Nissan is recalling more than 19,000 model year 2013 Pathfinder and Infiniti JX vehicles mad in Smyrna, Tennessee because the brakes can fail. The vehicles manufactured during December 2012 and January 2013 have a defective front brake-torque member that was improperly cast by supplier Hitachi resulting in structural weakness. This can lead to premature failure and cracking of what is a mounting bracket for the disc brake caliper.
If the brake torque member fails, the brake caliper may move and contact the inside of the road wheel, resulting in reduced braking, increasing the risk of a crash, Nissan said in the required NHTSA filing just made public.
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the manufacturing date of the torque members and replace them, as necessary, free of charge as is required by U.S. safety regulations. The recall is expected to begin in early May 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service 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.
