ultimately found none. In March, Nissan completed its review of the Nihon Plast product evaluation  and determined that a voluntary recall was necessary. The company launched the campaign April 6, 2017 but has since amended it twice – once April 28, 2017 and another time May 4, 2017.

The Solution
Nissan notified dealers April 27, 2017, requesting that they replace passenger-side air bags in affected models, free of charge, according to an internal communication submitted to the NHTSA. The car company has agreed to reimburse individuals with vehicles out of warranty for repairs. Models with active factory warranties should receive coverage for the recall work. Owners should expect to receive notification June 1, 2017. Those in need of more immediate assistance are encouraged to contact the NHTSA or the Nissan customer service department.

Franklin, Tenn. – April 26, 2017 – Nissan North America has recalled more than 500 compacts with defective Takata air bag assemblies, according to documentation filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The campaign affects Versa sedans produced between Feb. 16 and Feb. 21, 2017, as well as Versa Note hatchbacks that rolled off the line over the same span. The automaker has yet to determine what percentage of listed models contain these defective air bags.

The Defect
Affected vehicles are equipped with faulty air bag cushion housings. Specifically, the ringed plates that hold the cushioning in place are made of metal with low carbon content. These fixtures are therefore prone to failure in high temperatures and can even separate from the cushioning when safety features are deployed during accidents. When airborne at high speeds, the air bag housing assembly poses great risk to passengers. No accidents or injuries have been connected to this defect.

Timeline of Events
In early February of this year, Takata engineers performed a round of quality assurance tests and discovered that some air bag assemblies suffered abnormal deployments. QA personnel conducted these trials in areas with temperatures of 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Soon after the results registered, Takata engineers initiated an internal review to look into the problem. Weeks later, the provider connected with Nissan and shared the results of the air bag tests. The automaker immediately searched its inventory for affected parts, eventually instituting a worldwide quarantine of all Takata air bag assemblies included in the initial QA tests. Most of these fixtures were stored at Nissan production plants in Civac and Aguascalientes, Mexico.

In March, Takata came forward with conclusive results: A tier-two supplier had shipped out ring plates with faulty metallurgical compositions. The parts, which were light on carbon, failed in high-temperature environments. Nissan immediately initiated audits in its Mexican facilities in an effort to pinpoint and remove the defective air bag ring plates. Over the course of March and April, personnel reviewed more than 1,800 air bag assemblies and found that 616 Versa models included flawed safety features. Nissan QA personnel soon decided to launch a voluntary recall campaign.

The Solution
The automaker has ordered dealers to evaluate the air bag assemblies installed in affected vehicles using a quick scan tool, according to internal documents released to the NHTSA. Should the readings show parts that originate from the defective batch, dealers are to replace the passenger-side air bag module, free of charge. Nissan notified dealers April 27. The company is currently distributing owner notifications and is expected to finish this process by the end of June. Versa owners in need of additional assistance are encouraged to contact the NHTSA.

Franklin, Tenn. — March 25, 2017 — The power steering system in some Nissan SUVs could disconnect, according to a recent manufacturer’s recall. An official statement with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the action could involve as many as 56,766 vehicles, though there was no estimate as to how many could be potentially affected.

The Defect

Some power steering fluid hoses in these vehicles may come with a clamp that’s the wrong size. Because of this, the report said that the hose could dislodge, potentially spilling important steering fluid. The risk from this is twofold, as this could not just impact the steering but also pose a possible fire risk, as the fluid would be flammable. All of the involved vehicles are a Murano with the 2013 and 2014 model years.

Timeline of Events

• August, 2014: This was the final month the affected vehicles were produced.
• January, 2017: Both the recall report and a Defect Information Report on the action said that the first investigation into a related case began last year. The U.S. investigations intensified in January, though, to respond to claims of related incidents in other markets.
• February, 2017: Targeting the U.S. vehicles specifically, Nissan began gathering relevant vehicle parts.
• March, 2017: After the results of equipment tests, Nissan concluded that the defect originated with the clamps involved in affected vehicles and agreed to begin a safety recall effort to address the issue. The Part 573 report contained a March 16 submission date.

The Resolution

As of the March 16 report, there was no owner notification date listed, although the statement did say that it would reach out to owners “within 60 days.”  April 4 was scheduled as the dealer notification date. The fix itself will reportedly include a replacement for the hose.

Franklin, Tenn. – March 15, 2017 – Nissan North America has recalled 79 vehicles with faulty side-curtain air bag inflators. The recall impacts Infiniti QX30 hatchbacks manufactured between Oct. 10-16 last year, according to documentation from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The Defect

Affected models contain side-curtain air bag assemblies from the Auburn Hills, Mich.-based parts provider Autoliv ASP. These fixtures contain inflator initiators with incorrect mix ratios, which expressly violate Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Consequently, the side-curtain air bags may malfunction and fail to deploy in the event of a crash, leaving the operator and passengers without proper impact protection. This poses a serious risk to owners.

Timeline of Events

On Dec. 16, 2016, Autoliv contacted Nissan representatives and explained that it intended to recall its air bag inflators based on the results of a recent quality assurance evaluation. The parts provider had initiated an investigation into its inflator assemblies on Oct. 3, due to nonconforming QA test results, according NHTSA documents. After reviewing production processes, Autoliv discovered that an improperly configured programmable logic controller had altered the generant chemical mix and produced defective inflator initiators. The automated devices were reprogrammed with the incorrect mix ratio on June 16, 2016 in two separate fabrication facilities.

On November 30, the parts provider discussed the issue with NHTSA officials and roughly two weeks later began contacting affected customers.

After receiving confirmation of the defect, Nissan immediately initiated a recall. The car maker received updated information regarding the inflators throughout February 2017 and on the 28 of that month launched another recall campaign to address Infiniti QX30 models with faulty side-curtain air bags. Dealers received notification March 9.

The Solution

Nissan has ordered dealers to replace the air bag assemblies, according to the NHTSA. The car maker is expected to notify owners within 60 days of the initial recall date.