Laguna Hills, CA – Sep. 25, 2019 – Improper programming that potentially affects the back-up camera display included with various 2018-2019 Nissan vehicles has caused the manufacturer to announce a recall applying to more than 1,200,000 automobiles.
On the vehicles being recalled, adjustments made by the driver to the rear camera display settings will be retained at the start of the next backing event—meaning the image seen on the vehicle’s display while backing up will not necessarily represent the default camera perspective. This is not compliant with current federal regulations, necessitating the Nissan recall.
The Defect
The cause for this recall is perhaps better described as a matter of “non-compliance” than as a defect. According to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 111, the rear visibility system of vehicles manufactured on or after May 1, 2018 must return to a default image at the beginning of each backing event, regardless of whatever modifications were selected during prior trips. If the camera is not in the default position at the beginning of each new backing event, then the possibility of collision or accident increases.
On a large number of 2018-2019 Nissan vehicles, the rear camera image does not return to the default position at the start of each backing event, but instead retains any modifications previously selected by the driver. This vehicles are not in compliance with the FMVSS standard, and as a result have to be recalled. The full list of automobiles that are subject to the recall are as follows:
- 2018-2019 Infiniti Q50
- 2018-2019 Infiniti Q60
- 2018-2019 Infiniti Q70
- 2018-2019 Infiniti QX30
- 2018-2019 Infiniti QX50
- 2018-2019 Infiniti QX60
- 2018-2019 Infiniti QX80
- 2018-2019 Nissan Altima
- 2018-2019 Nissan Armada
- 2018-2019 Nissan Frontier
- 2018-2019 Nissan GT-R
- 2018-2019 Nissan Kicks
- 2018-2019 Nissan LEAF
- 2018-2019 Nissan Maxima
- 2018-2019 Nissan Murano
- 2018-2019 Nissan NV
- 2018-2019 Nissan NV200
- 2018-2019 Nissan Pathfinder
- 2018-2019 Nissan Rogue
- 2018-2019 Nissan Rogue Sport
- 2018-2019 Nissan Sentra
- 2018-2019 Nissan Taxi
- 2018-2019 Nissan Titan
- 2018-2019 Nissan Titan Diesel
- 2018-2019 Nissan Versa Note
- 2018-2019 Nissan Versa Sedan
Documents filed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration by Nissan explain: “The original adjustment settings that were applied to the rear visibility system and are subject to the non-compliance are not used on any other Nissan or Infiniti vehicles [other than those listed above] … Therefore, no other Nissan or Infiniti vehicles are affected by this condition.”
Timeline of Events
Nissan transmitted a non-compliance information report describing the error on September 12, 2019. They estimate that the mistake applies to a total of 1.23 million model year 2018-2019 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles in total, and that all of those vehicles without exception “contain the noncompliance.”
On September 20, 2019, Nissan submitted a safety recall report pertaining to the issue, and clarified the schedule by which vehicle owners will be notified of the defect: Depending on the make and model of their vehicles, customers will be notified either on the week of October 21 or the week of November 4. All Vehicle Identification Numbers on the affected automobiles will be active at the time of the phased dealer notification, according to Nissan, which is scheduled to begin on October 7 and to conclude either on or before November 11.
Solution
Owners of the vehicles containing the noncompliance will be notified sometime in the range of the dates listed above. At that point, they may bring their vehicle to a local dealer, who will reprogram the rear visibility system software at no cost.
The reprogramming will bring the vehicle into compliance by limiting the adjustments that can be made to the camera display to an extent that ensures the view always remains within the range dictated dictated by FMVSS No. 111.
For more information on recalls announced by Nissan or other major automobile manufacturers, continue visiting MotorSafety.org.