Nissan to recall 7,500 cars sold in South Korea

Nissan Korea Co., is going to recall more than 7,500 cars sold here for a software flaw that might cause air bag failures, the transport ministry stated Monday.

The recall impacts 7,574 units of four cars models– the Nissan Q50 sedan, the QX60 crossover SUV, the Nissan Pathfinder SUV and the Nissan Leaf compact hatchback– as per the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The ministry stated a problem in the vehicles’ resident classification system might fail to correctly determine a passenger in the traveler seat, possibly triggering the air bag to not deploy even during a crash.

The affected automobiles were produced between June 5, 2013, and April 21, 2016. Free repair work services will be offered starting Friday at Nissan Korea service centers.

Mercedes-Benz Korea, the regional importer and supplier of the German brand name cars, is also going to recall C200 BLUETEC automobiles offered here for fuel pipe issues that may cause fuel leaks.

The recall impacts 1,095 Mercedes-Benz C200 BLUETEC vehicles produced in between Dec. 18, 2013, and April 4, 2016, as per the ministry.

The ministry stated it has likewise asked the state-run Vehicle Safety Research Institute to further examine the problem for the possibility of a fire triggered by dripped fuel.

On the other hand, the ministry said it plans to enforce a 55 million-won (US$ 49,225) fine on Audi Volkswagen Korea, the local importer of Audi and Volkswagen vehicles, for failing to set up fire extinguishers in 651 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Quattro SUVs offered here as required by law.

The quantity represents one-thousandth of the sales produced here by the afflicted cars, the optimum fine under the law, which requires a fire extinguisher in each automobile with over seven seats, the ministry stated.

The affected automobiles will also be recalled from Friday.