The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·15V486000·Announced 2015-08-04

Nissan Recalls Altima and Maxima for Fuel Leak Fire Risk

Nissan is recalling 46,846 Altima and Maxima vehicles because an improperly installed o-ring may cause fuel to leak during a crash, increasing fire 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 structural vehicle defect (fuel system) that may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash, which aligns with the rubric criteria for a Severe (4) rating.

Plain-English summary

Nissan North America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2016 Nissan Maxima vehicles and model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima 3.5 vehicles equipped with a V6 engine. The recall covers 46,846 vehicles manufactured between March 30, 2012, and August 18, 2015. The initial notification was made on July 31, 2015, and expanded on October 14, 2015, to include the additional Altima models.

The defect involves an improperly installed o-ring at the area where the fuel sending unit attaches to the fuel tank. If the o-ring was not seated correctly during assembly, fuel may leak from this area during a crash. This potential fuel leak may increase the risk of a fire in the event of a crash.

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a retainer ring between the fuel tank and the fuel sending unit to correct the issue. The recall began on September 28, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
NISSAN ALTIMA, MAXIMA
Brand
NISSAN
Manufacturer
Nissan North America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Fuel System
Hazard
Affected units
46,846

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)

  • ALTIMA
  • MAXIMA

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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