NEWS:    Nissan recalls vehicles over air bag concerns

WASHINGTON -- (AP) -- October 15, 2008 -- Nissan Motor Co. said Wednesday it was recalling more than 200,000 vehicles in the U.S. and overseas to fix a sensor system that could affect the car's passenger side air bag.

Nissan said the recall includes 140,000 Nissan Altima cars from the 2007-2008 model years. It also involves 2007-2008 model years of the Infiniti EX35, G35 Sedan, G37 and the Nissan 350Z, Murano and Rogue.

Nissan spokesman Colin Price said there have been no injuries or crashes, and the company discovered the problem during internal testing. Most of the recalled vehicles are in the United States; others are in Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico and the Persian Gulf.

Nissan said the recall affects vehicles equipped with Continental Automotive Systems' Occupant Classification System control units. An electronic component in the control unit located in the passenger seat cushion may have been made out of specification.

The Japanese automaker said that could interrupt a signal in the sensor system and prevent the passenger air bag from deploying under certain conditions.

The recall is expected to begin in early November

MORE RECALL INFO:  

• Nissan Altima

• Nissan 350Z

• Nissan Murano

• Nissan Rogue

• Infiniti EX35

• Infiniti G35

• Infiniti G37

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OCTOBER 2008 -- Nissan is recalling 204,361 MY 2007-2008 Altima, Altima Coupe, 350Z, Murano, Rogue; and Infiniti G35 Sedan, G37 Coupe and EX35 passenger vehicles equipped with Continental Automotive Systems’ occupant classification system (OCS) control units. A varistor in the OCS control unit located in the passenger seat cushion may have been manufactured out of specification. Under certain conditions, this could cause an interruption of signal between the OCS and the air bag control unit (ACU). This could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash. Dealers will test the signal between the OCS and ACU systems using a special tool to check that it is functioning as designed. If necessary, the seat cushion (containing OCS hardware) will be replaced with a new one manufactured to specification. The recall is expected to begin during November 3, 2008.  08V521

SEPTEMBER 2008 -- Nissan is recalling 3,403 MY 2009 Altima vehicles equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels. Some of these wheels may not have been manufactured to specification. These wheels were manufactured in China. This could cause one or more of the five lug nuts attaching the wheel to the vehicle to become loose. If the lug nuts become loose, it could eventually result in a loss of control and a crash without warning. Dealers will inspect the vehicle to determine if it is equipped with one of the affected wheels. If it is, the wheels will be replaced with new ones that have been manufactured to the correct specification. The recall is expected to begin during October 2008.  08V464

JULY 2008 -- Nissan is recalling 1,018 MY 2008 Altima vehicles. The left side front suspension transverse link bolt may not have been tightened to specification. This condition could cause the bolt to become loose while the vehicle is being driven. If the bolt were to come out, the driver may experience difficulty controlling the direction of the vehicle which could result in a crash. Dealers will tighten the transverse link bolt to specification. The recall is expected to begin during August 2008.  08V363

NOVEMBER 2007 --  Nissan is recalling 653,910 MY 2002 and 2005-2006 Altima and Sentra vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines. The crankshaft position sensor can overheat causing a brief interruption in the signal output from the sensor. If the interruption in the signal from the sensor is so brief that the electronic control module (ECM) logic does not have time to diagnose the condition, the engine may stop running without warning while the vehicle is driven at a low speed increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will reprogram the ECM. Certain MY 2006 Altimas which have been previously remedied under recall campaign 06V223 (Nissan R0606) are not included in this recall since the reprogramming for that recall also included this reprogramming. The recall is expected to begin during December 2007. This recall was the subject of a Recall Query, RQ06-001, conducted by the Office of Defects Investigation. 07V527

NEWS:    2009 Nissan Altima Recalled for Wheel Problem

WASHINGTON -- September 24, 2008  -- Nissan is recalling 3,403 2009 Altima sedans equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels because one or more of the five lug nuts could become loose.

"If the lug nuts become loose, it could eventually result in a loss of control and a crash without warning," said the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in its recalls summary of the problem.

Nissan dealers will check a vehicle in question to determine if it is equipped with the affected wheels. If it is, the wheels will be replaced with new ones that have been manufactured to the correct specification. The Altimas involved in the recall were built at Nissan's Canton, Mississippi, plant from July 24 to August 14, 2008.

The recall is expected to begin sometime this month. Owners can contact Nissan at 800-647-7261 for more information.

MORE RECALL INFO:   Nissan Altima

DECEMBER 2007 -- Nissan is recalling 114 MY 2007-2008 Altima passenger vehicles. If the body control module (BCM) was replaced during service at a dealership, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) may have been inadvertently deactivated due to an issue with the dealer service software. If the TPMS is turned off, it would not alert the driver to a decrease in the tire pressure as designed. Driving on under-inflated tires is unsafe and could result in a crash. Dealers will check the TPMS function and reactivate it if necessary. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. 07V599

NEWS:    Nissan Recall Expanded to 654,000 Sentras and Altimas

Consumer Affairs -- Nov 21, 2007 -- Nissan Motor Co. is expanding a U.S. recall of Sentra and Altima sedans to repair a defective crankshaft sensor in 2002 and 2005 to 2006 models. The faulty sensor could cause the engine to shut off.

Nissan reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the recall covers about 653,910 vehicles with 2.5-liter engines.

The sensor's location may expose it to temperature changes that would interrupt signals the sensor sends to the engine control module, according to Nissan. Without those signals, the control module may shut off the engine in low-speed driving, Nissan said.

NEWS:    Nissan recalls 140,582 Altimas because air filter may ignite

Chicago Tribune -- July 9, 2007 -- Nissan Motor Co. is recalling 140,582 of its 2007 Altima cars, the automaker's best-selling U.S. vehicle, because the air filter can catch fire if a hot object is drawn into it.

The recall affects Altima cars with a 2.5-liter, four- cylinder engine, the Tokyo-based automaker told the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nissan told the Washington-based agency it began notifying owners July 3. Four fires were reported in February and March, the company said.

The filter will be replaced because it can ignite if something hot such as cigarette ash enters through the vehicle's fresh-air intake valve, Nissan said. An air deflector also will be installed to prevent a buildup of debris at the filter.

The recall affects Altimas built from Sept. 25 through May 11 at its plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, and those produced from Oct. 30 through May 11 at its Canton, Mississippi, factory, Nissan told the agency. The vehicles are under warranty, the company said.