In early June, Nissan announced a recall of more than 1.8 million Altima sedans around the world, mostly in the U.S. and Canada. The recall is due to a faulty secondary hood latch that could cause the hood to get stuck in the open position. Used car buyers may be affected, as the expanded recall now covers 2013 to 2018 model years.
The Danger
Once opened then closed, the hood latch can fail to secure the hood. Corrosion of the primary hood latch can prevent the secondary latch from engaging as rust causes it to stick; furthermore, the part can bend if you try to close the hood. This increases the risk of the hood opening while a driver is operating the vehicle. because the part secures the primary lever. If this were to happen, the hood would obstruct the driver’s view, potentially causing a crash.
Nissan also said signs of impending danger include the hood fluttering or making noise. But examining the secondary hood latch can be difficult because it’s a small lever hidden under the hood or in the grille. Vehicle owner’s typically need to reach in and pull it up to open the hood.
Taking Action
The recall took effect June 22 and includes two- and four-door Altima sedans. Vehicle owners will be notified starting August 1, and Nissan is still developing a fix to the problem according to a recent filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Owners will need to correct the problem even if they had similar repairs done before.
Nissan issued a recall for the same issue in 2015, covering 2013 and 2015 model years and 625,000 vehicles, which had been expanded to 846,000 in 2016, which included cars built as early as March 2012.1 The company said that vehicles in which the hood latches were replaced were not involved in any accidents or injuries afterward. In another report, Nissan said there were 16 claims of minor accidents or injuries related to vehicles not being repaired.
Is There an Open Recall on the Used Car You Want?
Millions of cars have been recalled this year. While federal law requires new car dealers to fix open defects before selling a vehicle to consumers, dealers and private sellers aren’t required to make repairs on used models. And they may not inform potential buyers a recall has been issued. Nor do car manufacturers trace down and notify used car owners of recalls by mail.
Nonetheless, you can check on your own for recalls. To find out if a car is under recall, locate the vehicle identification number (VIN), visit the NHTSA’s safercar.gov website, and enter the VIN to find whether an open recall has been posted. If a vehicle is recalled, you can request a seller fix any open defects. Doing so may add time to closing the sale; yet it can ensure the vehicle you are interested in is safe.
Shop for Used Cars in Hawthorne at CarWorld
At CarWorld, we have hundreds of high-quality, low-mileage used cars for sale at our Hawthorne Buy-Here Pay-Here dealership. Our in-house financing is available regardless of the status of your credit or the type of income you receive. We’re also taking measures to protect our customers from COVID-19 with sanitary and social distancing guidelines recommended by the CDC. Visit us in person or call 833-219-9951 to learn more about our used car inventory and receive help finding the make and model you want.
