Nissan recalls X-Trail and Dualis

NISSAN Australia has issued a safety recall on almost 20,000 current-model X-Trail and Dualis compact SUVs to rectify a screw in the steering system that might come loose, potentially causing a loss of steering.

While there have been no reported cases of the problem in Australia, the importer is complying with a global alert on T31 X-Trail and J10 Dualis models that were launched in Australia from mid 2007 and early 2008 respectively.

The X-Trail and Dualis – the latter known as the Qashquai in some markets, including New Zealand – sit on the same P32L platform and share the same steering system.

The problem was discovered in the United States on a long-wheelbase version of the Dualis, the Rogue, which also has been recalled. However, the only reported case of damage was in Spain, where a car suffered minor panel damage when steering was lost. No one has been reported hurt or killed.

The focus of the recall is a steering gear cover screw that secures the pinion shaft of the steering gear to the gear housing. The screw might come loose, causing noisy steering.

“In the worse case scenario, the cover screw may eventually come out, resulting in a loss of steering control,” Nissan says.

Owners have been asked to return their car to their Nissan dealer for inspection and rectification, which involves fitting a locking plate to prevent any reoccurrence.

The recall applies to both petrol and diesel X-Trail models and two- and four-wheel-drive Dualis models. It covers 15,594 X-Trails and 3751 Dualis.

The Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) of affected cars are:• T31 petrol X-Trail – JN1TANT31A0000010 to JN1TANT31A0014449.

• T13 diesel X-Trail – JN1TCNT31A0000002 to JN1TCNT31A0002486.

• J10 2WD Dualis – SJNFBAJ10A1428369 to SJNFBAJ10A1464524.

• J10 4WD Dualis – SJNFBNJ10A1120222 to SJNFBNJ10A1464541.

Nissan’s customer service centre can be contact on 1800 035 035.