Nissan Recalls 341,005 Altima Models; Rear Doors May Open Unexpectedly
When backseat passengers open their windows in certain Nissan Altimas, the doors may unexpectedly open as well. Nissan reportedly received word of such an incident back in August 2016, but claims to have initially thought the problem was a one-off event. Nissan Motor Co. further claims to have eventually discovered that the cable operating the backdoor’s locking system can be affected by the window’s regulator, leading to the recall of 341,005 Altima sedans in the U.S. from model years 2015 to 2017. Additional Altima sedans sold in Canada, Mexico, and South Korea were also recalled over the same concerns.
According to a Nissan statement, “If the rear passenger doors inadvertently open while the vehicle is in motion, it may increase the risk of injury to the rear passengers.” No injuries or accidents have been reported at the time of the recall, but with children in the backseat, often playing with the window, some parents are on edge.
Previous Nissan Altima Recall
The Altima line is not new to its parts opening without warning. In January 2016 Nissan Motor Co. recalled 846,000 of their Altima vehicles (from model years 2013 to 2015) because of a defective latch, which can cause the hood to fly up. That January 2016 recall was the third hood latch recall for the Altima. The first was announced in September 2014 covering more than 200,000 Altima sedans. The second recall, in March 2015, increased the number to 600,000. Additionally, in January 2015 Nissan recalled more than 170,000 Pathfinder and Infiniti SUVs because they were also equipped with potentially defective hood latches.
Until repairs are made owners of a recalled Altima are being told keep the rear windows up with the child lock on to prevent the backdoor from unlatching. The Japanese automaker reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a harness protector and a sealing screen will be installed to stop the window regulator from unlocking the backdoor. Nissan released a statement to customers informing them that they will be contacted in early March with instructions for the repairs that will be made at no cost to the consumer.
To see if your Nissan has been recalled visit: https://consumerwatch.com/vehicle-recall-checker-by-vin-check-vehicle-recalls/
To contact Nissan directly call: (800) 647-7261