2022 Nissan Sentra Cowl Seam Seal Quality Action

What's Being Addressed

Nissan has identified a manufacturing issue affecting 418 specific 2022 Nissan Sentra (B18) vehicles currently in dealer inventory. Due to this issue, a seal behind the left front strut tower in the cowl area of the engine room was either improperly applied or is entirely missing. This is being addressed through a dealer inventory quality action, referenced as PMA11.

Important Warnings for Dealers

Nissan has issued a strict directive for affected vehicles. Dealers are instructed: "do not drive, loan, sell or trade" any specific vehicles in their inventory that are subject to this quality action. All affected vehicles are currently under a stop-sale order and cannot be delivered until the necessary repair is completed. Dealers can identify affected vehicles using Service Comm or DBS National Service History, specifically Open Campaigns I.D. PMA11. New vehicles arriving in inventory should also be checked for applicability, and technicians can refer to NPSB 15-460 for additional information.

Repair Procedure Summary

The repair involves applying a new sealant to the driver's side cowl joint seams. The process requires several steps to ensure proper application and adhesion:

1. Disassembly: Technicians must first mark the wiper blade locations on the windshield, open the hood, and install fender protection. The wiper arm assemblies, cowl top side trim covers, cowl top assembly, wiper motor connector, and wiper drive assembly are then removed.
2. Preparation: The driver's side cowl joint seams, specifically the areas outlined in the service bulletin, must be thoroughly cleaned with a lint-free cloth and warm soapy water. The area is then dried using compressed air.
3. Seam Sealer Application: The chosen seam sealer (LORD Fusor 800DTM or 3M Urethane Seam Sealer #08368) is prepared by removing the cartridge seal, puncturing the top, installing an applicator nozzle, and inserting it into a caulking gun. Approximately 1 inch of seam sealer is applied to a flat brush, and then brushed into the joint seams at a 30-45 degree angle to smooth the sealer. This process is repeated until the seams are completely sealed.
4. Drying and Reassembly: After the seam sealer application is complete, it must be allowed to dry for 30 minutes. Following the drying period, the vehicle is reassembled in reverse order: wiper drive assembly (torqued to 8 N•m or 71 in-lb), wiper motor connector, cowl top assembly (with special attention to cleaning the joint between the cowl top cover and windshield, and not damaging positioning clips), cowl top side trim covers, and wiper arm assemblies (torqued to 23.6 N•m or 17 ft-lb). Finally, fender protection is removed, the hood is closed, and wiper operation is verified.

Required Tools and Parts

To perform this repair, technicians will need specific materials:

• Seam Sealer: LORD Fusor 800DTM or 3M Urethane Seam Sealer #08368. The LORD Fusor product is available through Nissan Maintenance Advantage (PN: 999MP9G000P). Both sealers can also be purchased from bodyshop supply retailers or auto parts suppliers.
• Flat Brush: A 1-inch or #10 size flat brush is required for applying the sealer. These can be found at various retail stores.

What Owners Should Know

This quality action, PMA11, is primarily a dealer inventory correction. This means that Nissan is addressing the issue on new 2022 Nissan Sentra vehicles before they are sold to customers. If you have already purchased a 2022 Nissan Sentra, this specific bulletin does not indicate that Nissan will be directly notifying you. However, it highlights a potential manufacturing defect that was caught before widespread distribution. If you are considering purchasing a 2022 Nissan Sentra, rest assured that any vehicle delivered from a dealership should have already undergone this inspection and repair if necessary.

Claims Information

For dealers, warranty claims for this quality action should be submitted using Campaign ID "PMA11". The description for the claim is "Reseal Driver Side Cowl Seam", with an Operation Code (Op Code) of "PMA110" and a Flat Rate Time (FRT) of 0.6 hours.

NHTSA Manufacturer Communication 10222874