Nissan has announced a recall affecting nearly 480,000 vehicles following reports and investigation findings that confirm certain models are susceptible to sudden engine failures that can leave drivers without power while operating at normal road speeds.
Sudden engine failures while driving create an immediate safety problem. Loss of power eliminates engine braking contribution, removes power-assisted steering and braking capability, and can cause unexpected deceleration that vehicles following behind may be unable to anticipate in time to avoid a rear-end collision.
The defect affects specific model year ranges that share a common engine variant or component that has been identified as the failure point. Nissan said its investigation was prompted by owner complaints and warranty data that showed an elevated rate of engine-related failures in the affected population.
The remedy involves inspection and replacement of the affected components at no charge to vehicle owners through authorized Nissan dealerships. Owners can expect notification by mail and can verify their vehicle’s inclusion through Nissan’s owner portal or the NHTSA recall database.
No fatalities were attributed to the defect prior to the recall announcement. Nissan said it was acting proactively based on the pattern of failures identified before incidents with serious consequences could accumulate.