Nissan has announced a recall affecting the front right-hand lower link in some of their vehicles. This issue stems from a supplier who manufactured the lower link with an oversized ball joint. Because of this, the ball joint's press fit might not meet the required pushout specifications, which could lead to the joint separating over time. This separation can impact how the vehicle drives and increase the risk of an accident.
If the ball joint does disengage from the lower link, a snap ring will keep it connected. However, the vertical movement allowed by the disengagement could gradually cause the lower link to corrode and eventually separate. This faulty part was made by Yorozu Automotive in Jasper, Alabama. Due to this issue, Nissan is recalling 5,929 Frontier trucks that were built at its Canton plant between January 29, 2024, and March 4, 2024.
The problem first came to light on March 1, 2024, when the lower link failed a routine inspection. Yorozu Automotive found that the ball joint used in the defective part was too large. Further investigation revealed that 10,036 suspect parts were made using an incorrect stamping die, and 9,664 of these were shipped to Nissan's plant.
Among the recalled vehicles, five were test units owned by Nissan, and 208 were intended for export. So far, Nissan has not reported any accidents or injuries related to this defect, nor have there been any market complaints.
Nissan informed U.S. dealerships about the recall on June 28, 2024, and vehicle owners will be notified starting August 15, 2024. The affected dealerships have been instructed to replace the front right-hand lower link in the recalled vehicles. The repair is expected to take about 2.5 hours and will be done at no cost to the owners.
In summary, Nissan's recall addresses a critical safety concern with the front right-hand lower link in certain Frontier trucks. The oversized ball joint could cause the lower link to corrode and separate over time, affecting vehicle safety. The recall impacts nearly 6,000 trucks, with repairs provided free of charge to ensure customer safety.