Nissan North America is recalling model year 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 vehicles because the accelerator pedal sensor signal may deteriorate causing the engine to suddenly revert to a low-speed limp home mode or stalling completely. More than 98,000 Infiniti models are affected in the U.S. Japanese authorities are also investigating the safety defect.
Other Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are not affected because the design of the Aisin-supplied accelerator pedal assembly is unique to these models, according to a required filing with NHTSA that was made publicly available just before Tea Party Republicans pulled the plug on the world’s largest and arguably the most effective safety agency. Further safety recall information from NHTSA will not be available until the Federal government reopens.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assembly and reprogram the engine control module, free of charge as is required by U.S. safety regulations. The recall is expected to begin in early November 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to www.safercar.gov.
