Nissan Recalls 134k Cars For Possible Brake Defects

Nissan is recalling 134,000 cars and SUVs worldwide, mainly in the United States and Canada due to a potential defect in their break system, the company said on Friday. The recall covers 2016-2017 Maxima large cars equipped with intelligent cruise control, 2015-2017 Murano SUVs, and some 2015-2016 Murano hybrids. About 120,000 of the affected units are registered in the U.S. while 11,000 are from Canada.

"A brake fluid leak onto the circuit board will result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire," the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a report posted Friday. A spokesperson for Nissan said the leak can cause an electrical short, which could lead to a fire. The company also said the possible defective stems came from a third-party supplier.

"Drivers are advised to stop driving the car if they notice the anti-lock brake system (ABS) warning light on the dashboard is illuminated," said the spokesperson who also told drivers to park the car outside and call the company to tow, and bring the affected vehicle to a dealership for inspection.

Nissan said it found out about the issue when it received a report of a fire in a 2016 Maxima model on June 7. An investigation into the issue revealed several more incidents. Nissan released a statement, saying the issue has been corrected since its discovery. It also said it would notify the owners of affected units this month on what to do should the ABS light came on. 

The company says owners of units with defective seals on the break actuator pump can have them replaced for free after inspection by dealers on the pumps' serial numbers. It also says a letter will be sent to owners to notify them once parts are available.