2014 Nissan Rogue Sv on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Nissan recalls 2015 Murano over ABS actuators

A problem discovered with its anti-lock brakes has prompted Nissan North America and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a recall for the 2015 Murano crossover. The problem revolves around the actuators for the ABS, whose solenoid valves may be contaminated. That could, according to the recall notice below, cause the hydraulic brake pressure to either build up or drop completely, potentially destabilizing the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash. The issue affects an estimated 9,614 units in the United States - plus another 116 in Puerto Rico and 839 in Canada - specifically those built between December 4, 2014, and March 17, 2015. The owners of those vehicles will need to take their Muranos in to their local dealers to have the ABS actuators inspected, and if necessary, replaced. The recall is slated to commence in early August, but in the meantime, dealers have been ordered to stop selling those vehicles affected until they can be attended to. Nissan spokesman Dan Passe confirmed to Autoblog that no accidents or injuries were reported to have resulted from the issue being addressed. At the same time, Nissan has also announced a second, much smaller recall for another of its crossover models. This one affects the 2015 Rogue Select – specifically those manufactured between November 17, 2014, and December 12, 2014, and fitted with 17-inch wheels. That, according to NHTSA, amounts to just 110 units, whose tires may be incorrectly labeled. To fix it, Nissan will be sending owners new labels with the correct payload information in compliance with federal regulations. Related Video: RECALL Subject : ABS Actuator may Malfunction Report Receipt Date: JUN 10, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V364000 Component(s): SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Potential Number of Units Affected: 9,614 Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc. SUMMARY: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2015 Murano vehicles manufactured December 4, 2014, to March 17, 2015. These vehicles are equipped with Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) actuators which may have contamination in the solenoid valves, potentially affecting the valves' ability to completely close and allow a build up of hydraulic brake pressure, or fully open and allow the hydraulic brake pressure to completely drop.

Is 120 miles just about perfect for EV range?

When it comes to battery-electric vehicles, our friend Brad Berman over at Plug In Cars says 40 miles makes all the difference in the world. That's the approximate difference in single-charge range between the battery-electric version of the Toyota RAV4 and the Nissan Leaf. It's also the difference between the appearance or disappearance of range anxiety. The 50-percent battery increase has zapped any lingering range anxiety, Berman writes. The RAV4 EV possesses a 40-kilowatt-hour pack, compared to the 24-kWh pack in the Leaf. After factoring in differences in size, weight and other issues, that means the compact SUV gets about 120 miles on a single charge in realistic driving conditions, compared to about 80 miles in the Leaf. "The 50 percent increase in battery size from Leaf to RAV has zapped any lingering range anxiety," Berman writes. His observations further feed the notion that drivers need substantial backup juice in order to feel comfortable driving EVs. Late last year, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), along with the Consumers Union estimated that about 42 percent of US households could drive plug-in vehicles with "little or no change" in their driving habits, and that almost 70 percent of US commuters drive fewer than 60 miles per weekday. That would imply that a substantial swath of the country should be comfortable using a car like the Leaf as their daily driver - with first-quarter Leaf sales jumping 46 percent from a year before, more Americans certainly are. Still, the implication here is that EV sales will continue to be on the margins until an automaker steps up battery capabilities to 120 or so miles while keeping the price in the $30,000 range. Think that's a reasonable goal to shoot for?

Renault, Nissan officially reboot their auto alliance for post-Ghosn era

Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida looks on as Renault CEO Luca De Meo and Mitsubishi CEO Takao Kato shake hands during a news conference to unveil new agreement between Nissan and Renault on Monday in London.   LONDON — Automakers Renault and Nissan on Monday formalized their reboot of a relationship that had grown rocky, culminating in the spectacular fall of top executive Carlos Ghosn, who had led successful turnarounds at both companies before his arrest and daring escape. The boards of both companies approved equalizing the stake each automaker holds in the other to 15%, bringing a better balance in the French-Japanese alliance, which also includes smaller Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi Motors Corp. The uneven shareholdings had been viewed at times as a source of conflict. Until now, Renault Group of France owned 43.4% of Nissan Motor Co., while the Japanese automaker owned 15% of Renault. “We have been waiting a long time for this moment,” Renault board Chairman Jean Dominique Senard said at a news conference in London, calling it a “new era." Nissan intends to invest up to 15% in Ampere, RenaultÂ’s electric vehicle and software entity in Europe that Mitsubishi also will consider investing in. The automakers said they will collaborate in markets worldwide, including Latin America, Europe and India. The moves come at a time when the extremely competitive auto industry is undergoing a major shift toward electric vehicles and other environmentally friendly models. The long speculated changes to the carmaker alliance were announced a week ago. Shares equivalent to a 28.4% stake will be transferred to a French trust, according to the companies. Renault, whose top shareholder is the French government, and Nissan agreed on an orderly sale of that stake, although there will be no deadline. Nissan Chief Executive Makoto Uchida vowed to take the alliance to “the next level of transformation” to adapt to a new era. “This is not a choice but a need,” he said. In theory, partnerships are a good way for automakers to cut costs by sharing parts, production and technology, especially when the industry is going through such dramatic change with EVs. That also means that, once formed, ending an alliance can be difficult because the companiesÂ’ development, manufacturing and products get so closely tied together. Still, partnerships can stumble because of the different corporate cultures of the automakers, especially when it involves a meeting of the West and East.