Nissan recalls 226k vehicles over airbag inflators

Wed, 30 Jul 2014

Nissan and Infiniti are the latest automakers to issue recalls involving faulty airbag inflators from Takata. The Japanese automakers have announced campaigns covering about 226,326 units from seven models built in the early 2000s because they contain the bad part in the passenger-side, front airbag. The affected vehicles include the 2002-2004 Nissan Sentra, 2002-2003 Pathfinder and 2002-2003 Maxima, and it also covers the 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4, 2002-2003 I35, 2003 FX45 and 2003 FX35.

Like the other vehicles with the faulty inflators, it's possible for the part to rupture during airbag deployment and spray metal shrapnel at occupants. Nissan and Infiniti have even included vehicles with replacement airbags in this campaign because those parts also could have been defective. Both companies were also part of the earlier regional campaign to fix cars in high-humidity climates where the problem has been found to be the worst.

As is the usual response, Nissan and Infiniti will notify owners of the affected vehicles and will make the repair at no charge. According to the filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these fixes will commence around August 11. Scroll down to read the report from NHTSA, or read the full defect notice as a PDF, here.

RECALL Subject : Passenger Side Air bag Inflator may Rupture

Report Receipt Date: JUN 24, 2014
NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V361000
Component(s):
Potential Number of Units Affected: 226,326
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
INFINITI FX35 2003
INFINITI FX45 2003
INFINITI I35 2002-2003

INFINITI QX4 2002-2003
NISSAN MAXIMA 2002-2003
NISSAN PATHFINDER 2002-2003
NISSAN SENTRA 2002-2004
Details

Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.

SUMMARY:
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2002-2003 Nissan Maxima, Pathfinder and Infiniti I35 and QX4, as well as 2002-2004 Nissan Sentra and 2003 Infiniti FX vehicles, to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.

CONSEQUENCE:
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking and potentially seriously injuring the passenger seat occupant or other occupants.

REMEDY:
Owners of all vehicles on which a defective air bag may have been installed either as original equipment, or as a replacement, will be notified. Dealers will inspect vehicles, and where a defective air bag inflator is identified, the inflator will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin August 11, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA Recall No. 13V-136.

NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

By Chris Bruce