Nissan recalled more than 150,000 cars in the United States and Canada due to faulty ignition switches that could disable vehicles while in operation. If the vehicle stops suddenly, there is an increased likelihood of a collision and resulting injuries. The recall affects small cars, commercial vans, and midsize pickups mostly sold in Canada and a smaller number of vehicles sold in the United States. The models included in the recall are 2017-2018 Juke, Frontier, Sentra, Versa, Versa Note, NV, NV200 and Taxi models.
The defect lies in the spring mechanism in the ignition switches. Ignition switches in these vehicles could be accidentally switched from the “on” position to the “accessory” position when the car is being used. If the switch is moved, the airbags could also become disabled. The NHTSA stated that although the airbag system would still be powered by the electrical capacity reserve in the car, the reserve will drain if the vehicle is not restarted.
The NHTSA warned that the spring may fail to operate normally after six years of regular use. In order to prevent ignition switches from shifting, the manufacturer advised drivers to remove additional keys or accessories from their key chains while the car is in drive.
The Nissan recall is eerily reminiscent of another historic recall just several years ago. General Motors (GM) cars were recalled due to faulty ignition switches that could disable the engine and thereby prevent the airbags from functioning properly. That recall eventually included nearly 30 million cars worldwide by the end of 2014 and was linked to 124 deaths. GM was fined nearly $1 billion for injuries and deaths related to the recall. Unlike the GM recall, Nissan’s ignition switch problems only affect around 166,000 cars in North America at this time. Nissan has not reported any deaths or accidents related to the ignition switch defect.
If you or a member of your family suffered injury or death as a result of negligence or a defective automobile, contact the attorneys Alexander Law Group, LLP. Our exceptional personal injury lawyers will answer your questions and get you the maximum compensation that is possible. Call 888.777.1776 or contact us online.
