New Nissan Recall Addresses Hood Latch Issues

Franklin, TN — February 11, 2016 — Because of issues with the hood latches in hundreds of thousands of Altimas, Nissan has issued a recall, set to take effect sometime later this month. The Part 573 Safety Recall Report, submitted through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on January 21, states that 846,000 vehicles manufactured at plants in Tennessee and Missouri are at possible risk in this action.

“The new remedy replaces the latch entirely.”

The report further describes the latch problem as the result of improper plating at the supplier, Ontario-based Intier Automotive, Inc. Paint can flake off of the affected latches, potentially leading to corrosion that leaves the secondary hood latch in a vulnerable open position.

The hood could then open while the vehicle is moving, causing a visual hazard for the driver. Model years for these 4-door light vehicles range from 2013 to 2015.

This issue was the subject of previous recalls, in which the solution involved lubricating the latch joint after a sufficient inspection. The new remedy replaces the latch entirely, and should be taken by owners that were part of the earlier recall actions.

“The hood latch in the subject vehicles will be replaced with a new one, even if the customer received a new latch as part of the repair for the previous recall,” the report reads.

While there are no crashes currently connected to this problem, Reuters notes that the manufacturer has received complaints regarding hoods that unlatch and open unexpectedly, and that the two other similar Nissan recalls happened within the past two years. The new recall also reportedly concerns 58,644 vehicles outside of North America.

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