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CAR COMPANY NISSAN today advised some 841,000 car owners, of which 14,000 are Irish, to take their car for a check-up due to a problem with a glitch in the steering wheel.
In a statement, the company said that it is writing to owners of its Micra models built between 2 December 2002 and 12 May 2006, asking them to take their car to a Nissan dealer for a free check to ensure the bolt in the steering wheel is tightened sufficiently.
“In some cases the steering wheel securing nut has gradually become loose,” it said. “This would soon become apparent to the driver and there is no risk of a sudden failure, but if left unchecked this could eventually lead to the steering column being damaged.”
All checks will be free of charge and will take less than 15 minutes.
(Rod Minchin/PA Archive)
Worldwide, it is recalling 763,000 Micras and 78,000 Cubes in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. However the company stressed that it is not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue.
The latest recall is another blow to the rock-steady reputation for safety and reliability that Japan’s huge automakers once had.
Last month four auto giants including Nissan said they were recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles worldwide, in a blow for the country’s carmakers which once traded on a reputation for quality and reliability.
Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mazda, all cited the same malfunction of the Japanese-made passenger-side airbags.
- Additional reporting from AFP.
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“The latest recall is another blow to the rock-steady reputation for safety and reliability that Japan’s huge automakers once had.”
Not sure I would agree. Recalls are to be expected and I would feel safer with a manufacturer that has such an aftercare programme in place. Cars are complex products with multiple components from different suppliers. The possibility of a component issue is always there.
quite a good point, actually. Although I’ve been reading about a lot of recalls recently and no manufacturer seems to be immune. It raises the question of why if it costs billions to design a new model can’t they get basic stuff right? But I think there is a myth out there than Japanese carmakers are somehow immune to making mistakes, but Toyota is forever recalling vehicles.
Does this explain why they go around corners so slowly LOL
A loose steering wheel won’t make much difference to all the octogenarians that drive them.
So true :)
I bet your man in the picture is thrilled…
Fair play to Nissan. Spot a problem and get it sorted. Unlike most manufacturers. Look at Renault
Well, Renault has owned about 45% of Nissan since 1999.
The quality of cars produced by Nissan has decreased since Renault got involved due to cost saving exercises and poor construction and assembly of components.
Now that Renault are taking over construction of European Micras for Nissa, expect a continuing decrease in quality and design.
http://europe.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130426/ANE/130429920#axzz2U7WvMVaW
Well to be pedantic, European Micras are now built in India…
I can’t think of too many manufacturers that do as many recalls as Nissan. We’re doing alloy wheel chance overs on all nivaras going back to 06 because there might have been a problem.
Please explain then how Renault’s own build quality has improved so much in the same time period.
Renault Peugeot and Citroen are amongst the worst cars on the market. But each to their own. Just hate working in em.
Great little cars
just further proof of my opinion that every single micra should be drove straight off a cliff….
We the speed that Micras drive at, you could remove the steering wheel, have a coffee, refit the steering wheel and still bring the car to a halt before hitting anything.
Now if only they could fix the problem of not being able to go faster than 20 kmh.
That’s the drivers.
I used to beam along the M1 (the real M1 in the UK) at over 100 mph in one.
In one of those? Did you get rear ended by a Ferrari?
No. I did overtake a few BMWs.
Until a few days ago a pajero mostly, or a falcon.
Until a few days ago? Is that when you bought a 3 series?
Nope I’m heading to Melbourne and I’m f*cked if I’m driving through the middle of oz.
Guardian, your a dope …
Lads, i drove a 1999 Micra, Best small car of its class. I always left bigger cars standing at Lights.. (ok only for a hundred yards but Hey !!) Dont Knock ‘em till ya Drive em! I will admit the newer european models look like CRAP. !!
Drove one and no matter how much I shower I can’t get rid of that experience.
Handle like a trolly the same top speed as mud. gosh if you want to over take a car you better back off take a run at it.
Guess im just spoiled ive always had powerful cars.
Of course it’s the nut behind the wheel that’s the most dangerous part of a car.
The headline should read “Warning of Nissan Micras”!!
And people where blaming me for the bad driving…haha
People thst drive micras are inbred
And on that note …
I knew a baker’s sales rep who drove one. He was in bread.
Micra is now a clio with a nissan badge.
Who’s running these car factories? Seriously.
People who look to minimize costs but maximize profit, ACCOUNTANTS,
Adam, some of the most professional engineers and highly competent assembly line workers in the world. These sort of recalls are always overkill. It takes a very few reports of actual failure, or even potential failure, to trigger a recall. Actual faults found on the recall may well be numerically very low.
Cars have never been better engineered or built.
So, would you prefer to return to the days of the British Leyland Corp Max????
If you want a debate on motor manufacturing quality there’s a benchmark to start with . . . . . .
Talk about coming off in your hand .
Faulty steering wheels. What next .
Seen one nearly loose it’s wheel a few weeks ago. Incorrect loctite used from the factory I’d guess. Was hanging on by 2 threads
have your say