Nissan Motor Company is one of the oldest auto brands in Japan. Founded in 1928, the company became one of the first to export cars to America under the brand name Datsun, starting in 1958. Still, the brand has had some issues over the years involving quality control. This is why Nissan owners should be aware of the potential problems in their vehicles, and should also know their rights under California law. An experienced attorney like the ones here at California Consumer Attorneys P.C. can help you get the assistance you need including compensation for any defects in your Nissan car, truck, or SUV.
Vehicle Safety Information and Recalls
In recent years, Nissan has had a number of vehicles recalled. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is a federal government agency tasked with making sure the vehicles we drive are safe. In 2024, the NHTSA reported that Nissan had to recall over 40,000 vehicles due to rearview camera issues. This safety apparatus is crucial to help drivers avoid striking other vehicles or pedestrians when backing out of a parking spot. The rearview cameras on the Nissan Rogue compact SUV and the Infiniti QX80 three-row SUV would sometimes show a blank screen when the vehicle was shifted in reverse, instead of the view behind the vehicle. In addition, the higher trim Infiniti QX80 models with the Around View Mirror would often freeze on an image instead of showing a constant video display when traveling in reverse. Both recalls were solved by repairing the software on the vehicles that control the cameras.
Other recent recalls involving Nissan models concerned other safety matters. For example, Nissan Altima models built between 2015 to 2017 had to be recalled because lowering the rear window could accidentally open the rear door while the vehicle was in motion. In addition, in 2016, Nissan had to recall over three million vehicles across all model types because of hazardous airbags. These and other recalls required drivers to return the vehicles to their dealers for repairs that addressed the safety issues. Nissan maintains a webpage on its website where you can find out if there are any recalls for your specific vehicle. At www.nissanusa.com/recalls-vin.html you can search by your vehicle’s 17-digit VIN (vehicle identification number), which is located on the dashboard in front of the driver, in the lower sill of the front passenger side door, and on your vehicle’s registration.
While recalls are one way to find out if there is a safety or functionality issue with your Nissan, you may also receive technical service bulletins (TSBs). These are also issued by the manufacturer, but do not involve mandatory repairs like recalls. You can locate TSBs for your vehicle on the NHTSA website. www.nhtsa.gov. You can also find out if there are any active TSBs on your Nissan by going to www.nissan-techinfo.com/tsb/tsb_xml/nmindex.aspx?tsbtype=ai. There, you will be able to search by the model and model year of your Nissan car, truck, or SUV.
An example of a recent TSB issued by Nissan is the one from March 2024 for the Sentra. Nissan advised that the 2024 Sentra compact sedan may have a left front drive shaft that is not seated properly in the vehicle’s transaxle. This is not something that you can check yourself, so if you have this vehicle, you can go to your Nissan dealer to have it repaired or replaced at no cost to you.
Common Vehicle Issues and Solutions
While recalls and TSBs are often issued for the entire model year of a specific Nissan model, you may encounter problems common to a certain model that has not given rise to a recall. In many cases, this might have to do with quality control as opposed to a design defect. In other words, someone on the Nissan line may have made an error in building your vehicle and similar ones.
Recent issues that have arisen can often have to do with types of features on Nissan models as opposed to any specific vehicle. For example, in recent years, Nissan moved from a regular automatic transmission to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) on many of its models. Unlike automatic and manual transmissions that use set gear speeds, a CVT uses a system of variable pulleys and belts that continuously adjust the engine speed to better suit driving conditions. This should lead to a smoother and more efficient ride. However, on some Nissans, the CVT may lag or shudder, especially on ones that were the first to feature this type of transmission. In rare cases, the transmission may fail altogether.
There have been other issues as well, like sunroofs on the Maxima, Rogue, Pathfinder, and Murano that have been subject to leaks. If you experience this problem, your dealer can make repairs to better seal the sunroof. While Nissan has done a better job with quality control in recent years, older models may experience oil leaks, electrical problems, and a tendency to rust.
Authorized Nissan dealers receive the bulletins and recalls issued by the company. They also have service centers with technicians that may find other drivers experiencing similar problems as you. Sometimes, these can be fixed at no cost to you. You may also have other rights under California’s Lemon Law, also known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
Understanding Consumer Rights
California has one of the strongest consumer rights laws for people who buy cars. Called the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, it is also know as the Lemon Law. Under this law, dealers who sell or lease new cars are required to make a “reasonable number of repair attempts” to fix a problem with a vehicle. While the law does not define the meaning of this term, it has been interpreted to mean that there must be at least four repair attempts during the earlier of 18 months of ownership by the driver or the first 18,000 miles on the vehicle’s odometer. However, if the defect presents a serious safety risk, then there must be at least two repair attempts on the vehicle. If the repair does not work, then the dealer is required to replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price to the buyer.
The law applies to all new cars that are sold or leased in California. It also applies to certain used cars if they are “dealer owned” or were used as demonstration vehicles, which are typically the ones used for test-drives and as loaners to people having their cars serviced in a Nissan dealership. You may also be covered if you bought your used vehicle under the Nissan Certified Pre-Owned Program. However, not all used cars are covered. If there was no remaining time left on the original warranty and you did not receive a used vehicle warranty from the dealer, then the used car may be considered “as is” and not covered by the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
In order to get covered by the act, you also need to notify the dealer as soon as possible about the defect. So, if you have experienced a problem, you should call the Nissan dealership and let them know about it. You should also make sure to document all of your contact with the dealership.
Call Us if You Have Had a Problem with Your Nissan
It is not unusual to encounter problems with your vehicle. If you think you have bought a lemon, call us for a free consultation today.