The Nissan Motor Company put out a statement on Friday, April 29, 2016 that it will be recalling 3.53 million vehicles, most of which are in the United States, due to a passenger airbag issue. Reuters reported that the issue is that the passenger airbag may not work properly due to a malfunction of the vehicle's sensors. This is the Japanese automaker's fourth recall since 2013 concerning air bag issues affecting the front passenger side. The sensor may malfunction, making the automobile believe the passenger is a child or the seat is empty, leading to the airbag not deploying.
Nissan has reported three injuries so far due to this issue but luckily, no deaths as of yet. The recall includes some 2013-2017 models of the Nissan Altima, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Sentra, Rogue, NV200, NV Taxi, Infiniti JX35/QX60, and Q50. The 2015-2016 Chevrolet City Express was also included, because Nissan manufactured this vehicle for General Motors. About 3.2 million of these recalls are within the United States. Some 600,000 Nissan Sentra cars are also on recall for a safety belt defect, adding to the list of vehicles currently on recall. Nissan will be contacting those affected by recalls within the next few months and the issue will be fixed at no charge to the owner.
It is very important to stay on top of recalls because they can sometimes fix fatal defects in the automobile. Issues such as this one, regarding seat belts or airbags, can be the difference between life and death, when the car is involved in an automobile accident. If a car is believed to be under recall, always fix it as soon as possible. If a car is recalled, owners should receive a pamphlet in the mail or can check online at SafeCar.gov. Simply enter the VIN number of the car in question and all potential recalls will be listed.
The news of this recall comes in the wake of a number of other large recalls. This recall alone affects over 3.5 million vehicles, which equates to almost 1 car recalled per every 100 persons in the United States. Automakers do their best to ensure car safety, but sometimes are at fault and will attempt to fix these issues. It is important for drivers to ensure they are up to date on all safety checks and recall information to ensure their own safety, and the safety of drivers around them.
If you or someone you know has been involved in an auto accident due to a defect with your car, call The Michigan Law Firm PLLC. Our attorneys are highly experienced in handling all types of motor vehicle accidents including those caused by recalled vehicles. Call us today, at 844.4MI.FIRM for a free consultation.