NHTSA Concludes Preliminary Evaluation on Nissan Engine Failures Following Recall

According to foreign media reports, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced the conclusion of its preliminary evaluation regarding engine failures in 454,840 Nissan vehicles following a recall initiated by the Japanese automaker in June this year. This investigation, which began in December 2023, alleged that certain Nissan models had engine failures leading to power loss, with consumers also reporting knocking noises from the engine. NHTSA stated that if internal engine components detach and damage the engine block, it could create holes that allow oil to contact high-temperature surfaces, potentially resulting in a fire. In a report dated July 21, NHTSA noted that there were 1,878 accident reports, with 12 incidents resulting in collisions or fires. The investigation involved models such as the Nissan Rogue, Altima, and luxury models Infiniti QX50 and QX55. The recall initiated by Nissan included a plan for authorized dealers to conduct special inspections for metal debris in the engine oil pan. If no debris is found, the dealer will replace the oil and carry out minor repairs based on the engine model; if debris is found, a major repair or replacement of the engine may be necessary. Nissan has also agreed to extend the warranty period for affected vehicles to 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first, starting from the date of inspection. Additionally, in June, NHTSA concluded a seven-year investigation into 2.03 million Nissan vehicles but did not require Nissan to initiate a recall. This investigation, which started in 2018 and escalated to an engineering analysis phase in 2019, focused on the lower control arms of the rear suspension system in 2013-2018 Nissan Altima and 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima models, examining whether corrosion could cause these components to detach from the chassis, posing a safety risk. At that time, NHTSA indicated that due to a decline in the number of fault reports and Nissan's actions to address the issue and extend the warranty period, no further investigation into the rear suspension control arm failures was necessary. Nissan had previously initiated a customer satisfaction campaign in 2019, replacing new parts for over 47,000 vehicles and extending the warranty from the standard '3 years or 36,000 miles' to '10 years or unlimited mileage'.