Nissan North America has issued a recall for 9,813 model year 2023 Ariya electric vehicles (EVs) due to a potential software defect related to the drive motor. The recall comes in response to reports filed by Nissan with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The reported issue involves the inverter software detecting a short circuit, which can lead to the shutdown of the EV system, resulting in a loss of drive power. Both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of the Ariya are affected, as the Ariya uses a unique motor type. No other Nissan or Infiniti models are impacted by this recall.
Nissan anticipates that all of the recalled vehicles may contain the software defect. The root cause of the problem is described as tiny bits of conductive material from a drive motor part that might briefly cause a short circuit in the slip rings. These slip rings are crucial components responsible for transmitting power or electrical signals needed for the effective operation of the motor.
In response to this issue, the affected vehicles may temporarily cut off power to prevent damage to internal components, accompanied by an "EV System Off" dashboard message. This safety feature is known as "fail-safe mode," and it can cut off torque to the driven wheels. However, if this occurs while driving at higher speeds, it could potentially pose a safety hazard, leading to a crash.
Nissan dealers will rectify this problem by reprogramming the inverter software at no cost to the owners. The recall process is expected to begin, and affected vehicle owners will be notified by October 20, 2023.
Nissan first identified this issue in January 2022, and additional reports, including one from an Ariya owner in China, followed. Several reports related to this issue were filed in California and Oklahoma in September 2023.
This is not the first recall that the Ariya has faced. Earlier this year, Nissan recalled over 1,000 models in North America due to the risk of the steering wheel detaching from the steering column, attributed to a potentially loose or missing bolt. Repeated recalls could potentially impact the rollout of the Ariya in the United States, which commenced this year.
In the first half of 2023, Nissan sold 9,400 electric cars in the United States, a relatively small number compared to its competitors. The Ariya accounted for a significant portion of those sales, with 5,195 units sold, while sales of the Leaf dropped by 44 percent year-over-year, with 4,234 deliveries. Notably, neither of these models is eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit.