2011 Nissan 370Z

The defect

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 INFINITI G37 COUPE VEHICLES AND CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 NISSAN 370Z VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2, 2011, THROUGH AUGUST 29, 2011. DUE TO A PROGRAMMING ERROR, THE POWER WINDOW SWITCH CONTROLLER IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WAS MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION.

The risk

THE THRESHOLD FOR AUTO REVERSE ACTIVATION IS HIGHER THAN THE NISSAN SPECIFICATION. SHOULD A BODY PART BECOME TRAPPED BY A CLOSING WINDOW, A PINCH INJURY MAY RESULT.

The remedy

NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER WINDOW SWITCHES WITH NEW ONES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 5, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. · up to 1,788 vehicles across all model years covered

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

towed · 36,700 miles

TL* THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2011 NISSAN 370Z. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING THE START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER COGGINS NISSAN(10600 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE FL) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING LOCK WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,700. *DT *AS

NHTSA complaint 11302718. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Steering lock module failure. Same issue as in 2016 (NHTSA tracking number 10929922). Car would not start. In city park and waited 4 hours for tow truck. By myself - 74 year old female. Getting dark and dealership closed. Had the exact part malfunction in 2016 and had to have it towed. Cost $1000 to fix back then. Nissan has had issues with this but has refused to recall it except for one model. This repair cost me $1400. Not just the money or inconvenience - it's dangerous. There is no way to start this car - it has to be towed!

NHTSA complaint 11515373. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

51,000 miles

FOR YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) THAT DISABLED THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION IN A WIDE RANGE OF NISSAN AND INFINITI VEHICLES. THE ESCL'S PRIMARY JOB IS TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UNTIL YOU BRING YOUR KEY FOB IN RANGE OF THE VEHICLE. IT'S MEANT TO PREVENT THEFT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE ESCL MALFUNCTIONS (EVEN WITH THE FOB PRESENT AND WORKING) THE ESCL WON'T DETECT IT AND, THEREFORE, WON'T RELEASE THE WHEEL. WHEN YOU PRESS THE START/STOP BUTTON TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENS. HOWEVER, THE "INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT" SYMBOL COMES ON, INDICATING YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FO YEARS AND HAS ISSUED A …

NHTSA complaint 11205346, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEN MY CAR HAD 22,000 MILES IT WOULDN'T START BECAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I WAS HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HAD TO TOW IT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. IT JUST HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN AT 55,000 MILES. I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE WORK. HAD TO TOW IT BACK AGAIN. NOT FAIR TO PAY 1,200!!

NHTSA complaint 11065472. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

40,000 miles

CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER WENT OUT AT AROUND 40K MILES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER 370 Z'S. I AM NOW WORRIED THAT I WILL NEED A THIRD CSC.

NHTSA complaint 11063429. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

19,893 miles

THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK UNIT STATING THAT IT WAS "BAD". THE SAME THING IS NOTED ON A RECALL ISSUED FOR 2009 AND 2010 NISSAN 370 Z, BUT NO RECALL FOR THE 2011 EVEN THOUGH T IS THE SAME PART.

NHTSA complaint 11010402. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.