11:11 25-01-2026

Nissan recalls vehicles due to door latch defect

Nissan has announced a recall of tens of thousands of vehicles produced in 2025-2026 due to a potentially dangerous door component defect. The issue could lead to doors opening spontaneously while driving or during a crash.

Context and Details

The recall affects Nissan sedans, crossovers, and pickups that have seen steady market demand. Specifically, it involves recent model years of the Altima, Sentra, Frontier, and Kicks. According to regulators, the fault is linked to door latches that may have been installed with a manufacturing defect.

Although the number of vehicles being recalled is just over 26,000, hundreds of thousands of the parts themselves are under suspicion. This has made it impossible to pinpoint the problem to specific doors or production batches.

Technical Explanation

The recall was triggered by incorrect welding of the metal hinge in the door latch. During production, a cooling mode was used that led to micro-cracks in the weld area. Over time and under load, these cracks can expand, potentially causing the component to fail.

In some cases, a driver might hear unusual noises, but if the latch fails completely, there may be no warning signs at all. In that state, a door could open while the vehicle is in motion.

The Fix

Nissan will perform all latch replacement work free of charge at authorized dealers, with the procedure taking less than half an hour. Vehicle checks via VIN will become available by the end of January, but mass owner notification and the start of repairs are scheduled for March only.

This situation is particularly concerning for family buyers, as child locks do not guarantee protection with this type of fault. For the brand, this recall presents a reputational challenge amid intense competition in the mass-market segment.