Nissan recalls more than 123,000 new Altima sedans after spare tire blowout in trunk

In March “Nissan received a report from a dealer of a spare tire rapid deflation while stored in the trunk,” according to a report filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Nissan commenced a yard audit and dealer inspection activity to determine if there were any additional incidents. Nissan also contacted the spare tire supplier, Maxxis, and asked it to investigate.

According to Nissan, analysis of the incident spare tire revealed that the tire had been significantly over-inflated, compromising its structural integrity. “As a result of the increased temperature in the trunk, combined with the over-inflation condition, the tire lost structural integrity resulting in rapid deflation.”

Nissan confirmed that the spare tire inflation machine used in the manufacture of 2013 Altima vehicles at a Canton, Mississippi plant had a malfunctioning pressure regulator, and the pressure gauge used to check pressure was not calibrated correctly. These issues were corrected on March 26. Nissan identified 512 out of 5,441 vehicles with under- or over- inflated tires.

After evaluating the possible effects of the subject condition on vehicle safety, “Nissan determined that a safety-related defect exists and that a safety recall campaign will be conducted.”

Nissan is notifying dealers and potentially affected customers, asking customers to bring their vehicles to an authorized Nissan dealer. If after further investigation by Nissan at a future date, the tire pressure in the tire was determined to have exceeded a certain threshold, the spare tire will be replaced at no charge to the customer for parts and labor.

The recall involves 2013 Model Year Nissan Altima sedan vehicles manufactured from March 21, 2012 (start of production) to March 26, 2013 at the Canton plant.

HOP: Vehicle and Tire Defect Litigation

Car, truck and tire manufacturers have a duty to build a product that is as safe as is reasonably possible under the present state of mechanical technology, vehicle design, and safety. Manufacturers are obligated to design vehicles and tires so that they are safe for any reasonably foreseeable use.

A lawsuit against a car or truck manufacturer could involve issues with air bags, child seats, glass, fuel fires, seat belts, rollover, tire failure, or roof crush as well as other potential problem areas. A lawsuit against a tire manufacturer could involve issues concerning premature wear and failure, tread separation, a blowout, or rollover accident.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a car accident, it may well be that the injuries were caused or made worse because the vehicle was not properly designed or manufactured. In order to determine whether you may have a case, you need to retain experienced, qualified legal counsel at the earliest opportunity.

To speak with a lawyer about your case, contact Heygood, Orr & Pearson by calling toll-free at 1-877-446-9001, or by filling out our free case evaluation form.

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Case results depend upon a variety of factors unique to each case. Results of other cases do not guarantee or predict a similar result in any future case.