Nissan North America is recalling 149 units of the 2025 Altima sedan due to the incorrect installation of bolts intended for the Frontier pickup truck. The issue was discovered at Nissan’s Canton, Mississippi plant, which manufactures both the Altima and the Frontier.
Potential Safety Risk Identified
The affected vehicles are equipped with incorrect hex bolts for the front passenger airbag and front passenger knee airbag. While these bolts share similar threading and appear to be the same length as the correct ones, they are not the specified parts for the Altima.
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the use of these incorrect bolts could compromise the structural integrity of the airbags. If the fastener yields after the airbag deploys, the bolt may not be able to maintain its intended load-bearing capacity. This could lead to the airbag shifting or deploying in an abnormal manner, potentially increasing the risk of injury to occupants during a collision.
Discovery and Investigation
The problem came to light in December 2025 when a Nissan technician at the Canton facility noticed the discrepancy. A subsequent inspection of 96 Altima vehicles in the plant’s inventory confirmed that these cars were indeed fitted with the incorrect bolts, prompting a formal investigation by the company.
Nissan’s review of its material handling records revealed that an assembly line technician had mistakenly selected parts designated for the Frontier production line. To rectify the issue, Nissan will replace four fasteners in each of the recalled Altima vehicles.
Recall Process and Owner Notification
Owners of the affected 2025 Nissan Altima sedans will be able to have the necessary repairs completed at their local Nissan dealerships. The company plans to begin mailing out official notification letters to affected customers starting September 25, 2026.
This recall highlights the critical importance of precise component matching in automotive manufacturing, especially when dealing with safety-critical systems like airbags. Even minor deviations in part specifications can have significant implications for vehicle safety.
