NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE14-034: Steering column separation
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE14-034 on November 4, 2014 and closed it on February 27, 2015. NHTSA's investigations file lists 4 models from 2 makes for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE14-034 (also written PE14034)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed February 27, 2015
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Nissan North America, Inc.
- Component
- Steering — Column
- Vehicles and equipment
- 4 models from 2 makes, including the Infiniti EX35 and Infiniti FX35
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE14-034.
In a January 28, 2015 letter to NHTSA, Nissan identified a safety defect in the steering column assemblies used in certain model year (MY) 2008 and 2009 Infiniti EX35, Infiniti FX35/45 and Nissan GT-R vehicles equipped with power tilt/telescope steering columns supplied by Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd (NHTSA Recall No. 15V-054, Nissan R1501/R1502).
The recall covers a total of 16,973 vehicles, including 15,647 MY 2008 Infiniti EX35 vehicles manufactured from June 29, 2007 (SOP) to April 25, 2008; 1,100 MY 2009 Infiniti FX35/45 vehicles manufactured from October 31, 2007 (SOP) to April 16, 2008; and 226 MY 2009 Nissan GT-R vehicles manufactured from March 14, 2007 (SOP) to April 25, 2008.
The affected vehicles may have been manufactured with a steering column outer tube that is out of specification (out of round), which may result in stress at the upper bearing.
According to Nissan, in rare instances, the condition caused the bearing retainer to fracture creating excessive play in the steering wheel.
In this condition, if excessive axial force is applied to the steering wheel, the column may separate and cause a loss of steering control.
Nissan's remedy instructs dealers to replace the steering shaft on the Infiniti EX35 and FX35/45 vehicles and to replace the entire steering column assembly on the Nissan GT-R vehicles.
ODI's analysis of complaint and warranty data related to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles identified a total of 5 incidents in which steering column separation appears to have occurred, including one alleging that a crash resulted.
Sixteen (16) additional incidents of loose steering were identified in Nissan complaints (1) and warranty claims (15).
The 5 separation incidents identified by ODI involved vehicles built from November 7, 2007 to February 5, 2008, including 3 vehicles built from February 2 to February 5, 2008.
The 16 incidents of loose steering involved vehicles built from January 19, 2008 to April 3, 2008, including 9 vehicles built from February 1 to February 11, 2008.
None of the incidents involved the approximately 1,800 MY 2008 EX35 vehicles that are not included in the recall, which either were not equipped with the Fuji Kiko power adjustable steering columns (the manual adjustable steering columns were made by a different supplier) or were built after April 25, 2008.
This investigation is closed based on Nissan's safety recall.
The VOQs associated with this investigation are: 10350255 and 10605536.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE14-034. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Infiniti
All Infiniti recallsNissan
Nissan GT-R
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE14-034
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.