Nissan North America will recall more than 150,000 vehicles after discovering a mechanical problem with their ignition systems.
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The Franklin, Tennessee-based manufacturer notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Aug. 31, 2018 they will recall 153,047 2017 Nissan Sentra, 2017-2018 Nissan Frontier, 2017 Nissan NV3500, 2017 Nissan NV200, 2017 Nissan Taxi, 2017-2018 Nissan Versa Note, 2017-2018 Nissan Versa Sedan, 2017 Chevrolet City Express, 2017 Nissan NV3500, 2017 Nissan NV1500 and 2017 Nissan NV2500 vehicles built between Feb. 14 and Aug. 15, 2017.
Engineers found mechanical key ignition systems in the affected vehicles contain ball springs that can wear excessively and suffer fatigue breakage after approximately six years of normal use. If the ball spring breaks, the ignition’s retention force decreases and the ignition key can move and pull the ignition switch from the “On” position to the “ACC” position. This can unexpectedly cut the engine and increase crash risk.
Ignition switch supplier Alpha Technology Corporation notified Nissan North America in August 2017 they found a problem with the affected ball springs. Nissan stated in their recall chronology they found no related field incidents but began investigating the issue regardless. The supplier conducted bench vibration tests at Nissan’s request, studying the ignition switch’s long-term durability. Nissan concluded the bench test didn’t represent adequate real world conditions, and they developed a new testing protocol. Testing continued until March 2018 until Nissan decided bench tests still did not meet their standards.
Nissan developed a vehicle testing plan while monitoring available field data. The manufacturer began vehicle testing in July 2018, concluding in August 2018 they could not rule out the key jostling the ignition out of the “On” position. Nissan decided on Aug. 14, 2018 to initiate a safety recall.
Nissan will notify owners and dealers will inspect the production information on the ignition switch and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall will begin Oct. 19, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Concerned consumers can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you. Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.
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