2021-2022 Nissan Sentra Tie Rod Recall

Why This Matters: Safety Risk

Nissan has identified a critical safety concern with the tie rods in certain Sentra vehicles. The tie rods may not be strong enough to withstand high input forces encountered during real-world driving conditions. If a tie rod bends, it can severely impair the driver's ability to steer the vehicle, potentially leading to a loss of control.

This condition poses a significant safety risk, as it can compromise steering stability and responsiveness. In the worst-case scenario, a broken tie rod could result in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

What's Being Recalled

This voluntary safety recall, identified as R23B3, affects 236,238 Nissan Sentra (B18) vehicles. The specific models involved are certain 2020-2022 Nissan Sentra vehicles manufactured between November 25, 2019, and March 31, 2022. The issue involves both the left-hand and right-hand tie rods, which may bend or break due to insufficient strength.

Symptoms You Might Notice

Owners of affected vehicles may experience several warning signs if their tie rods are compromised. These symptoms include:

• Impaired steering: The vehicle may not respond as expected to steering inputs.
• Off-center steering wheel: The steering wheel might appear crooked or not centered when driving straight.
• Vibration: Drivers may feel unusual vibrations through the steering wheel or the vehicle itself.

If you notice any of these symptoms, especially an off-center steering wheel or vibration, it is crucial to contact your Nissan dealer immediately for instructions on how to safely transport your vehicle for inspection.

How to Check if Your Vehicle is Affected

To determine if your 2021-2022 Nissan Sentra is part of this recall, you can check using Nissan's Service Comm or DBS National Service History system. The relevant campaign identifier for this issue is R23B3. New vehicles in dealer inventory can also be identified through DBS by filtering for "Open Campaign." Nissan advises continually checking newly arriving inventory for campaign applicability.

Manufacturer's Remedy

Nissan's corrective action for this recall involves replacing both the left-hand and right-hand tie rods with new, countermeasure parts. This repair will be performed by authorized Nissan dealers free of charge for both parts and labor. The service is estimated to take up to two hours to complete, though actual time may vary based on the dealer's schedule.

Important Warnings for Owners and Dealers

Nissan has issued several critical directives regarding this recall:

• "IMPORTANT: It is a violation of Federal law for dealers to sell or deliver new vehicles in their inventory covered by this notification until the campaign's remedy action is performed." This means new vehicles subject to R23B3 cannot be sold until repaired.
• "Dealers must not sell, lease, trade, rent or loan any vehicles in dealer inventory affected by this recall campaign until after the vehicle has been remedied." This extends the restriction to all affected vehicles in dealer inventory, not just new ones.
• Parts Restriction: Parts for this campaign remain on restriction until further notice. Dealers can continue to order parts via DBS, and orders will be filled as quickly as possible. The parts availability is being closely monitored.
• "Is my vehicle safe to drive?": If your steering wheel is off-center and/or you experience vibration, contact your local Nissan dealer for immediate instructions on how to transport your vehicle to the dealership.

Owner Notification

Nissan previously sent interim notification letters to owners of affected vehicles in October 2023 via U.S. Mail. The official invitation to repair notification letters for the Nissan Sentra tie rod recall will begin mailing to owners in Winter 2025. Even if you haven't received a letter, you can check your vehicle's status using the methods described above.

Repair Procedure Summary

Dealers are instructed to use Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) NTB23-078 to perform the remedy. The procedure involves replacing both the left-hand and right-hand tie rods. Once the repair is completed, dealers must submit the claim using the provided coding and then release the vehicle to the customer.

NHTSA ID: 11004150