The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·10V554000·Announced 2010-11-11

Nissan Recalls Frontier and Xterra for Steering Column Defect

Nissan is recalling 2002-2004 Frontier and Xterra vehicles because corrosion in the steering column may cause the shaft to crack, leading to loss of steering control.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect in the steering column that could lead to loss of steering control and a crash, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for structural vehicle defects.

Plain-English summary

Nissan North America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Frontier and Xterra vehicles. The Frontier vehicles were manufactured from July 9, 2001, through October 20, 2004, and the Xterra vehicles were manufactured from July 9, 2001, through January 6, 2005.

Over time, corrosion may form in the lower steering column joint, limiting its movement. This limited movement can create excessive load on the lower steering column shaft. If the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition, the shaft may crack during low-speed maneuvers that require large steering inputs. A broken shaft could result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Owners should contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 to schedule a repair. The corrective action involves replacing the steering column shaft and joint with a shaft of a different design. This service will be performed free of charge. The recall began on December 13, 2010. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
NISSAN FRONTIER, XTERRA
Brand
NISSAN
Manufacturer
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Category
Vehicle — Steering System
Hazard
Affected units
500,552

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • FRONTIER
  • XTERRA

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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