NHTSA Campaign 11V244000

STEERING:COLUMN

Issued by NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · Reported Apr 20, 2011 · 195,991 vehicles affected

What's wrong

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAY ENTER AN ASSEMBLY LOCATION HOLE IN THE UPPER STRUT HOUSING, CAUSING WATER TO COLLECT AT THE MATING SURFACE OF THE STRUT HOUSING PANEL AND THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME, THIS SNOW/WATER AND SALT INTRUSION MAY RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING IN SOME SUBJECT VEHICLES.

Consequence

THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, AND POSSIBLY THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

NISSAN WILL INSPECT THE STRUT HOUSING AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT IN MAY 2011. THE SECOND NOTICE WAS MAILED ON JULY 25, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
INFINITI QX4 1997 195,991
INFINITI QX4 1998 195,991
INFINITI QX4 1999 195,991
INFINITI QX4 2000 195,991
INFINITI QX4 2001 195,991
INFINITI QX4 2002 195,991
INFINITI QX4 2003 195,991
NISSAN PATHFINDER 1996 195,991
NISSAN PATHFINDER 1997 195,991
NISSAN PATHFINDER 1998 195,991
NISSAN PATHFINDER 1999 195,991
NISSAN PATHFINDER 2000 195,991
NISSAN PATHFINDER 2001 195,991
NISSAN PATHFINDER 2002 195,991
NISSAN PATHFINDER 2003 195,991
NISSAN PATHFINDER 2004 195,991

Source: NHTSA Campaign 11V244000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.