Nissan Calls Back Kicks SUVs, Versa Sedans for Power Steering Problems

Nissan drivers should probably check if their cars have been recalled before getting behind the wheel.

The automaker recently announced that it is recalling more than 20,000 Kicks sport utility vehicles and Versa sedans. Nissan told federal regulators that the cars’ power steering could unexpectedly stop while the cars are moving.

“In some of the affected vehicles, an intermittent electrical connection in the electric power steering (EPS) torque sensor can disable the EPS assist,” the company said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “In the event of an EPS failure, a Power Steering Warning Light will illuminate in the instrument cluster to alert the driver and the steering system will default to manual steering mode.”

That poses safety concerns, Nissan acknowledged.

The auto manufacturer told NHTSA that “loss of EPS will require higher steering effort, especially at low speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash.”

The recall covers certain Kicks and Versa vehicles produced between July and September 2021. 

Nissan said it plans to notify owners of recalled cars by Nov. 9. The company will ask owners to bring their vehicles to a local dealer for inspection and repair, free of charge.

Defective Vehicle? Know Your Lemon Law Rights

Massive recalls are old hat for Nissan and a wide range of other auto manufacturers. They routinely call back vehicles for serious defects that put everyone on the road at risk.

Over the summer, for instance, Nissan recalled more than 180,000 Frontier and Titan pickup trucks because of a transmission defect. The company said at the time that the trucks’ parking pawls may not engage when the transmission is in park, raising the risk that the vehicles roll away.

Last month, the company called back more than 18,000 sedans equipped with faulty Takata airbags. 

Fortunately, Nissan and other car owners in California have some important protections under the state’s lemon law when it comes to malfunctioning and defective vehicles.

The lemon law requires carmakers to perform a full range of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces auto manufacturers to buy back (or replace, in some cases) cars that they are not able or flat-out refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the vehicle’s purchase price, as well as other related fees and costs.

There is no particular number of repair requests or attempts that must be made before the buyback or replace requirement kicks in. An experienced California lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and options.

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you are a Jeep Cherokee or other car owner or lessor stuck with a lemon or locked in a dispute with a manufacturer over repairs, the lemon law attorneys at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help. 

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer today.