Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti Brake Problems

Some owners of newer Pathfinders and Infinitis have reported brake problems which Nissan attributed to a problem at one facility.  Owners of vehicles with problems may be entitled to compensation for vehicle problems and repair costs.   

 

Edmunds reports, Nissan is recalling 19,258 2013 Nissan Pathfinders and Infiniti JX35s to fix a brake problem, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

"The front brake torque member was improperly cast, resulting in structural weakness," said NHTSA in its summary of the problem. "This can lead to premature failure and cracking. If the brake torque member fails, the brake caliper may move and contact the inside of the road wheel, resulting in reduced braking and increasing the risk of a crash."

The affected vehicles were built from December 3, 2012 through January 29, 2013 at Nissan's Smyrna, Tennessee plant.

Nissan told federal safety regulators it received a field report on March 1 involving a front brake torque member failure on a 2013 Pathfinder. Following that report, Nissan placed a yard hold on all potentially affected vehicles at the plant while a supplier investigation was conducted.

"Detailed analysis of the failed front brake torque member revealed that the casting was out of specification due to a 'cold shut' condition which occurred during the supplier's manufacturing process," Nissan said in documentation filed with NHTSA. "A small amount of molten iron flowed into an adjacent mold prematurely, and did not fuse properly with the newly introduced metal due to temperature loss."