Recall News for Milwaukee Altima Drivers
Altima Recall Based on Faulty Steering Bolts
On behalf of Milwaukee personal injury attorney Ric Domnitz of Domnitz & Domnitz, S.C. on Friday, October 26, 2012.
Nissan’s newly redesigned Altima is grabbing headlines for its sleek new look. However, some new models are being recalled just months after being sold in the U.S. market. According to a USA Today story, more than 13,000 Altimas are being recalled because some bolt may not tightened according to established specifications.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has the authority to initiate auto recalls to correct defects. It explained that some of the bolts used to lock down the traverse link and the power steering rack inside the vehicle may not have been tightened to a specific torque specification. Regulators were concerned about the possibility of them loosening and falling off. If this happened, a driver could lose control of the car and crash.
Nissan reportedly will send notice to all recent Altima owners advising them to take their cars to dealers for safety checks.
Vehicle recalls (while potentially dangerous for unwitting drivers) are actually very common. Recently Honda recalled more than 800,000 Civics and Pilots over concerns that wires can overheat and melt, thus affecting the car’s headlights. Toyota recalled 2.5 million cars to correct a faulty door switch that could cause car fires.
Based on a recent agreement between rental car companies and the NHTSA, rental car companies will also comply with the safety recall, and will not rent any vehicles affected by the recall until they are corrected.
These actions are consistent with current law regarding defective products. Essentially, auto manufacturers have a duty to correct defects that (if uncorrected) could injure drivers. If an automaker fails to make such corrections after being put on notice, it can be held liable for injuries and damages caused by the defect.
If you have questions about your rights and options in auto defect cases, an experienced Milwaukee personal injury attorney can help.