Voluntary Safety Recall Campaign PM985 – Inner Tie Rod Inspection – 2020-2021 Nissan Sentra

June 17, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V461000

Tie Rods May Be Bent

A bent tie rod can break, causing a loss of steering control and increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V461

Manufacturer Nissan North America, Inc.

Components STEERING

Potential Number of Units Affected 138,736

 

Summary

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles. The left and/or right tie rod may be bent.

 

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right tie rods as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan’s number for this recall is PM985.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

 

Check if your Nissan has a Recall

 


Affected Models/Years: Affected Population: Dealer Inventory: SERVICE COMM Activation date: Stop Sale  In Effect
2020-2021 Sentra (B18)138,7365,547 June 18, 2021YES

 

***** Campaign Summary *****

Nissan has reclassified and expanded the previously announced quality action (PM973) for new vehicle inventory as a Voluntary Safety Recall Campaign on 138,736 specific 2020-2021 Sentra vehicles identified in Service Comm. Nissan Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace both the left-hand and right-hand inner tie rod(s) if affected.

The left and/or right side tie rod may be bent on the affected vehicles.  Nissan has identified certain manufacturing process issues as potential sources for impact damage to the tie rod. . A bent tie rod condition may impair the driver’s ability to steer the vehicle. The steering wheel may be off center and/or experience vibration. In the worst case scenario, if the tie rod breaks, it can lead to a loss of control.

Affected vehicles are subject to stop sale and are either currently in dealer inventory or assigned and in transit to the dealer.

 

***** Release Schedule *****

Parts

Parts are on restriction.  If inspection results indicate that parts replacement is necessary, dealers may place an SVC order via DBS.

➢ D8521-6LB0A – Tie Rod End

  • Parts may be ordered via normal process beginning June 25, 2021.

NOTE: Nissan anticipates a low number of affected vehicles will require replacement.

Parts replaced under this activity will be placed on parts collection. Parts requested are VIN and repair order specific. It is important for dealers to return parts applicable to the VIN and repair order identified.

 

Repair

 

Owner Notification

Nissan will begin sending notifications to owners of all potentially affected vehicles in August 2021 via U.S. Mail.

 


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): 

 

Is this a recall?

Yes.

 

Is this a Stop Sale?

Yes.

 

What is the reason for the recall?

The left and/or right side tie rod may be bent on the affected vehicles. Nissan has identified certain manufacturing process issues as potential sources for impact damage to the tie rod.

 

What is the possible effect of the condition?

A bent tie rod condition may impair the driver’s ability to steer the vehicle. The steering wheel may be off-center and/or experience vibration. In the worst case scenario, if the tie rod breaks, it can lead to a loss of control.

 

What will be the corrective action for this voluntary recall campaign?

Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace both the left-hand and right-hand inner tie rod(s) if affected.

 

How long will the corrective action take?

This service, which is conducted at no charge to you for parts and labor, could take up to two and one half (2.5) hours to complete, if part(s) replacement is necessary. However, your Nissan dealer may require your vehicle for a longer period of time based upon their work schedule.

 

When will vehicle owners be notified?

Nissan will begin sending notifications to owners of all potentially affected vehicles in August 2021 via U.S. Mail.

 

Is my vehicle safe to drive?

If the steering wheel is off-center and/or you experience vibration, please contact your local Nissan dealer for immediate inspection and instructions on how to transport your vehicle to the dealership.

 

Is there anything owners can do to mitigate this condition?

No.

 

Are parts readily available?

Yes.

 

Will a rental vehicle be provided while the dealer is servicing the vehicle?

Please consult your dealer for alternate transportation availability while your vehicle is being serviced. If inspection indicates parts replacement is needed, rental is available upon customer request, while parts are on order.

EXPENSE CODE DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
502 Rental Expense $120 (Max)

 

Contact the Warranty claims call center 1-800-258-7008 Option 7, if additional expense is required. Please refer to the Goodwill Rental Guidelines in the APRM for detailed information regarding application of rental reimbursement.

 

Is there any charge for this remedy?

No. The remedy will be performed for the customer free of charge for parts and labor.

 

Will I have to take my vehicle back to the selling dealer to have the service performed?

No, any authorized Nissan dealer is able to perform the recall campaign.

For Consumer Affairs: Please inform us of the dealer where you would like to have the corrective action completed.

 

I have lost confidence in the vehicle. Will Nissan replace or repurchase the vehicle?

The remedy will fully correct this condition. As the condition will be corrected, there is no basis for repurchasing or replacing your vehicle.

 

What model year vehicles are involved?

Certain Model Year 2020-2021 Nissan Sentra vehicles manufactured in the Aguascalientes plant from November 25, 2019 to March 24, 2021.

 

Are you experiencing this condition on any other Nissan (or INFINITI) models?

No.

 


 

DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT

 

Manufacturer:

Nissan Mexicana, S.A. de C.V. Aguascalientes plant

 

Units Potentially Involved:

Certain Model Year 2020-2021 Nissan Sentra vehicles manufactured from November 25, 2019 to March 24, 2021 at the Aguascalientes, Mexico plant.

 

This issue is unique to the above manufacturing range based on potential material handling and assembly process issues specific to Aguascalientes produced Sentra models manufactured during a specified period.  Other models do not use this process and are therefore unaffected by the issue described in Section 5 below.

 

The name, description and part number of the recalled components are below:

Part Name Part Description Part Number
SOCKET KIT – TIE ROD, INNERTie RodD8521-6LB0A

 

Total Number of Vehicles Potentially Involved:

Approximately 138,736 MY 2020-2021 Nissan Sentra vehicles

 

Percentage of Vehicles Estimated to Actually Contain the Defect:

0.005%

 

Description of the Defect:

The left and/or right side tie rod may be bent on the affected vehicles.  Nissan has identified certain manufacturing process issues as potential sources for impact damage to the tie rod.  A bent tie rod condition may impair the driver’s ability to steer the vehicle.  The steering wheel may be off-center and/or experience vibration. In the worst case scenario, if the tie rod breaks, it can lead to a partial loss of steering control which may increase the risk of a crash.

 

Chronology of Principle Events:

July 31, 2020 – Nissan received a report that the right front wheel of a customer’s vehicle did not respond to steering inputs.  Subsequent inspection of the subject vehicle revealed the right front tie rod had separated into two pieces although there was no apparent indication of accident damage to the vehicle.  Nissan requested the incident part for analysis.

 

August 2020 – A new sensor was added to the assembly transfer arm in the Aguascalientes manufacturing plant to prevent movement when the front suspension assembly was transferred from one process to another.

 

October 2020 – Nissan received the incident part and sent it to the supplier for additional investigation.  During the supplier investigation, Nissan implemented multiple handling and assembly process improvements to reduce the risk of unintended impact with the tie rod during production.  Nissan also initiated a plant vehicle inspection of Sentra vehicles as part of the investigation.

 

Late November 2020 – The supplier investigation of the incident part revealed deformation from bending of the tie rod that led to fracture at the ball end housing.  All material properties met design specification and no inclusions or other microstructural defects were observed.

 

December 2020 – Nissan’s continuing investigation identified four (4) reports related to the subject condition being repaired under warranty.   Out of 3,556 vehicles previously inspected at the plant, there were no units found with the subject condition and Nissan had been unable to duplicate the reported bent tie rod condition.

 

December 2020 to March 2021 – Nissan continued its parts collection, investigation, and supplier process review.

 

March 19, 2021 to April 2021 – Nissan performed a dealer action to inspect 4,551 Sentra vehicles and found no vehicles with the subject condition.  Nissan also conducted a parts inspection of 35,000 tie rods at the Aguascalientes, Mexico plant and found no affected parts.  The plant vehicle audit concluded with 86,338 Sentra vehicles inspected and none exhibited the subject condition.

 

May 2021 to June 2021 – Nissan met with NHTSA to discuss the investigation into the tie rod issue and potentially related field reports.

 

June 10, 2021 – Out of an abundance of caution, Nissan made a decision to recall all potentially affected vehicles to inspect, and if necessary, replace any bent tie rods. As of the date of determination, Nissan is aware of seven (7) warranty claims attributed to this condition in the U.S (dated 5/13/20, 7/23/20, 10/3/20, 11/23/20, 1/5/21, 1/21/21, and 4/26/21).

 

Description of Corrective Action:

Owners of all potentially affected vehicles will be notified beginning on August 5, 2021 to take their vehicle to a Nissan dealer where they will inspect both the left and right side tie rods and replace if either is bent. Dealers were notified on June 18, 2021.

Nissan will not include a statement in the Part 577 owner notification concerning reimbursement for the cost of obtaining a pre-notification remedy for the subject vehicles because they are still under warranty.

 

Copy of Notices:

Copies of all notices will be provided to NHTSA as they become available.

 



2 Affected Products

Vehicle

MAKEMODELYEAR
NISSANSENTRA2020-2021

 


10 Associated Documents

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-21V461-2046.PDF 213.343KB

 


Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-21V461-1177.pdf 645.424KB

 


Recall 573 Report-Amendment 1

RCLRPT-21V461-7539.PDF 213.353KB

 


June 17, 2021 DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT

RMISC-21V461-5002.pdf 63.014KB

 


July 6, 2021 DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT

RMISC-21V461-2792.pdf 63.146KB

 


Manufacturer NoticPM985 2020-2021 Sentra Inner Tie Rod – VSRC – Dealer Announcementes(to Dealers,etc) – NISSAN

RCMN-21V461-8680.pdf 192.639KB

 


Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-21V461-8007.pdf 367.153KB

 


ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-21V461-2435.pdf 76.554KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2021-3

RCLQRT-21V461-2756.PDF 211.133KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2021-4

RCLQRT-21V461-7841.PDF 211.237KB

 


Latest Recalls Documents

 


 

Bestseller No. 1
Toolwiz Inner Tie Rod Removal Tool 3/8" Universal Low Profile 30-42mm
  • Toolwiz 3/8” Inner Tie Rod Tool Turns smooth tie rods easily. Able to remove inner tie rod without removing the outer tie rod. Best tool for servicing inner tie rods to easily remove, repair & installation
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Bestseller No. 2
Sixzoo Inner Tie Rod Removal Tool, 3/8'' Tie Rod Puller with Non-Slip Teeth
  • Practical Function: Enables inner tie rod removal without pulling out the outer tie rod, this professional inner tie rod tool has its serrated structure securely gripping the tie rod while allowing smooth rotation, facilitating removal, maintenance, and installation
  • Materials Advantage: Crafted from premium carbon steel, this automotive tie rod tool boasts a robust composition that resists wear and corrosion, ensuring long-term reliability across diverse working conditions. Its unique U-shaped tooth design delivers superior grip strength and minimizes slippage
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  • Strong Compatibility: An excellent choice for repairing inner tie rods, this automotive tie rod end removal tool is widely compatible with 3/8-inch drive extensions, suitable for all standard tie rods with smooth cylindrical ends, and capable of removing various vehicle components as well
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SaleBestseller No. 3
OMT Inner Tie Rod Removal Tool for Tie Rod Removal and Installation
  • Inner Tie Rod Tool: The Orion Motor Tech 3/8" square drive inner tie rod removal tool easily replaces inner tie rods without removing the outer one, providing practical service for tie rod removal and installation. It fits standard tie rods with smooth cylinder ends.
  • Extra Tie Rod End Wrench Tool: The 1/2" square drive tie rod removal tool effortlessly replaces the end of the 27-44 mm inner tie rod, all without the hassle of removing the rack and pinion.
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  • 【Practical to Use】: This is a professional inner rocker removal and installation tool designed to remove inner tie rods without having to extract the outer tie rods. It can easily turn the smooth tie rods and the tool is designed with teeth to hold the tie rods firmly while working, allowing easy removal, repair and installation.
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  • 【Strong Grip】: When you insert the socket wrench or breaker lever and turn it as needed, the tool teeth can firmly grasp the lever.

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