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.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
