Defective Battery Cables Lead to Nissan Sentra Recall

Nissan has recalled about 34,000 Nissan Sentras from the 2010-2011 model year due to defective battery cables, which can cause the engine to stall while the car is in motion. 

The Nissan Sentra recall was announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last week, focusing on Sentra vehicles that were equipped with the MR20 engine.

The NHTSA warns that it investigated the Nissan Sentra problems and found that the battery cables not only can cause the engine to stall while the vehicle is in operation, but the problem may also prevent the driver from restarting the vehicle, which could lead to an auto accident.

According to the NHTSA’s findings, the zinc coating applied to the battery cable’s terminal stud bolt was thicker than specifications required. The coating can cause a voltage to drop that could cause difficulty in starting the vehicle and which could damage the engine control module, leading to stalls. There were no reports of accidents linked to the defective Nissan Sentra battery cables.

The recall affects an estimated 33,803 Nissan Sentra vehicles, which have an MR20 engine and were manufactured between May 11, 2010, and May 22, 2010, and then from July 8, 2010, to October 25, 2010.

Nissan is expected to begin notifying registered owners whether their vehicles are affected by the recall on or before January 23, 2012. Owners will be instructed to take their vehicles to a Nissan dealer to have the positive battery terminal and cover replaced, free of charge.

Consumers with questions can contact Nissan at (800) 647-7261. They can also contact the NHTSA for more information by calling (888) 327-4236, or by going to http://http://www.youhavealawyer.com/accident/.

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