NHTSA Complaint #10486563 — 2012 NISSAN SENTRA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN SENTRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARD TO MANEUVER WHICH PREVENTED HIM FROM TURNING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETECTED AND THE FAILURE MAY BE RELATED TO THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,979 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. ....UPDATED 12/20/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TWO MILES WITH MUCH EFFORT WITH NO POWER STEERING TO A NISSAN DEALER. THE ADVISOR ADMITS HE SAW AND FELT THE WHEEL NOT TURN WITHOUT GREAT EFFORT AND THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. NISSAN ADMITTED IN WRITING THE VEHICLE HAD CATASTROPHIC POWER STEERING FAILURE. THE POWER STEERING RETURNED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF THEN ON AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED BACK TO THE CONSUMER WITHOUT BEING REPAIRED. THE ADVISOR STATED THE VEHICLE MOST LIKELY HAD A BAD CPU. UPDATED 1/3/2013 *JS