Nissan (NSANY) is recalling nearly one million Rogue vehicles in the U.S. and Canada due a defect with a key that could switch off the engine.
The recall covers certain Rogues from the 2014 through 2020 model years, as well as Rogue Sports from 2017 through 2022, according to a Feb. 16 filing with National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.
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More than 700,000 vehicles in the U.S. and roughly 100,000 in Canada are included in the recall.
Nissan said the problem, which can happen without warning, involves “S” Grade trim level Nissan Rouge sport and Nissan Rouge vehicles equipped with a "jackknife" style key.
The jackknife key may not hold the key blade in the extended open position, the filing said. Over time the internal pivot of the jackknife key may weaken, and the key fob could unlock and rotate downwards.
If the vehicle is driven with the key in the collapsed position contact with the key fob by the driver could inadvertently turn the vehicle off while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The situation could cause a sudden loss of engine power, power steering, and power brakes, and make it more difficult for the driver to avoid a crash.
If a crash does occur, the vehicle’s airbags would not deploy if the ignition is off.
Nissan has not yet come up with a solution. In the interim, registered owners will be instructed to avoid attaching accessories to the key fob and to use the key in the non-folding orientation until the remedy is available.
Dealers and rental fleets will be instructed as an interim remedy to insert a fastener into the key slot that will prevent the key from folding.
When remedy parts are available dealers will insert a spacer in the key slot of the customer's key fob that will not allow the key to collapse, the filing said.
The jackknife-style key is no longer being used, Nissan said, and other trim levels and Rogues produced more recently have an Intelligent Key.
Earlier this month, Nissan voluntarily recalled nearly a half-million vehicles due to concerns about the steering wheel emblems detaching and injuring drivers if the airbag is deployed.
The earlier recall covered 404,690 older vehicles in the U.S., NHTSA said, and a total of 463,472 worldwide.
