Nissan Motor Co (OTC:NSANY) has issued a recall for certain 2023 Ariya electric SUVs, affecting 9,813 vehicles. The recall comes in response to a defective inverter software that could lead to unexpected vehicle shutdowns.
The issue was identified in vehicles manufactured between June 17, 2022, and May 19, 2023.
The problem appears when conductive shavings from the drive motor's slip ring create a short circuit between the two slip rings. In such cases, the inverter detects an overcurrent and initiates fail-safe protocols, resulting in the vehicle unexpectedly shutting down.
Nissan first encountered this issue during a production trial in January 2022. Further inspections revealed the presence of shavings in the slip ring assembly. Although initially considered non-abnormal, additional reports in late 2022 and through September 2023 prompted Nissan to take action.
Starting October 20, affected vehicle owners will be notified, and dealers will reprogram the inverter/motor controller software at no cost, a process expected to take less than an hour.