Japanese automaker Nissan has announced it is recalling thousands of Altima sedans made in the United States because of steering bolts that may not have been tightened properly during production.
“The affected bolts could become loose and fall out which may lead to a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash,” according to a report from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
While no injuries or crashes have been reported from the problem, the recall affects some 13,919 Altima sedans, including some of the last-produced in the 2012 model year and the first of the 2013 model year.
The vehicles in question were made at the Nissan plant in Canton, Mississippi. According to reports, the problem was discovered during routine tests after one of Nissan’s inspectors heard a rattle in a newly produced car.
Altima owners will be notified beginning October 29 if their vehicle is one of those affected. They will be asked to bring their cars into Nissan dealerships, where the bolts will be torqued to the proper specification, the NHTSA said.