Nissan recalls Pathfinder over seat fault

NISSAN Australia has recalled 2643 current model Pathfinders due to a faulty driver’s seat electric adjustment harness that, if damaged, might decide to shift the seat of its own accord.

The company says the electrical harness on Pathfinders fitted with a power-operated driver’s seat might have been inappropriately installed at the factory, making it susceptible to the fault.

“Damage to the harness may occur and this can result in loss of operation of the driver's power seat,” Nissan says on a statement on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission product safety recall website.

“In extreme circumstances, unexpected self-operation of the driver's power seat base may occur and could contribute to an accident.”The company has had three reports of fault in Australia, although none resulted in crashes or damage.

The vehicles involved in the recall have a vehicle identification number (VIN) range of between VSKJLWR51A0007646 and VSKJVWR51A0364879.

The R51 Pathfinder went into production in 2005 as the third generation of Nissan’s SUV.

Last year, Nissan dealers sold 2314 of the Navara-based vehicles, while 831 have been sold so far this year – a 15 per cent increase over the first four months of 2011.

An all-new Pathfinder is due in the second half of next year, this time built on a car-like monocoque platform instead of the truck-style Navara underpinnings.