The defect
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2004 FRONTIER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001 THROUGH OCTOBER 20, 2004, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2004, XTERRA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 9, 2001, THROUGH JANUARY 6, 2005. OVER TIME CORROSION MAY FORM IN THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN JOINT AND LIMIT MOVEMENT OF THE JOINT. THE LIMITED MOVEMENT OF THIS JOINT MAY CREATE EXCESSIVE LOAD ON THE LOWER STEERING COLUMN SHAFT. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, IT MAY LEAD TO CRACKING OF THE SHAFT DURING LOW SPEED MANEUVERS THAT REQUIRE LARGE STEERING INPUTS.
The risk
THE SHAFT MAY BREAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL DURING THESE LOW SPEED MANEUVERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT AND JOINT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHAFT OF A DIFFERENT DESIGN. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 13, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Nissan Frontier | 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Nissan Xterra | 2002, 2003, 2004 |
Components: STEERING:COLUMN
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 Frontier | 2002 | 124 | 4 |
| Nissan Frontier | 2003 | 77 | 4 |
| Nissan Frontier | 2004 | 66 | 1 |
| Nissan Xterra | 2002 | 157 | 5 |
| Nissan Xterra | 2003 | 72 | 3 |
| Nissan Xterra | 2004 | 84 | 2 |
Other steering recalls in 2010
38 of the 647 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2010 concerned the steering; NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. filed 216 campaigns in all.
| 10V657000 24 Dec 2010 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 10V647000 21 Dec 2010 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. |
| 10V616000 7 Dec 2010 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 10V586000 17 Nov 2010 | NAVISTAR, INC |
| 10V568000 10 Nov 2010 | ELDORADO NATIONAL - CALIFORNIA, INC. |
| 10V475000 7 Oct 2010 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
| 10V459000 4 Oct 2010 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 10V457000 1 Oct 2010 | HYUNDAI CARIBBEAN-PUERTO RICO |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2010