The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·11V579000·Announced 2011-12-15

Nissan Recalls 2010-2011 Sentra Vehicles for Battery Terminal Defect

Nissan is recalling certain 2010-2011 Sentra vehicles because a thick zinc coating on the battery terminal bolt may cause voltage drops, engine stalling, and potential crash risk.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a defect that can cause the engine to stall while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of a crash, which aligns with the rubric criteria for significant injury risk or structural/functional vehicle defects.

Plain-English summary

Nissan North America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Nissan Sentra vehicles equipped with MR20 engines. The affected vehicles were manufactured between May 11, 2010, and May 22, 2010, and between July 8, 2010, and October 25, 2010. The recall involves a defect in the electrical system where the zinc coating applied to the terminal stud bolt was thicker than the specified standard.

This defect can result in a voltage drop that may cause difficulty starting the vehicle and could cause damage to the engine control module (ECM). More critically, the issue can cause the engine to stall while the vehicle is in motion. If the engine stalls, it may not be possible to restart it after it stops, which increases the risk of a crash.

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the positive battery terminal and cover free of charge. The recall began on January 23, 2012. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
NISSAN SENTRA
Brand
NISSAN
Manufacturer
NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Category
Vehicle — Sedan
Hazard
Affected units
33,803

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 (1)

  • SENTRA

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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