NHTSA investigation into 1994–1996 Nissan Sentra: CORRISION FATIGUE OF FRONT COIL SPRINGS
On June 17, 1999, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation (SQ99018) into 1994–1996 Nissan Sentra, concerning the suspension. As of NHTSA’s latest data it is still open.
- Action
- SQ99018 (Investigation)
- Status
- Open
- Component
- Suspension
- Listed
- 3 make/model/year entries in NHTSA’s file
Vehicles under investigation
| Make | Nissan |
|---|---|
| Model | Sentra |
| Model years | 1994–1996 |
As listed in NHTSA’s investigation file. Not every vehicle of a listed model is necessarily affected.
What ODI says
NISSAN IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL IN CANADA OF 11,100 1994 THROUGH 1996 SENTRA 2 DOOR MODELS IN WHICH THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE FRACTURING FROM CORROSION FATIGUE.NISSAN REPORTED THAT THE FAILURES OCCUR FROM A LOSS OF THE PROTECTIVE PAINT COATING ON THE SPRINGS AND EXPOSURE TO HEAVY ROAD SALT.CORROSION CAN CAUSE PITS TO FORM ON THE SPRING SURFACE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN FATIGUE FAILURE OF THE SPRING.A BROKEN SPRING COULDPUNCTURE THE AFFECTED TIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.THE CANADIAN RECALL NUMBER FOR THIS IS 99-069, DATED APRIL 28, 1999.THE PURPOSE OF THIS SQ IS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE DEFECT IDENTIFIED IN THE CANADIAN SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN THE U.S. AS A SAFETY RECALL.
Official summary by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation for SQ99018, quoted in full (U.S. government work, public domain).
Recalls and problems for these vehicles
Related recalls
NHTSA links these recall campaigns to SQ99018.
- NHTSA campaign 00V063000
Timeline
- ODI opens investigation SQ99018
- OpenNo closing date yet
What this means for owners
- An investigation is not a recall. NHTSA has not made a defect finding here, and owners are not asked to do anything yet. If a safety defect is confirmed, the manufacturer recalls the vehicles and the repair is free.
- Check your vehicle for open recalls with a free VIN recall check.
- Had this problem? File a complaint with NHTSA. Owner complaints are the evidence ODI uses to open and expand investigations.
Official record: search SQ99018 or your vehicle at NHTSA.gov/recalls, which lists investigations alongside recalls. Data: NHTSA ODI investigations file, updated daily. All NHTSA investigations.