U.S. auto safety regulators, led by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), have initiated an investigation into approximately 75,000 Nissan vehicles, specifically the 2015 Rogue Select models. This probe follows multiple reports that the side airbags in these vehicles may deploy unintentionally when doors are either shut or slammed, potentially causing injury to occupants or compromising the airbag’s protective function.
This inquiry into Nissan’s airbag systems comes shortly after a significant advisory last week concerning older Nissan vehicles with Takata airbags. Nissan and the NHTSA urged owners of about 84,000 vehicles from the early 2000s—including models such as the Nissan Sentra, Nissan Pathfinder, and Infiniti QX4—to cease driving these vehicles immediately. This advisory pertains to vehicles recalled in 2020 for Takata airbag issues, which, if not repaired, pose serious safety risks. The defective Takata airbags have been linked to more than 30 deaths globally, 27 of which occurred in the U.S., and over 400 injuries since 2009 due to metal shrapnel being propelled into vehicle cabins upon airbag deployment.
As the investigation progresses, Nissan has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the newly reported airbag concerns. The automotive community and Nissan owners are advised to stay informed through updates from NHTSA and relevant safety notifications.
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Reported by David Shepardson and Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri and Louise Heavens