Both Nissan and Honda issued recalls today—Nissan for a front suspension problem with its 2007-2012 Versas and Honda for a flaw in the transmission software in its 2014-15 Civics.
The Nissan recall affects about 219,000 vehicles sold or registered in 23 winter-weather states, and 101,000 sold or registered in Canada. Road salt may corrode the front coil springs, possibly resulting in the coil springs fracturing. If the front coil spring fractures, it is positioned so it could puncture the tire, increasing the risk of a crash.
Nissan said in a statement that a “manufacturing variation at a supplier that has since been corrected” cause insufficient anti-corrosion coating on the front coil springs.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began evaluating about 130,000 Nissan Versa cars in May after it received complaints of the fractures.
Nissan said it will notify owners of potentially affected vehicles in November.
Honda is recalling about 143,000 2014-2015 Civic and Fits in the United States for a glitch in the software controlling the vehicles’ continuously variable transmission. The software settings that control the transmission operation may result in high hydraulic pressure that can damage the transmission drive pulley shaft. If the transmission drive pulley shaft is damaged, it may break, and the car can lose acceleration or the front wheels may lock up while driving, increasing crash risk.
The affected Hondas were manufactured between March 12, 2014 and May 12, 2015. The recall is expected to begin on October 16.
No crashes or injuries have been reported related to either recall.
