Poor hoses from Kinugawa leads to Nissan recall

Harry Stoffer, Automotive News

Washington DS - Nissan North America Inc. is recalling nearly 200 000 vehicles dur to poor fuel filler hoses. A common pollutant in the air causes the vehicles' fuel filler hoses to crack and leak.

In documents filed with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Nissan said Kinugawa Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd., of Chiba, Japan, made the original hoses.

The hoses were not built properly and are prone to crack from exposure to ozone, Nissan told the NHTSA.

Cracks lead to malfunctions of emission controls and to gasoline leaks when motorists refuel, the company said.

The recall involves 2003-06 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 crossovers and 2003-04 Infiniti G35 and Nissan 350Z cars. Dealers are to replace the hoses.

Elsewhere, the Chrysler group is recalling about 216 000 cars to replace power steering hoses that age prematurely and may leak.

The hoses are on 1999-2000 Dodge Stratus, Chrysler Cirrus and Plymouth Breeze cars with 2.4-litre engines, the company told NHTSA.

From Automotive News (A Crain publication)