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NHTSA safety investigation

NHTSA Investigation PE05019

Preliminary Evaluation · Nissan North America, Inc. · SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.

NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.

Model years namedModel years in our database that NHTSA associated with this inquiry. Being named in an investigation says nothing about whether an individual vehicle has any problem.
1
1 model
Opened
Apr 21, 2005
Preliminary Evaluation
Closed
Aug 19, 2005
No associated recall recorded

What NHTSA is examining

The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published

FINGER PINCH POINT

ODI HAS RECEIVED FIVE REPORTS ALLEGING THAT THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED USING THE VEHICLE'S SECOND-ROW SEAT RELEASE LEVER TO FOLD THE SECOND ROW SEAT.NISSAN STATES, ...THE CUSTOMER OPERATION OF THE LEVER IN SOME CASES AND SUBSEQUENT ORIENTATION OF THEIR FINGERS IS DIFFERENT THAN EXPECTED.NISSAN ALSO REPORTED ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS FOR A TOTAL OF 11 INJURIES.NISSAN MODIFIED THE LEVER FOR PRODUCTION TWICE.THE LATEST (SECOND MODIFICATION) DESIGN PROVIDES A LARGER SIZED HANDLE THAT CONTAINS A CUP INTO WHICH THE SEAT OCCUPANT CAN PLACE THEIR FINGERS TO OPERATE THE ADJUSTMENT LEVER.NISSAN REPORTS NO INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CUP DESIGN LEVER.BEGINNING JUNE 2004, NISSAN INITIATED A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION INITIATIVE THAT INCLUDED REPLACING THE ORIGINAL DESIGN HANDLE WITH THE FIRST MODIFICATION HANDLE (THIS IS NOT THE CUP DESIGN HANDLE MENTIONED ABOVE).THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-012) TO ALLOW FURTHER ANALYSIS OF THE ISSUE.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.

Investigation details

Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA

Action number
PE05019
Investigation type
Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
Status
Closed
Manufacturer
Nissan North America, Inc.
Component
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
Opened
Apr 21, 2005
Closed
Aug 19, 2005
Associated recall campaign
None recorded

Vehicles named in this investigation

1 model year across 1 model

Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.