Nissan Continued Using Uncertified Inspectors After Misconduct Exposed
Nissan Motor Co. has recalled 1.2 million new vehicles it sold in Japan over the last three years after discovering vehicle checks were not being performed by certified technicians. After a lengthy internal investigation, the company stated it continued to conduct unaccredited final checks as recently as last week.
News of the discovery came on Wednesday, more than two weeks after Chief Executive Hiroto Saikawa publicly stated only certified technicians had conducted checks since September 20th. Despite attempts to remedy the widespread issue at its Japanese factories, there were at least two technicians lacking the necessary training and credentials at its Shonan Plant located in Tsutsumicho, near Hiratsuka City.
According to Reuters, the company estimates roughly 3,800 vehicles were affected. It temporarily suspended all production at the facility before resuming assembly on October 16th.
Officials from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport inspected Nissan’s factories earlier this month. There, they found names of several certified technicians used on paperwork to sign off on final vehicle checks — inspections that had actually been conducted by non-certified employees.
While it did not state how many more may have been involved in continuing factory misconduct, the ministry found phony stamps being used at five of six Nissan factories earlier this month — resulting in a recall of 386,000 passenger vehicles from this year. It has requested Nissan report the measures taken to prevent a recurrence of the problem by the end of October.
“It’s extremely regrettable, causing anxiety for users and shaking the foundation of the certification system,” said Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Keiichi Ishii.
The ministry stated it will continue to investigate just how common the practice was at Nissan factories and who allowed it to continue. Meanwhile, the automaker has recalled the entirety of its domestic product, promising to conduct re-inspections (at a cost of around $302 million).
[Image: Nissan]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Is this a Japanese government requirement, or are these just Nissan's internal inspectors? I know that in the aircraft industry in the US, every part has to have a certificate of conformance from a qualified technician stating that it's airworthy. Does Japan have similar requirements for cars? Does the US have any requirement like this for cars? If it's just Nissan's internal inspectors, it's a bit less scandalous. Also, I work next door to my organization's training manager. Keeping up with everybody's varied certifications can be a massive undertaking.
I bet it is a situation where the "uncertified" inspectors knew perfectly well how to perform the job but simply lacked appropriate government sanctioned certifications. Sort of like a highly regarded doctor or lawyer who didn't pay his annual license dues and suddenly it becomes malpractice for that professional to perform their job. In many areas, like medicine and law, certifications serve an important purpose, others, it is just a way for members of an occupation to keep people from entering said trade. Ill go out on a limb and say that the "certified" inspector probably doesn't require a college degree or doctorate.