Nissan is calling back nearly 14,000 examples of its 2012 and 2013 Altima sedans to re-torque six suspension and steering rack bolts that were not properly attached at the company's Canton, Mississippi, assembly plant.
Nissan says that the questionably tightened bolts include four transverse link bolts and two power steering rack bolts that were "not torqued to the proper specification." Over time, the bolts could shake loose as the vehicle encounters bumps on any sort of terrain. Drivers could notice a rattling noise, Nissan says.
No crashes or injuries have been reported as a result of the improperly torqued bolts. Â
The automaker said in a regulatory filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that the improperly tightened bolts could fall off, which potentially increases the risk of an accident.
The affected 13,919 Altimas were built in Mississippi from May 10 to July 26. The recall apparently covers both 2012 and 2013 model year Altimas. The Altima was thoroughly redesigned for 2013, although some components were carried over to the new model.
Nissan says it will begin contacting owners next week and asking them to take their vehicles into the automaker's dealerships to have the bolts retorqued free of charge.Â
