Category Archives: Nissan

News about Nissan automobile manufacturer. News about Nissan recalls, technical service bulletins (TSB), and problems regarding Nissan vehicles.

2021 Nissan Rogue Safety Investigations: Tie Rod Failures and Engine Issues

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The 2021 Nissan Rogue, one of Nissan’s popular compact SUVs, is currently under investigation by the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) due to reports of safety defects. Two major concerns have emerged—one involving inner tie rod failures that could lead to a loss of steering control, and the other concerning engine failures that could result in a complete loss of motive power. These issues raise significant safety risks for drivers and passengers, and Nissan is facing increasing scrutiny as the investigations unfold.

Inner Tie Rod Failures: Loss of Steering Control

Nissan Rogue Tie Rod FailureOne of the top issues reported is inner tie rod failures, which can lead to a sudden and complete loss of steering control. The ODI received reports from owners and early warning data indicating that these failures can occur on either the driver’s or passenger’s side of the vehicle. In several instances, the vehicles had to be towed for repairs.

One notable case involved a 2021 Nissan Rogue owner who experienced a sudden and severe steering malfunction while pulling out of a parking lot. According to the owner, the steering wheel suddenly pulled to the right, causing the front passenger tire to become misaligned. The vehicle became undrivable, multiple warning lights illuminated, and it had to be towed to a dealership. Although the dealership diagnosed a bent tie rod and performed a repair, the steering wheel did not return to its normal position. The owner reported no impact that could have caused the damage, yet the manufacturer declined to cover the repair under warranty. This incident occurred with just over 16,600 miles on the vehicle, raising concerns about the durability and safety of the Rogue’s steering system.

This ongoing investigation into tie rod failures has raised serious concerns about the overall safety of the vehicle, as a sudden loss of steering control could lead to catastrophic accidents.

Engine Failures: Loss of Motive Power

In addition to the tie rod issue, the 2021 Nissan Rogue is also under investigation for engine failures that could lead to a complete loss of motive power. The ODI has identified multiple reports of engine knock, strange noises, and metal chunks or shavings found in the oil pan of vehicles equipped with Nissan’s KR15DDT and KR20DDET engines. The KR15DDT, a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder engine, is found in the Rogue, while the KR20DDET, a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, powers other models such as the Altima, QX50, and QX55.

The variable compression ratio engines, designed to deliver both high power and fuel efficiency, have shown an elevated failure rate. These engine issues have been linked to bearing and L-link damage, which could lead to total engine failure, leaving drivers stranded or worse, in a dangerous situation while driving. Nissan has made manufacturing changes in an attempt to address these issues, but the investigation is still open as the company works to find a more permanent solution.

Alongside these investigations, the 2021 Nissan Rogue has been the subject of several recalls, addressing a variety of safety concerns:

  1. Missing Internal Bushing in Brake Calipers – This defect could lead to brake fluid loss, reducing braking performance and increasing the risk of a crash.
  2. Rear View Camera Malfunctions – The rearview camera display may become inoperative, reducing rear visibility and raising the risk of an accident.
  3. Seat Belt Retraction Issues – Some seat belts may not retract properly, making them difficult to use, which could increase the risk of injury in a crash.
  4. Fuel Pump Overheating – An overheated fuel pump can cause the engine to stall unexpectedly, posing a serious safety risk.
  5. Second Row Seatback Welding Issues – Improperly welded seatbacks may fail to secure a child seat, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a sudden stop or crash.
  6. Wheel Separation Risk – Incorrectly fitted wheel nuts could cause the wheel assembly to separate from the vehicle, which could result in a loss of vehicle control.
  7. Fuel Hose Detachment – A poorly secured fuel hose can disconnect, causing a fuel leak or engine stall, both of which increase the risk of fire or crash.

With ongoing investigations into tie rod and engine failures, as well as several recalls addressing safety concerns, the 2021 Nissan Rogue has been thrust into the spotlight for potential safety risks. Drivers should stay informed about any updates from Nissan and take immediate action if their vehicle is affected by any recalls or investigations. Safety should always be a top priority, and these investigations aim to ensure that any defects are properly addressed to protect drivers on the road.

Nissan Leaf Fire Risk From Quick Charging Battery

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Nissan Leaf Smoking BatteryCertain 2019-2020 Nissan Leaf vehicles, specifically those equipped with quick charge ports for Level 3 charging using the CHAdeMO connector, are facing a potential issue where the battery could overheat during quick charging. This issue is serious, as it significantly raises the risk of a vehicle fire, which could lead to injury or property damage. The affected LEAF models were produced at Nissan’s Smyrna, Tennessee plant between August 29, 2018, and November 3, 2020. Nissan has identified this issue through their production records, confirming that it is limited to these specific Model Year 2019-2020 LEAF vehicles. Importantly, no other Nissan or INFINITI vehicles are known to be impacted by this defect, offering some reassurance to owners of other Nissan models.

Nissan is actively investigating the cause of this issue. Preliminary findings suggest that the problem stems from excessive lithium deposits forming inside the lithium-ion battery cells of these vehicles. These deposits increase the electrical resistance within the battery, which can cause fluctuations in the battery’s state of charge. This elevated resistance becomes particularly problematic during Level 3 quick charging, as it may result in the battery heating up more rapidly than intended. If the charging session continues under these conditions, the risk of a battery fire is significantly heightened, posing a serious safety concern.

Drivers may notice several warning signs during Level 3 charging that indicate something is wrong. These include the presence of smoke, unusual noises, interrupted charging sessions, or strange thermal odors emanating from the vehicle’s battery compartment. If any of these signs are observed, Nissan strongly advises stopping the charging process immediately and avoiding Level 3 charging altogether until the problem can be resolved.

Nissan is developing a solution for this issue in the form of a software update for the affected vehicles. Once available, this software update will be installed by dealers and is designed to correct the problem by managing the battery’s charging process more effectively. Nissan is taking steps to notify affected vehicle owners. Interim letters, alerting them to the safety risk, are expected to be mailed in October 2024. A second notice will follow once the software remedy is ready for deployment.

Until the fix is in place, Nissan advises owners to avoid using Level 3 quick charging stations and instead rely on slower charging methods, which do not present the same risk. For those affected, Nissan’s recall number is R24B2, and the corresponding NHTSA campaign number is 24V-700.

Airbag Issue in 2021 and 2024 Nissan Titan Vehicles

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A recent safety concern has emerged for a small number of 2021 and 2024 Nissan Titan vehicles due to a potential issue with their Air Bag Control Unit (ACU). This problem, if left unaddressed, could increase the risk of injury to occupants in the event of a crash.

In May 2024, Nissan was alerted by their airbag supplier about a production error that involved a missing spacer between the ACU fastener and the base plate. This spacer plays a critical role in ensuring that the ACU is properly secured. Without it, there is a risk that the fastener could interfere with the vehicle’s floor pan, leading to the fastener becoming loose. If this occurs, the airbag may deploy late or not at all, which could significantly increase the risk of injury during a crash.

Upon learning about the problem, Nissan and the supplier conducted a thorough audit. They discovered that 531 affected parts had been shipped to Nissan’s Canton, MS Plant. Fortunately, 528 of these parts were identified and quarantined before they could be installed in vehicles. However, three parts had already been installed in 2024 Nissan Titan vehicles that had been shipped.

In June 2024, the supplier identified additional affected parts included in a service part kit, of which 41 were shipped to Nissan. Nissan was able to quarantine and scrap 37 of these parts, but four had already been installed in 2021 Nissan Titan vehicles during repairs.

On July 19, 2024, after further assessment, Nissan confirmed that the absence of the spacer could indeed cause interference with the floor pan, potentially leading to loose fasteners and compromised airbag deployment.

As a result of these findings, Nissan decided on July 29, 2024, to initiate a Voluntary Safety Recall for the seven affected vehicles—three from the 2024 model year and four from the 2021 model year. While there have been no reports of accidents or injuries related to this issue, Nissan is taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its customers.

Nissan will address the issue by replacing the ACU in the affected vehicles. Owners of these vehicles will receive notification letters starting September 19, 2024. The recall number assigned by Nissan is PD120, and the corresponding National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) campaign number is 24V-580.

Although the number of vehicles affected is small, this recall is a critical step to ensure the safety of Nissan Titan drivers and passengers. If you own a 2021 or 2024 Nissan Titan, keep an eye out for the notification letter and get the the necessary repairs.

Nissan Ariya Inverter Software Problem

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Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is reaching out to the owners of certain 2023 Ariya vehicles due to an issue with the inverter software. This problem may trigger the inverter to detect a short circuit, causing a shutdown of the EV system and a loss of drive power.

The Discovery of the Problem:

Nissan first became aware of this issue during a production trial involving an Ariya vehicle in January 2022. In this trial, the electric motor abruptly shut off shortly after the vehicle began moving at low speed. A diagnostic trouble code (DTC) revealed a short circuit inside the motor, although no actual damage to the motor or its components was observed. A deeper investigation into the problem found that in some rare instances, conductive fibers generated during the operation from the slip ring in the motor could lead to a momentary short circuit between the electrodes.

Understanding the Problem:

Nissan Ariya dashAccording to the defect report, the root cause of the issue lies in conductive fibrous shavings from the drive motors’ slip ring assembly. These shavings can occasionally cause a momentary short circuit between the two slip rings. When this occurs, the fibrous shavings are instantaneously burned out, causing no harm to any vehicle components. However, when the inverter detects a momentary over-current due to the short circuit, it reduces motor torque to protect the internal components of the controller. This leads to a loss of drive power, and an “EV System Off” message is displayed on the dashboard to alert the driver.

In the event of this issue occurring, the torque to the driven wheels is cut off. This continues until the fail-safe mode is released, which requires turning the vehicle off and then back on. An unexpected loss of motive power while driving at high speeds could potentially increase the risk of an accident.

Nissan’s Solution:

To address this safety concern, Nissan dealers will reprogram the inverter software to enhance the fail-safe protocols. This proactive measure aims to prevent such short circuits from impacting the driving experience and maintaining safety for the driver.

Recall Details:

Nissan has designated this recall as R23C6 and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has assigned the campaign number 23V-657 to this recall.

Nissan Leaf EV Unintended Acceleration

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Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is taking action to address a safety matter related to certain 2018-2023 LEAF EVs. These Electric Vehicles could experience unintended acceleration. This issue came to Nissan’s attention during internal testing in December 2021 when a trial vehicle showed a motor torque deceleration delay following the deactivation of Intelligent Cruise Control.

To tackle this problem, Nissan conducted computer simulations, analyzing data from the test vehicle, in an effort to replicate the condition. After several tests, they identified a specific sequence of actions that could potentially lead to the reported phenomenon, although they were unable to recreate the issue on an actual vehicle.

To ensure the safety of their customers, Nissan continued their efforts to replicate the phenomenon under real-world conditions. After extensive computer simulation and on-track testing, they determined that the following sequence of actions must be completed in under eight (8) seconds for the unintended acceleration to occur:

1. Disengage Cruise Control, Intelligent Cruise Control, or ProPILOT Assist.
2. Immediately after disengagement, shift drive modes from ‘D’ to ‘B’ or ‘ECO’, or activate e-Pedal ‘ON’.
3. Press the accelerator pedal and then release it.

Nissan’s evaluation of the risk associated with this issue in real-world driving conditions is very low, as it has not occurred outside of controlled track or simulated test environments. However, taking a cautious approach, Nissan decided to conduct a recall campaign to reprogram the Vehicle Control Module (VCM) as a preventive measure.
For clarification, the ‘B’ mode engages the regenerative braking system more aggressively on downhill slopes, reducing the need for excessive brake use. This mode is manually selected by shifting from ‘D’ to ‘B’ using the shift lever.

To address the issue, Nissan dealers will reprogram the Vehicle Control Module (VCM). You can refer to Nissan’s recall number for this action, which is R23A6, and the corresponding NHTSA campaign number, which is 23V-494.

2023 Nissan Leaf EV Brake Line Damage

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Nissan has determined that certain 2023 model year Nissan Leaf EVs may have a damaged right hand brake tube that could result in a brake fluid leak.

Nissan first became aware of the potential problem in January 2023 when a Nissan technician noticed a 2023 Nissan Leaf EV being assembled with a damaged right hand brake tube assembly. Nissan collected the affected parts and began an investigation. The investigation included a parts audit of 975 brake assemblies which revealed twenty-five (25) damaged right hand brake tubes at the actuator connection bend. Nissan also conducted a yard audit of 395 vehicles and found five (5) with a scratched or damaged right hand brake tube. These parts were quarantined and the vehicles were put on a quality hold.

According to the defect report, an investigation with the supplier determined that the incorrect tooling was used to align the brake tube into the pipe bending jig. Because the brake tube was misaligned, the tooling clamped the pipe in the incorrect position and caused scratching, and in some cases deformation of the tube, at the actuator bend.

Nissan performed corrosion and stress tests on two (2) of the worst case condition parts to evaluate the effect of the damaged brake tube on brake performance over time. Nissan concluded that the brake performance could be degraded and could lead to extended stopping distances possibly without prior warning. Nissan decided to conduct a Voluntary Safety Recall to recall all potentially affected LEAF vehicles to inspect the right-hand brake tube and replace any damaged brake tube assemblies.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealers to have the right-hand brake tube inspected for damage. If damage is found, the affected brake tube will be replaced. Nissan’s number for this recall is PC976 and the NHTSA campaign number is 23V-362.

Nissan Ariya EV – Loose Steering Wheel

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Nissan has initiated a voluntary safety recall for certain 2023 Nissan Ariya EVs that underwent a recent port modification activity to replace the steering wheel due to a quality issue. The modification required the replacement of the vehicle’s steering wheel, which could have led to an inadvertent application of incorrect torque settings to the steering wheel bolt by the technician. In certain cases, the steering wheel bolt may not have been installed, causing the steering wheel to experience some play or potentially separate from the steering column if pulled toward the driver. This can increase the risk of a crash. Owners are advised to contact their dealer immediately for transport and repair if they notice excessive play or looseness in the steering wheel.

Nissan first became aware of the issue in January 2023, following a report from one of their dealers about a loose steering wheel found on a 2023 Ariya vehicle. An investigation found the steering wheel center bolt was completely missing. After receiving a second report of a loose steering wheel and missing steering wheel bolt on another 2023 Ariya vehicle in February, Nissan opened an investigation and identified that both vehicles had been serviced by the same technician during the port modification activity.

In response, Nissan launched a dealer quality action to inspect the steering wheels on 418 Ariya vehicles in dealer inventory that was previously repaired as part of the port modification activity. One additional Ariya vehicle with a loose steering wheel was identified during the audit, and an investigation found that the incorrect torque had been applied to the affected steering wheel bolt during the port modification activity. Out of an abundance of caution, Nissan decided to conduct a voluntary safety recall to remedy all vehicles included in the port modification activity.

To address the issue, dealers will replace the steering wheel bolt, and Nissan’s recall number for this issue is PC956, while the NHTSA campaign number is 23V-131.

Nissan Titan And Frontier Trucks
Roll-Away Risk Recall Expanded

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The owners of certain 2020-2023 Nissan Titan and 2020-2023 Nissan Frontier trucks equipped with 9-speed transmissions, could experience an unexpected vehicle roll-away. A fix for the problem is still under development and Nissan is continuing to investigate whether other Nissan or Infiniti automobiles could be affected.

The problem began in June 2022, when Nissan initiated a recall (22V-457) for certain Nissan Titan and Frontier vehicles manufactured from December 13, 2019, to June 14, 2022. These vehicles were experiencing a potential non-engagement of the parking pawl due to contact between the edge of the parking pawl and the boss on the transmission case. As a result, vehicles could unexpectedly roll away if they were in “Park” but the parking brake was not applied.

In July, Nissan received another report from the Canton, MS plant, that a 2022 Nissan Frontier vehicle produced after June 14, 2022, had moved after being placed in the ‘P” Park position. Nissan investigated the incident and conducted duplication testing to recreate the condition. They found that this issue appeared to be different than the one in recall 22V-457. This problem appeared to be related to an insufficient lifting force of the parking pawl due to friction between the parking rod and the parking wedge. Nissan initiated a quality hold on all 2020-2023 Titan and Frontier vehicles and conducted a plant audit that identified 11 out of 83 vehicles with the subject condition.

The investigation to date indicates that resistance between the parking rod and wedge inside of the transmission housing may inhibit movement of the wedge and parking pawl. If the parking pawl does not engage, an affected vehicle may move after placing the shifter into ‘Park.’ If the driver does not engage the parking brake, potential vehicle movement could increase the risk of injury or crash.

Nissan has decided to conduct a recall campaign due to the safety risk of a potential vehicle roll-away condition. Nissan’s investigation is ongoing, and the final recall fix is still under development. Nissan will be notifying all owners of the affected vehicles, including those that received a letter under recall 22V-457. The interim notification will include instructions advising owners to apply the parking brake whenever they park their vehicle. The NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 22V-671.

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