From Nissan North America . . .
2003 – 2005 Murano Alternator Voluntary Safety Recall Campaign
Background
Nissan will be conducting a voluntary safety recall campaign on selected 2003-2005 model year Murano vehicles for a potential wire failure within the alternator.
Affected Vehicles
Distributor Model Model Year Approximate Build
Date Range Approximate
Number of Vehicles
NNA Murano 2005 April 8, 2002 (SOP) – September 24, 2004 125,500
NCI Murano 2005 April 8, 2002 (SOP) – September 24, 2004 15,300
Total 140,800
Affected Markets
This voluntary safety recall campaign only affects vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada.
Reason for Action
An open circuit in the alternator can occur due to wire fatigue caused by movement of the rotor coil during rapid changes in engine speed in vehicles equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
When an open circuit occurs in the alternator, the charge warning and brake warning lamps come on. If a driver does not seek repair of the vehicle immediately as instructed in the Owners Manual and continues to drive the vehicle in this condition, the vehicle will operate normally for about one hour. After this time period, the battery voltage will drop to a level that causes the engine control module to go into a fail safe mode. During fail safe mode, which lasts about ten minutes, vehicle speed will be reduced due to the throttle plate being held in a fixed position. After this time period, the engine will stop running. The fail safe mode provides a second obvious warning to the driver that there is a problem and that the driver should pull off the road as soon as possible and stop driving the vehicle. The actual speed of the vehicle will depend upon the speed of the vehicle when it went into the fail safe mode, the operation of the throttle pedal by the driver and the slope of the road. In some cases, vehicle speed during the fail safe mode may not be adequate to allow a driver to move safely to the side of the road or to exit a highway.
To date there have been no injuries related to this situation.
Nissan Action
Nissan will send owner notification letters beginning in August 2005 informing customers to bring their vehicle to a Nissan dealer for inspection. If necessary, the alternator will be replaced with a new version which has been modified to prevent movement of the coil.
Key Questions
Are other Nissan/Infiniti vehicles affected? No
Has NHTSA and Transport Canada been notified? Yes, DIR submitted
When will customers be contacted? August 2005
Have there been any injuries related to this issue? No
Does this affect vehicles in dealer inventory? Yes
Added by Eric L.: It's official. I've confirmed this as well with my contact at NHTSA. Nissan filed an official 573 recall notification July 12, 2005. Thanks to all Murano owners who contributed to NHTSA's recall investigation.
2003 – 2005 Murano Alternator Voluntary Safety Recall Campaign
Background
Nissan will be conducting a voluntary safety recall campaign on selected 2003-2005 model year Murano vehicles for a potential wire failure within the alternator.
Affected Vehicles
Distributor Model Model Year Approximate Build
Date Range Approximate
Number of Vehicles
NNA Murano 2005 April 8, 2002 (SOP) – September 24, 2004 125,500
NCI Murano 2005 April 8, 2002 (SOP) – September 24, 2004 15,300
Total 140,800
Affected Markets
This voluntary safety recall campaign only affects vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada.
Reason for Action
An open circuit in the alternator can occur due to wire fatigue caused by movement of the rotor coil during rapid changes in engine speed in vehicles equipped with a continuously variable transmission (CVT).
When an open circuit occurs in the alternator, the charge warning and brake warning lamps come on. If a driver does not seek repair of the vehicle immediately as instructed in the Owners Manual and continues to drive the vehicle in this condition, the vehicle will operate normally for about one hour. After this time period, the battery voltage will drop to a level that causes the engine control module to go into a fail safe mode. During fail safe mode, which lasts about ten minutes, vehicle speed will be reduced due to the throttle plate being held in a fixed position. After this time period, the engine will stop running. The fail safe mode provides a second obvious warning to the driver that there is a problem and that the driver should pull off the road as soon as possible and stop driving the vehicle. The actual speed of the vehicle will depend upon the speed of the vehicle when it went into the fail safe mode, the operation of the throttle pedal by the driver and the slope of the road. In some cases, vehicle speed during the fail safe mode may not be adequate to allow a driver to move safely to the side of the road or to exit a highway.
To date there have been no injuries related to this situation.
Nissan Action
Nissan will send owner notification letters beginning in August 2005 informing customers to bring their vehicle to a Nissan dealer for inspection. If necessary, the alternator will be replaced with a new version which has been modified to prevent movement of the coil.
Key Questions
Are other Nissan/Infiniti vehicles affected? No
Has NHTSA and Transport Canada been notified? Yes, DIR submitted
When will customers be contacted? August 2005
Have there been any injuries related to this issue? No
Does this affect vehicles in dealer inventory? Yes
Added by Eric L.: It's official. I've confirmed this as well with my contact at NHTSA. Nissan filed an official 573 recall notification July 12, 2005. Thanks to all Murano owners who contributed to NHTSA's recall investigation.
