Nissan warns owners of older vehicles not to drive them due to risk of exploding air bag inflators
Is Your Nissan a Ticking Time Bomb?
Nissan has issued an urgent warning to about 84,000 owners of specific older vehicle models to cease driving due to a high risk of Takata air bag inflators exploding and projecting metal fragments in a crash. The affected models include certain 2002-2006 Sentra cars, 2002-2004 Pathfinder SUVs, and 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 SUVs. Owners are urged to check their vehicle's eligibility for a free repair by entering their VIN on Nissan's recall sites.
This warning follows incidents where one person was killed and 58 others injured since 2015 due to the defective inflators. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration emphasized the severe danger, particularly in older vehicles, where the air bag's age increases the risk of catastrophic failure. Nissan is offering free towing and, in some cases, mobile service and loaner cars to facilitate the replacement of the dangerous inflators.
How many Nissan vehicles originally recalled in 2020 for Takata inflator replacement still remain unrepaired and are believed to be in use?
In 2020, Nissan originally recalled 736,422 vehicles to replace Takata airbag inflators. According to the company, around 84,000 of these vehicles remain unrepaired and are believed to still be in use.
What services is Nissan offering to owners of vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall?
Nissan is offering several services to owners of vehicles affected by the Takata airbag recall. These services include:
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Free repair: Owners can contact their local authorized Nissan dealer to set up an appointment for the replacement of the Takata airbag inflators5. The repair will be done for free.
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Free towing: Nissan is providing free towing to dealerships for affected vehicles5. This service is aimed at ensuring that owners do not have to drive their vehicles to the dealership, thus avoiding any potential risks associated with the defective airbags.
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Mobile repair: In select locations, Nissan is offering mobile repair services for affected vehicles5. This means that the repair can be carried out at the owner's home or workplace, making the process more convenient for the owner.
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Loaner vehicles: Nissan is also offering loaner vehicles to affected owners in some locations. This service is intended to provide owners with an alternative mode of transportation while their vehicles are being repaired.
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Online purchase and test drive: Nissan is allowing owners to start their online purchase at participating dealerships. Owners can get a quote, book a test drive, and even buy their Nissan vehicle from home.
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Customer support: Nissan has set up a dedicated Consumer Affairs line for further questions about the Takata Airbag recall. Owners can contact Nissan Consumer Affairs at 1-888-546-1048 for more information.
Please note that owners should check if their vehicle is affected by the recall by visiting nissanusa.com/takata-airbag-recall or infinitiusa.com/takata-airbag-recall and entering their 17-digit vehicle identification number.