Nissan was first alerted to the bolt problem last August. A manufacturing process change at Mahle was ultimately determined to be the problem.
Nissan Motor Company has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – NHTSA – that a Nissan recall and Infiniti recall for defective engine bolts leading to oil leaks and possible engine seizures or fires will start on 19 January of 2012. About 15,000 Infiniti FX and M vehicles, as well as Nissan Frontier, Xterra, Pathfinder and NV models from the 2011-2012 model years are affected by the safety defect. The Japanese made bolts from Mahle are failing where the engine oil cooler attaches to the oil cooler, Nissan said in a required NHTSA safety defect filing.
This is the fourth major Nissan recall since the end of November. Earlier recalls involved sudden stalling on Sentra models; Juke turbocharger boost sensors; and defective Rogue electric power steering control computers.
Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov about 11V592.
See also Nissan Recalls Power Windows on 370Z and Infiniti G37 and Nissan Rogue Recall Active for Electric Power Steering
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.
