It steers better if the front struts are attached.
Nissan North America, Inc. is recalling 2009 and 2010 Altima and Maxima passenger cars because of a defective Chinese-made part. More than 26,000 vehicles are involved at this time.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the upper front strut insulators may have been manufactured out of specification, resulting in a potential for the strut insulator to crack.
If the strut insulator is cracked, the strut rod to come out of its correct mounting position, which could affect vehicle stability and increase the risk of a crash.
If this were to occur, according to Nissan, the strut rod would begin to make a loud noise the driver would hear. Under normal driving conditions, the suspension remains intact as the strut spring is contained within the body strut-tower housing and the strut rod would remain within the inner diameter of the strut spring, so the vehicle operation is “not degraded.”
However, under certain “extreme driving conditions,” there is some potential for the strut rod to come out of its mounting position, which could affect vehicle operation and increase the risk of a crash.
Recalled models include:
- 2009 model year Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured at Canton Mississippi, on March 2, 2009 and June 17, 2009 through August 17, 2009.
- 2010 model year Altima vehicles manufactured on July 22, 2009 through July 30, 2009.
- 2009 model year Nissan Maxima vehicles manufactured on March 2, 2009 and June 19, 2009 through August 3, 2009.
- 2010 model year Maxima vehicles manufactured on August 3, 2009 through August 14, 2009.
Maxima and Altima vehicles manufactured before and after these dates are not affected because they were assembled with the upper front strut insulator manufactured by a different supplier, presumably with better quality control.
Chinese quality control and consumer protection procedures have been called into question on a wide variety of products ranging from food, drugs, children’s toys, and even milk.
Nissan will notify owners and dealers will replace both left and right side front strut insulators free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or about October 5, 2009. 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, or go to http://www.safercar
Defective and toxic drywall manufactured in and imported from China has forced thousands of Americans to leave their new homes. It has caused skin irritations and trouble breathing.
As more time passes, more homes are being tested and eventually gutted of this serious health concern. No home is safer than another. If you live in new home, it is possible it was constructed using this inferior and dangerous product.
New homes in Louisiana and Nevada to multi-million-dollar condos in Florida, where the problem started, are included. If you’ve been affected, or know someone who has or may be, please read this Web site for a complete dossier on the subject: http://chinesedrywall.org/