The defect
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE QG18DE ENGINE OR QR25DE ENGINES, THE FOAM MATERIAL USED FOR THE INTERIOR LINING OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) BOX EMITS SULFUR AS IT CURES.
The risk
IF ONE OF THE RESISTORS INSIDE THE ECM HAS A CRACK ON THE SURFACE COATING, THE GAS MAY CAUSE CORROSION OF THE RESISTOR. THIS COULD CAUSE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT TO COME ON, POOR DRIVABILITY (IDLE INSTABILITY, POOR ACCELERATOR), OR THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE INSIDE LINING MATERIAL FROM THE ECM BOX. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Nissan Sentra | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Sentra | 2000 | 171 | 6 |
| Nissan Sentra | 2001 | 236 | 7 |
| Nissan Sentra | 2002 | 304 | 10 |
| Nissan Sentra | 2003 | 180 | 7 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2003
42 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the electrical system; NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. filed 216 campaigns in all.
| 03V528000 12 Dec 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 03V532000 12 Dec 2003 | GULF STREAM COACH, INC. |
| 03V494000 2 Dec 2003 | BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO. |
| 03V495000 2 Dec 2003 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 03V490000 1 Dec 2003 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 03V489000 1 Dec 2003 | TRAILEX, LES REMORQUES DE RIMOUSKI INC |
| 03V483000 25 Nov 2003 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 03V484000 19 Nov 2003 | SUPERIOR MANUFACTURING, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003