COMPONENT SPOTLIGHT

Nissan Altima electrical problems

1,770 distinct owner reports with an electrical-system component in this snapshot.

Includes the electrical-system component and its detailed subcategories. Related recalls and investigations must also name this component; they are not linked by narrative keyword alone.

56 crash reports69 fire reports35 injury reports

Reports by model year

Recall and investigation columns show each year’s full history. A report naming several years can appear in more than one row.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

1,194 reports with mileage · 576 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What owners actually said

1,770 reports
2009 model year · Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2016
Electrical System

ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK FAILED AND RENDERED CAR USELESS AND UNABLE TO START. WHEELS LOCKED IN PLACE. THE CAR WAS PARKED. NISSAN ULTIMATELY REMOVED THE MECHANISM IN FURTHER GENERATIONS OF CARS AND DENIES ALL RESPONSIBILITY AFTER AN ARBITRARY 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXTENSION. NO SCIENCE BEHIND THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXTENSION AND NO HELP PAS…

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ELECTRIC STEERING LOCK FAILED AND RENDERED CAR USELESS AND UNABLE TO START. WHEELS LOCKED IN PLACE. THE CAR WAS PARKED. NISSAN ULTIMATELY REMOVED THE MECHANISM IN FURTHER GENERATIONS OF CARS AND DENIES ALL RESPONSIBILITY AFTER AN ARBITRARY 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXTENSION. NO SCIENCE BEHIND THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY EXTENSION AND NO HELP PAST THE DEADLINE. CARS CONTINUE TO FAIL BEYOND THE INITIAL 3 YEAR WARRANTY AND BECOME INOPERABLE UNLESS A >$1000 REPAIR IS PERFORMED. A CAR NOT STARTING IS A SAFETY ISSUE DEPENDING UPON WHERE THIS ISSUE OCCURS.

NHTSA ODI #10819775

2009 model year · 145,000 miles · Jan 11, 2016
Electrical System

I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON WHICH THE MANUAL WARNS OF A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK SYSTEM. THE CAR WILL NOT START AND SO I WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN I CHECK TO SEE IF IT IS ON RECALL IT DOES NOT APPE…

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I WENT OUT TO START MY CAR AND IT WOULD NOT START. THE NISSAN INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT WAS ON WHICH THE MANUAL WARNS OF A MALFUNCTION WITH THE ELECTRICAL STEERING LOCK SYSTEM. THE CAR WILL NOT START AND SO I WILL HAVE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED. WHEN I CHECK TO SEE IF IT IS ON RECALL IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE HOWEVER THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS JUST WITHIN THE PAST FEW WEEKS OF THIS PROBLEM . I THINK NISSAN SHOULD LOOK INTO THIS AND RECALL THE FAULTY PART.

NHTSA ODI #10819321

2000 model year · 10 miles · Jan 10, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train

GAUGES SHUT OFF, FREEZE, AND ADVANCE WHILE IN MOTION, CONFUSING THE DRIVERS. CAUSING UNKNOWN SPEED, GAS, TEMPERATURE, AND OTHERS METERING. THIS IS HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. SOMETIME WORK FINE. MOST OF THE TIME GAGES ARE DOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10819197

2009 model year · 61,000 miles · Jan 8, 2016
Electrical SystemSteeringUnknown Or Other

WENT TO GET GAS VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. CALLED DEALER AND CONCLUDED ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE CAUSING CAR NOT TO START. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER SINCE CAR OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD TO PAY $933 TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON AND HAD IT FIXED IN A SHORT TIME. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. HERBA NIS…

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WENT TO GET GAS VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. CALLED DEALER AND CONCLUDED ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE CAUSING CAR NOT TO START. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER SINCE CAR OUT OF EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD TO PAY $933 TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THIS PROBLEM IS QUITE COMMON AND HAD IT FIXED IN A SHORT TIME. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. HERBA NISSAN OF JOHNSTOWN NY COMPLETED REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI #10819098

2012 model year · 8,300 miles · Jan 8, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALL THE LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,300.

NHTSA ODI #10819027

2009 model year · 122,000 miles · Jan 2, 2016
Electrical SystemSteering

WHILE DRIVING BACK TO WORK FROM A LUNCH BREAK, I NOTICED THE"KEY WARNING" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN I ARRIVED L PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK THEN SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. PROCEEDED TO EXIT THE CAR THEN TO LOCK THE CAR. NOTHING HAPPENED. TRIED AGAIN AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. TRIED TO RESTART CAR AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. ELECTRONIC KE…

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WHILE DRIVING BACK TO WORK FROM A LUNCH BREAK, I NOTICED THE"KEY WARNING" LIGHT ILLUMINATED. WHEN I ARRIVED L PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK THEN SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. PROCEEDED TO EXIT THE CAR THEN TO LOCK THE CAR. NOTHING HAPPENED. TRIED AGAIN AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. TRIED TO RESTART CAR AND HAD THE SAME RESULT. ELECTRONIC KEY WITH A NEW BATTERY DID NOT WORK. ALL ELECTRONIC MECHANISMS DID NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10817400

2009 model year · 72,000 miles · Dec 29, 2015
Electrical System

CAR WON'T START DUE TO FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK.

NHTSA ODI #10816878

2009 model year · 80,000 miles · Dec 29, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IN OCTOBER 2009 AND DID NOT ENCOUNTER ANY MAJOR ISSUES UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO. ON 12/17/2015, MY WIFE WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT OUTSIDE A GROCERY STORE AT NIGHT DUE TO UNABLE TO START THE CAR. WE TRIED USING A KEY FOB WITH A GOOD BATTERY AND JUMP STARTING THE ALTIMA, BUT I…

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MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA IN OCTOBER 2009 AND DID NOT ENCOUNTER ANY MAJOR ISSUES UNTIL A FEW DAYS AGO. ON 12/17/2015, MY WIFE WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT OUTSIDE A GROCERY STORE AT NIGHT DUE TO UNABLE TO START THE CAR. WE TRIED USING A KEY FOB WITH A GOOD BATTERY AND JUMP STARTING THE ALTIMA, BUT IT WOULD CHANGE THE CAR FROM 'LOCK' MODE TO 'ON' MODE (WHERE THE CAR CAN BE STARTED). WE DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH, AND FOUND THERE WERE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS THAT HAD ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUE, SOME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY, AND SOME IN SNOW WITH KIDS. MANY PEOPLE POST ON BLOGS AND YOUTUBE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. WE ENDED UP HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO A NISSAN DEALERSHIP FOR EXAMINATION FOR $110, AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS RESULT CONFIRMED THAT THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM (PART # 48700-9N00B) NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ' THEY QUOTED US $1152 FOR PART ($650) AND LABOR. THE PART IS FOR SALES FOR $360 ON AMAZON.COM. NISSAN USA WAS WELL AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, AND THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE STEERING LOCK MECHANISM PART FOR 3 YEARS. HOWEVER, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM THEM ABOUT THIS. AS OUR CAR IS 10 WEEKS OUT OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WINDOW, NISSAN USA WON'T COVER THE REPAIR EXPENSES. AS A NISSAN ALTIMA OWNER FOR 13 YEARS, WE FELT BETRAYED BY NISSAN ' THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE OWNERS INFORMED ON THIS ISSUE AND SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL, OR WORKED WITH THE OEM PROVIDER AND DEALERS FOR A COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION. INSTEAD, THEY HAVE KEPT THE 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS IN THE DARK, UNTIL MANY OF THEM GOT STRANDED IN DANGER. WE SINCERELY URGE YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE, AND HELP US AND OTHER FELLOW 2009 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS. AS OF 12/2/2015, A GOOGLE SEARCH OF '2009 NISSAN ALTIMA STEERING LOCK FAILURE' YIELDED 46,600 RESULTS. SAMPLE ONLINE POSTS ABOUT THE ISSUE: HTTP://GOO.GL/NMYZJI HTTPS://GOO.GL/XUL95H *TR

NHTSA ODI #10816774

2009 model year · 73,000 miles · Dec 28, 2015
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

12-13-2015 FAILED ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WHICH STRANDED US ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN EXPOSING PERSONAL ITEMS AND OUR PERSONAL SAFETY FOR A PART THE MANUFACTURE HAS RECOGNIZED AS FAULTY AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY UNTIL 120 DAYS BEFORE THE PART FAILS. 715 TIMES? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN A SNOW STORM OR GET …

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12-13-2015 FAILED ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WHICH STRANDED US ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN EXPOSING PERSONAL ITEMS AND OUR PERSONAL SAFETY FOR A PART THE MANUFACTURE HAS RECOGNIZED AS FAULTY AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY UNTIL 120 DAYS BEFORE THE PART FAILS. 715 TIMES? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN A SNOW STORM OR GET HIT ON THE INTERSTATE BEFORE ACTION WILL BE TAKEN ON THIS? THE PART BY ITSELF WAS $715 FROM THE DEALER. MAKE THIS PROBLEM RIGHT BEFORE SOMEONE DIES IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY.

NHTSA ODI #10816598

2009 model year · 70,280 miles · Dec 28, 2015
Electrical SystemSteering

STEERING LOCK ASSY. BECAME DEFECTIVE WHILE AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER, WAS TOLD THE NEW ASSY. HAD WARRANTY GOOD FOR 12MONTH/12000MILES AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE. THIS MAY BE A SAFETY FEATURE FOR THE CAR ITSELF BUT BECOMES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE OCCUPANTS IF IT BREAKS DOWN IN A HAZARDS AREA AWAY FROM HOME…

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STEERING LOCK ASSY. BECAME DEFECTIVE WHILE AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO NISSAN DEALER, WAS TOLD THE NEW ASSY. HAD WARRANTY GOOD FOR 12MONTH/12000MILES AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE. THIS MAY BE A SAFETY FEATURE FOR THE CAR ITSELF BUT BECOMES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE OCCUPANTS IF IT BREAKS DOWN IN A HAZARDS AREA AWAY FROM HOME OR IN A AREA OF BAD WEATHER ITSELF. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 72MONS.OR UNLIMITED MILEAGE ADDED TO THE ORIGINAL 36MON./ 36000MILES FOR THIS PART. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OR AWARE OF THIS ADD-ON. SO IT SEEMS THERE WAS REASON FOR CONCERN BY THE CAR MAKER BY ADDING THE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY. IT WAS A OUT OF POCKET EXPENSE FOR ME AND NO GUARANTEE THE CAR WOULD NOT BRAKE DOWN AGAIN SINCE I DO NOT KNOW IF THE NEW REPLACEMENT PART IS ANY BETTER THAN THE ONE THAT BROKE! MY CAR WAS BEYOND THE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY. I DO NOT TRUST THE CAR, IT COULD BREAK DOWN AT A REALLY UNSAFE LOCATION NEXT TIME IF THERE IS A NEXT TIME. I NEED SECURITY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY! THANK YOU P.S. THE CAR HAD BEEN TURN OFF LUCKILY IN A POST OFFICE PARKING LOT, BUT WOULD NOT RE START UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE WHEN WE WERE READY TO GO ON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10816572

Related Official recalls

3

14V138000 · Air Bags:frontal; Electrical System:software

Mar 25, 2014

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Air Bags:frontal

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

08V521000 · Air Bags; Electrical System:software

Oct 7, 2008

NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Air Bags

NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

07V599000 · Electrical System:ignition:module

Dec 28, 2007

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM) REPLACED DURING SERVICE AT A DEALERSHIP, THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) MAY HAVE BEEN INADVERTENTLY DEACTIVATED DUE TO AN ISSUE WITH THE DEALER SERVICE SOFTWARE. IF THE TPMS IS TURNED OFF, IT WOULD NOT ALERT THE DRIVER TO A DECREASE IN THE TIRE PRESSURE AS DESIGNED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVING ON UNDER-INFLATED TIRES IS UNSAFE AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE TPMS FUNCTION AND REACTIVATE IT IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Related NHTSA investigations

0

No component-matched exact-year investigations in this snapshot.