Nissan Altima Recalled Due to a Dangerous Hood Latch Defect That May Cause the Hood to Open During Driving
Nissan altima hood latch accident
UNITED STATES – June 8, 2020 – According to an online news report published on ConsumerReports.com, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., is recalling over 1.8 million Altima automobiles to repair a defective hood latch that has been previously recalled for the same issue. Not only once, not twice, but three times. The hood latch defect is gravely serious as the Altima’s hood could open while the car is in operation. In that case, the hood may block the driver’s view causing a serious accident leading to injuries and fatalities.
The Altima recall covers both newer Altima models and some older Altima models, which were part of the previous three recalls. This latest hood latch recall is for Altimas manufactured between 2013 and 2018 model years. Also, this recall includes Altimas manufactured in years 2013 to 2015 that had a hood latch fixed following the hood latch recalls in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Owners of the affected Nissan Altimas are asked to contact their local Nissan dealership to arrange another repair. According to a spokesperson for Nissan, the repair is currently under development.
ConsumerReports.com states that Nissan admitted the company is aware of at least 16 accidents or injuries that involve Altimas model years 2013, 2014, and 2015 which were not repaired in earlier recalls. Nissan also stated that the company was not aware of any accidents or injuries caused by Altimas that were repaired after the earlier recalls in 2013, 2014, and 2015 or with Altimas model years 2016, 2017, and 2018. Nissan stated in the article that it “received a small number of reports involving a customer’s hood opening unexpectedly,” which is the reason for the latest hood latch recall.
In the previous hood latch recall, the defect involved a hood latch that prematurely corroded due to a lack of sufficient paint. The corrosion caused the latch to not fit securely when the car´s hood was shut closed. In previous recall attempts, the company tried lubricating the latch and the company also tried replacing the latch. Neither were successful in resolving the defect.
Nissan stated that they would contact the owners of vehicles being recalled this month. The company would provide instructions to resolve the defective latch issue until the latch is repaired at an authorized Nissan dealership. Nissan also stated that the owners would receive a second notice once a solution to the problem has been developed and is ready to be installed.
The NHTSA has not yet provided a campaign number for this recall. But owners may visit the NHTSA in the future for detailed information about the recall and to run a VIN check to see if their car is affected by the defective hood latch.
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