In response to reports of unintended deployments of side airbags in nearly 75,000 Nissan Rogue Select vehicles from the 2015 model year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a probe. The agency expressed concerns that these inadvertent deployments could potentially cause harm to occupants or lead to a loss of airbag protection.
This investigation comes on the heels of a recent alert issued by Nissan and NHTSA urging owners of approximately 84,000 older Nissan vehicles to cease driving their cars immediately. The reason for this warning stems from the continued safety threat posed by unrepaired Takata airbags in vehicles such as the 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra, 2002-2004 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4.
The Takata airbag issue has been a persistent concern within the automotive industry since 2009, with over 30 fatalities and more than 400 injuries reported worldwide, including 27 deaths in the United States alone. The defective airbag inflators in these vehicles have the potential to rupture, releasing harmful metal shrapnel into the vehicle, leading to severe injuries or even fatalities.
As Nissan faces mounting scrutiny over these safety issues, it is essential for vehicle owners to stay informed about recalls and take immediate action to address any potential risks associated with their vehicles.