Nissan, FCA issue latest vehicle recalls

The latest batch of Transport Canada recalls come from Nissan and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), for potential problems with shift mechanisms, ignition systems, and brakes.

Nissan is worried about automatic shift mechanisms in model-year 2015 versions of its Rogue compact crossover, which could allow the driver to shift the car out of ‘park’ without stepping on the brake, change gear positions without pressing the shift lock button, and remove the key without putting the car into ‘park.’ All of these conditions could cause “unintended vehicle movement,” and lead to a collision or injury. Nissan will inspect the nearly 11,000 cars included in the recall and make any necessary repairs.

FCA brings two recalls to the table. One covers 12,000 Dodge Dart compact sedans from 2013 and 2014, in which a vacuum pump could force engine oil into the brake booster, which could cause the booster to fail, and lead to a loss of brake assist. The brakes would still work, but no power assist means a lot more work to stop the car, and would cause longer-than-normal stopping distances, with a crash being an obvious potential consequence. FCA says its dealers will check the brake booster for oil; even cars with no evidence of oil where it doesn’t belong will get a new vacuum tube assembly, but if oil is found, dealers will also replace the vacuum pump, brake booster, and brake master cylinder.

The second FCA notice is for the 2015 Ram Promaster van, which the manufacturer says “may experience an intermittent loss of electrical contact in the ignition switch electrical contact block.” In other words, the engine might shut off, and deactivate safety systems like airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, and the instrument panel on its way by. Dealers have been instructed to replace the ignition switch contact holder block in the 1,500 affected vehicles.