See No Evil: Backup Camera Concerns Lead Nissan to Recall… Almost Everything

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

“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]