Nissan (NSANY) is voluntarily recalling nearly a half-million vehicles due to concerns about the steering wheel emblems detaching and injuring drivers if the airbag is deployed.
The recall covers 404,690 older vehicles in the U.S., according to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and a total of 463,472 worldwide.
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The vehicle maker said it received four reports alleging injuries due to the problem.
The recall mainly affects vehicles in North America that were manufactured between 2008 and 2011. Most of the vehicles are Frontier pickups.
The recall also covers Titan pickups and Xterra, Pathfinder and Armada SUVs, as well as some Quest minivans manufactured between 2008-2009, and 11,000 parts used for service.
Swedish supplier Autoliv, which is one of the world's top airbag and seat belt makers, produces the driver's side airbag assembly. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The resin emblem on the driver's airbag module cover in affected vehicles may have reduced durability.
In this condition, the post of the emblem may develop cracks overtime and the emblem and retainer components could detach in the event of an airbag deployment.
A detached emblem or retainer component may become a projectile during an air blade deployment increasing the risk of injury to occupants, NHTSA said.
Nissan said the repair is under study at this time. When the repair is ready customers will receive a final invitation to repair letter
The company said it began investigating the problem in Jan. 2022 after being contacted by NHTSA and initially believed it was an isolated incident.
Dealers were notified of the problem on Feb. 10 and owners will receive an interim letter by April 10.
In September, Nissan recalled over 200,000 pickup trucks due to a risk the vehicles could roll away while in park.
NHTSA said that the transmission parking pawl, which locks the gears into place, may not engage when the vehicle is shifted into park, resulting in a vehicle rollaway.
