Large Nissan Recall in U.S. and Canada Over Ignition Switch

 

U.S. – Aug. 31, 2018 – In a recent announcement affected the U.S. and Canada, the Nissan Motor Co. is recalling 166,000 vehicles, according to Consumer Reports. There is a potential issue with the ignition switch, which may be connected to the deployment of airbags or the engine cutting off unexpectedly. Nissan has also been a part of the massive Takata airbag recall this year.

The Defect

The ignition switch where the key is inserted into certain Nissan vehicles is potentially wearing down prematurely. The risk is cars shutting off while the vehicle is in motion if the ignition switch wears down over time. This could offer a risk of an accident, loss of vehicle control or a crash.

Certain Juke SUVs, Frontier pickup trucks, Sentras, Versas, NV and NV200 van models from 2017 and 2018 are part of this particular recall. Nissan vehicles that have keyless ignition are not a part of this specific recall. About 13,000 of these vehicles are in the U.S, while the remaining 153,000 are in Canada. For now, Nissan recommends that all owners and drivers remove additional objects from their key ring that could cause issues, such as key chains and additional keys.

Nissan is also involved in the massive Takata airbag recall this year too, according to Fortune. Airbags are susceptible to explode if exposed to high heat or humidity. Tens of millions of cars are affected by this recall, including Nissan. The Takata recall is the biggest recall in U.S. history, and linked to at least 180 injuries and 20 deaths. 19 different automakers have been affected by the recall, with companies such as Ford, Toyota and Nissan having to pay out large settlements for consumer loss claims.

On the Nissan website, it’s reported that only 39 percent of the recall has been completed to date, meaning there are many more vehicles still on the road with this airbag risk. The automaker is offering incentives such as free repairs and free alternative transportation to those waiting on fixes. They advise to take the airbag recall seriously, as the defect can seriously injure those inside the car, or even be fatal in certain situations.

Timeline of Events

In late August, spokespeople from Nissan confirmed that they would perform the recall on certain vehicle models. There will be official announcements about the plan and execution in the coming days in the U.S., following the announcement by Transport Canada already this week.

Next month, Nissan will officially begin contacting those who may be affected by their recall, including drivers, owners and dealerships. Most likely, Nissan will offer complimentary inspections and repairs to the ignition switches of any of their cars and SUVs that are a part of this specific recall.

The Solution

If drivers, owners and dealerships are concerned about the recent Nissan recall, they can find more information from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) via their website, or call their hotline at 1-800-424-9153. However, the recall has not yet been officially announced on the NHTSA website. To contact Nissan directly in the U.S., those looking for more information can call 1-800-647-7261.

Sean ReyesLarge Nissan Recall in U.S. and Canada Over Ignition Switch