Class Action Revs Up Against Nissan for Alleged Overheating Defect in SUV Models

Nissan North America Inc. is currently steering through rough legal terrain, as it finds itself in the crosshairs of a class action lawsuit. This legal challenge gears up to address a critical defect that's left some drivers with their temperatures rising—both under the hood and in the driver's seat.

A heated dispute

The legal road taken in the federal court alleges that between 2013 and 2017, certain Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 models rolled out with a cooling fan defect, potent enough to send temperatures soaring to the red zone, threatening to bring the journey to a grinding halt with engine failure. 

For owners of these models, the defect is more than just a bump in the road; it's a potential safety detour that could lead to an unwanted pit stop.

A question of safety and integrity

Four plaintiffs—Lauren Anderson, Walid Antonios, Fred Balsam, and Calvin Wiley—have shifted gears into high stakes, representing a group of concerned owners who've heard all too clearly the "loud rattling, squealing, or clacking sounds" signaling engine distress. They're putting the brakes on what they see as Nissan's inaction, alleging that the company has been cruising with this knowledge since at least 2013 but failed to signal a warning to consumers, according to Law360.

The allegations paint a picture of a safety feature failing to stay on track, potentially driving up the cost of ownership with repairs that can surpass the $1,000 mark.

Nissan's response: A roadblock for consumers?

Despite the looming cloud of the defect since at least 2013, the class action lawsuit suggests Nissan's response has been to idle rather than accelerate a fix. The company's approach—issuing a technical service bulletin in 2017—has been criticized as a mere detour, avoiding the necessary route of a recall or offering a financial cushion for the repairs.

The public's trust in Nissan's commitment to driver safety may be deflating, with reports that the automaker often waits until the warranty's final lap has passed before acknowledging the defect, leaving owners stranded with the repair bill.

Legal and consumer ramifications

This legal intersection isn't uncharted territory for Nissan. The auto leader has navigated through various legal challenges and consumer satisfaction speed bumps in the past.

The plaintiffs' legal team is revving up for a class certification that would cover a broad spectrum of U.S. consumers, seeking a legal mandate for Nissan to take responsibility and repair the alleged defect, ensuring consumer safety is back in the fast lane.

The plaintiffs and proposed class are represented by J. Gerard Stranch IV and Michael C. Iadevaia of Stranch Jennings & Garvey PLLC; and Benjamin Donahue of Greenstone Law APC.

The Nissan cooling fan defect class action lawsuit is Anderson et al. v. Nissan North American, Inc. et al., Case No. 3:24-cv-00257, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.