Nissan has requested that 84,000 of their cars, which are over 20 years old, should not be driven. According to Motor1 on Thursday (30/5/2024), this prohibition targets older Nissan cars still equipped with Takata airbags.
This ban is due to many owners of older Nissan cars not participating in the recall program issued several years ago. For safety reasons, the Yokohama-based Japanese car company is asking affected car owners to stop driving them.
“Nissan hopes this new announcement will motivate remaining owners to fix their vehicles before something catastrophic happens,” stated Motor1.
In an official statement, Nissan listed several affected models. These include the 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra, 2002-2003 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4.
According to Nissan, these models should immediately undergo the recall program. Nissan mentioned that the repairs will be free of charge.
“Nissan, like other car manufacturers, has made multiple attempts to contact vehicle owners. They even offer free towing services to the dealer,” reported Motor1.
So far, Takata airbag inflators have caused 27 deaths in the United States, including one involving a 2006 Nissan Sentra driver. Automakers first began recalling cars with defective Takata airbags in 2013, a process that expanded over the years to affect 67 million inflators in tens of millions of vehicles from almost every car manufacturer sold in the U.S.
In these airbag inflators, the propellant, ammonium nitrate, can deteriorate over time when exposed to long-term temperature changes. This deterioration can cause the inflators to explode during airbag deployment, releasing dangerous shrapnel and debris into the cabin. Older cars are particularly hazardous due to the length of time these airbags have been installed.
Nissan is not the only automaker to issue a do-not-drive order for such vehicles. Toyota issued a similar warning earlier this year for some early 2000s models. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles issued a do-not-drive order for the 2003 Dodge Ram in July 2023 after a fatality occurred in one of the vehicles.
Owners can learn more about the recalls from Nissan and Infiniti. They can also check the complete list of affected car manufacturers and vehicles from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
