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Nissan is recalling over 1.2 million late-model vehicles out of fear that drivers will shift into reverse and see nothing on their infotainment screens. The recall affects 2018 and 2019 models of almost the entire Nissan and Infiniti stable.
Because the backup camera on the affected vehicles can be adjusted to the point that no view of the area behind the vehicle remains, Nissan finds itself in violation of federal safety rules. The problem is not that the image can be adjusted, but that the obscured view will remain after the driver restarts the vehicle and shifts into reverse.
The list of models is a long one.
Citing the ability of the backup camera to remain stuck in the pre-selected setting even after the car is shut off, the automaker stated in documents filed to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the issue “could lead to an increased risk of an accident in the event the
driver does not re-adjust the display before reversing.”
“As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, ‘Rear Visibility,'” Nissan wrote.
The FMVSS rule requires “the rear visibility system of vehicles manufactured on or after May 1, 2018 to return to a default image at the beginning of each backing event regardless of any modifications the driver previously selected.”
Every new or recent Nissan model equipped with a backup camera contains the fault, meaning a widespread voluntary recall will soon commence. The vehicles affected reads like a full inventory of the company’s model line.
Dating from either the 2018 or 2019 model year (often both), the models include the Nissan Altima, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, GT-R, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Versa Note, and Versa Sedan. Additionally, Nissan is recalling Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30, QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L, and QX80 models.
You’re safe, 370Z and Armada drivers.
A full list of VINs will roll out to dealers between October 7th and 11th, with owners notified of the recall between October 21st and November 11th. In total, the recall impacts 1,228,830 vehicles, some 126,195 of which reside in Canada. A number of units also found their way to South Korea and Israel.
[Images: Nissan]
Wait, do people actually trust the camera? Without turning their head around and looking where they are going?
Another case where safety technology actually makes things less safe. What a joke.
An *adjustable* backup camera? Uh, why?
The only complaint I have over the backup camera on my Tacoma is the time it takes to come on. Most of the time it’s almost instantaneous (the display is in the rearview mirror), and sometimes it can take 2-3 seconds, so I’m sitting there in reverse, waiting for the image to appear.
Uh…you know you can still reverse without the camera, right?
So what do you think is safer; looking at a clear wide angle view or turning your head and looking at a partial view blocked by your c pillar, headrests, trunk, etc, with no idea as to what is sitting crawling or sleeping behind your bumper?
Wide angle camera is actually much safer than just looking back. Looking back you will not see approaching vehicle from left or right when backing up from parking lot.
I know it’s forbidden fruit in the USA but I don’t see the Micra on that list.
I imagine the practical impact of the issue to drivers is near-zero, since few people would manually adjust their rear-view cam to not actually view anything. And if they did, they probably wanted it that way for a reason.
Rental cars and families with vindictive teenagers maybe might be affected, but other than that, this is a hassle for Nissan far more than drivers.
How about a recall on their crappy CVTs?
Is this a simple software tweak, or are they going to have to replace the entire camera module?
Can Nissan recall upper management too?
I don’t own a Nissan, but if I did I think I would like the camera to stay the way I set it. So I would pass on this recall.
Until now, I was unaware that any car had a backup camera that could be adjusted.
I’m not sure I see a benefit to that, as a driver. The camera and screen are there to show you what you can’s see when you turn your head backward I.E. the blind spot close and down low, below the sight-line.
Why would I want it to be aimed anywhere else?
Holy lazy, Batman.
If the backup camera doesn’t work then do you have to wear a bicycle helmet instead? If you run over a bag of peanuts and your backup camera wasn’t working then will you suffer an allergy attack?
As someone who rents a car almost every week, I have never been so happy. No Nissans in the National Executive Selection!!!!