NHTSA Investigation PE14034

Steering column separation

In a January 28, 2015 letter to NHTSA, Nissan identified a safety defect in the steering column assemblies used in certain model year (MY) 2008 and 2009 Infiniti EX35, Infiniti FX35/45 and Nissan GT-R vehicles equipped with power tilt/telescope steering columns supplied by Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd (NHTSA Recall No. 15V-054, Nissan R1501/R1502).The recall covers a total of 16,973 vehicles, including 15,647 MY 2008 Infiniti EX35 vehicles manufactured from June 29, 2007 (SOP) to April 25, 2008; 1,100 MY 2009 Infiniti FX35/45 vehicles manufactured from October 31, 2007 (SOP) to April 16, 2008; and 226 MY 2009 Nissan GT-R vehicles manufactured from March 14, 2007 (SOP) to April 25, 2008.The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with a steering column outer tube that is out of specification (out of round), which may result in stress at the upper bearing.According to Nissan, in rare instances, the condition caused the bearing retainer to fracture creating excessive play in the steering wheel.In this condition, if excessive axial force is applied to the steering wheel, the column may separate and cause a loss of steering control.Nissan's remedy instructs dealers to replace the steering shaft on the Infiniti EX35 and FX35/45 vehicles and to replace the entire steering column assembly on the Nissan GT-R vehicles.ODI's analysis of complaint and warranty data related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles identified a total of 5 incidents in which steering column separation appears to have occurred, including one alleging that a crash resulted.Sixteen (16) additional incidents of loose steering were identified in Nissan complaints (1) and warranty claims (15).The 5 separation incidents identified by ODI involved vehicles built from November 7, 2007 to February 5, 2008, including 3 vehicles built from February 2 to February 5, 2008.The 16 incidents of loose steering involved vehicles built from January 19, 2008 to April 3, 2008, including 9 vehicles built from February 1 to February 11, 2008.None of the incidents involved the approximately 1,800 MY 2008 EX35 vehicles that are not included in the recall, which either were not equipped with the Fuji Kiko power adjustable steering columns (the manual adjustable steering columns were made by a different supplier) or were built after April 25, 2008.This investigation is closed based on Nissan's safety recall.The VOQs associated with this investigation are: 10350255 and 10605536.

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.