2021-2024 Nissan Vehicle Pull and Off-Center Steering Wheel TSB

Nissan has released Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) NTB08-097L to address customer concerns regarding a "vehicle pulls" condition or an "off-center steering wheel." This bulletin provides detailed diagnostic steps and repair procedures for technicians to accurately identify and correct these issues across various Nissan models from 2021 to 2024.

An off-center steering wheel is characterized by the steering wheel spokes being tilted to the left or right while the vehicle maintains a straight path on a flat road. A "vehicle pulls" condition, also known as vehicle drift, occurs when the vehicle consistently drifts to one side at a constant speed on a straight, flat road without driver correction.

Symptoms of Vehicle Pull or Off-Center Steering

Owners may notice their Nissan vehicle exhibiting a consistent drift to one side while driving on a straight, flat road. This is defined as a "vehicle pulls" condition if it completes a lane change in less than 7 seconds at 60 MPH on a road with less than 1.5 degrees road crown slope.

Another common complaint is an "off-center steering wheel," where the steering wheel appears tilted even when the vehicle is traveling straight. This can occur if the tie rod length is unevenly adjusted. For most Nissan vehicles (excluding NV1500, 2500, 3500, and Titan XD), the allowable off-center specification is 2 mm or less; for the excluded models, it is 4 mm or less.

Important Warnings for Owners

Nissan emphasizes several key points for owners and technicians:

• "This bulletin does not address road crown issues because they are not vehicle related, although the customer may incorrectly perceive them to be." Road crown is a natural slope in roads designed for water drainage and can cause a slight drift, which is not a vehicle fault.
• During diagnostic procedures involving tire swaps, "If the TPMS warning light comes ON, ignore it for now." This is a temporary condition and not indicative of a problem with the TPMS system itself during diagnosis.
• "If there are cross winds strong enough to affect the vehicle's straight line movement, then diagnosis cannot be performed." Wind can mimic a pull condition, making accurate diagnosis impossible.
• When performing cradle camber and caster adjustments, technicians are instructed to "DO NOT remove any of these bolts." This prevents potential damage or incorrect reassembly.
• "Nissan Bulletins are intended for use by qualified technicians, not 'do-it-yourselfers'." Owners should always consult a Nissan dealer for diagnosis and repair.

Diagnosis and Trigger Conditions

Diagnosing a Nissan vehicle pull steering wheel off-center condition begins with a thorough road test and inspection. Technicians must first check tire condition and air pressure, correcting any discrepancies. This includes ensuring tires are of the correct size, have similar wear, and are free from damage. If tire issues are present, they must be addressed before proceeding with diagnosis.

The road test involves driving the vehicle on a straight, flat road at approximately 60 mph to confirm the customer's concern. Special tools are used during this process:

• Steering Wheel Offset Gauge (Centering Tape): Used to measure the exact amount the steering wheel is off-center. This tool consists of stickers applied to the steering wheel and column cover (Figure 8 and 9 illustrate its use, while Figure 10 shows an alternative with masking tape).
• Road Crown Gauge (Tilt Indicator): Measures the road's slope in degrees (Figure 11 and 12 show the gauge and its use). This helps differentiate between a vehicle fault and normal road crown effects.
• CONSULT Diagnostic Tool: Technicians use the CONSULT Data Monitor to check the "STR ANGLE SIG" parameter, confirming the steering angle is zero (0) degrees. A screenshot of this reading is required for warranty documentation.

If the vehicle has both a pull and an off-center steering wheel, the TSB advises repairing the pull condition first, as resolving the pull may also correct the off-center steering.

Repair Procedure Summary

The TSB outlines a diagnostic flow chart (page 4 of the bulletin) and specific procedures to address the Nissan vehicle pull steering wheel off-center issue:

Procedure A: Determine if Pull is Tire-Related

This procedure focuses on identifying if a tire is causing the vehicle to pull. It involves:

1. Torquing wheel lug nuts to specification.
2. Setting correct tire pressure.
3. Swapping front tires side-to-side (left to right and right to left) (Figure 2).
4. Swapping rear tires side-to-side.
5. Road testing the vehicle to see if the pull is corrected or reduced. If the vehicle has "directional" tires, all four tires are swapped with known good tires from another vehicle for testing.

Procedure B: Identify and Replace Pulling Tire

If Procedure A indicates a tire-related pull, Procedure B helps pinpoint the specific tire. For vehicles with different sized tires front/rear or directional tires, technicians swap one tire at a time with a known good tire and road test until the pull is resolved. For other vehicles, tires are rotated in specific patterns (e.g., tires 2 and 4 on the passenger side, then tires 1 and 3 on the driver side, as shown in Figure 3) to identify the problematic tire. If a tire is identified as the cause, it is replaced. The TSB notes that if there is significant tread wear, it is good practice to replace tires in sets.

Procedure C: Check/Adjust Wheel Alignment

This procedure is performed if tire issues are ruled out or if the steering wheel remains off-center. It involves:

1. Checking the vehicle's four-wheel alignment using calibrated equipment. The steering angle must be confirmed at zero (0) degrees using the CONSULT Data Monitor "STR ANGLE SIG".
2. Inspecting suspension and chassis for damage if alignment measurements are out of specification, and repairing as needed.
3. Adjusting any front and/or rear adjustable alignment components. Rear adjustment should always be performed first. The TSB provides diagrams illustrating the effects of camber (Figure 5), caster (Figure 6), and thrust angle (Figure 7) on vehicle pull and steering wheel position.
4. Using CONSULT software (C-III plus or C-4) to adjust the Steering Angle Sensor if necessary.

An alternative for diagnosing vehicle pull is to use a Hunter GSP9700 machine to perform the StraightTrack® procedure, as detailed in its instruction manual.

Adjusting an Off-Center Steering Wheel

To correct an off-center steering wheel, technicians perform front toe alignment using calibrated equipment. They must confirm the steering angle is zero (0) degrees using the CONSULT Data Monitor "STR ANGLE SIG" and take a screenshot for documentation. The steering wheel is kept straight using CONSULT while adjusting the front wheel toe. The Steering Wheel Offset Gauge or masking tape can assist in centering the steering wheel during the alignment process.

Required Tools or Parts

Special tools are essential for accurate diagnosis and repair of a Nissan vehicle pull steering wheel off-center condition:

• Steering Wheel Offset Gauge (Centering Tape): Tool # J-49286-3 (new part number: NI-49286-3). This is a set of one-time use stickers for measuring steering wheel offset.
• Road Crown Gauge (Tilt Indicator): Tool # J-49286-2 (new part number: NI-49286-2). This gauge measures road crown and attaches to the vehicle dash with a suction cup.
• CONSULT Diagnostic Software: C-III plus or C-4, used for monitoring steering angle data ("STR ANGLE SIG") and adjusting the Steering Angle Sensor.
• Hunter GSP9700: An alternative diagnostic tool for the StraightTrack® procedure.

Warranty Information

Vehicle alignment is covered by Nissan's adjustment warranty for 12 months/12,000 miles, whichever comes first, from the vehicle's in-service date. Warranty application is limited to correcting a problem based on a customer's specific complaint. For any alignment adjustment to correct a "vehicle pulls" or "off-center" condition, dealers must print out and store alignment data and a screenshot of the CONSULT Data Monitor showing the steering wheel at zero (0) degrees as evidence. Nissan may request this stored data to support warranty claims.

Claims for these repairs use specific Operation Codes (OP CODE), Symptom Codes (SYM), Diagnosis Codes (DIA), and Flat Rate Times (FRT). For example, Procedure A (tire swap) uses OP CODE PX35AA, SYM CA, DIA 44, FRT 0.5. Adjusting an off-center steering wheel uses OP CODE WD34AA, SYM EC, DIA 44.

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Source: NHTSA ID 10243708