A Time When Import Quality Was Supposed Benchmark: Nissan Recalls Again

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Nissan is recalling 372,250 Infiniti QX4s and Nissan Pathfinders from model years 1997-2001 to replace a faulty fuel filler tube assembly. The problem could result in a fire, especially in areas of the country that use heavy concentrations of road salt in the winter, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The federal agency explained in a posting on its Web site that during the coating process of the fuel filler tube assembly, an insufficient amount of coating may have been applied at the lower mounting bracket.

"This could result in an opening in the coating which can allow water to enter and make contact with the bare metal of the tube," NHTSA said. "If a mixture of snow/water and salt makes contact with the bare metal, corrosion may occur to a degree which results in perforation of the tube. In this case, fuel leakage may occur when filling the tank. Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire."

NHTSA said the recall involves vehicles sold or registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

Source: http://forums.motortrend.com/70/6412339/the-general-forum/a-time-when-import-quality-was-supposed-benchmrk-n/