Struggling automaker issues urgent recall as confusing headlight malfunction increases crash risk
A tough-looking truck has been unintentionally winking at pedestrians.
Nissan is recalling 13,719 Frontiers, its midsize pickup, because of faulty headlights.
A software error in the 2025 model accidentally dims the two front lights. Federal regulations require new vehicles to run the lamps, even during the daytime.
The automaker told Daily Mail that the lights accidentally lower when the automatic start-stop feature takes over at a red light or in traffic.
Nissan warns that the flickering headlights 'may cause confusion to other vehicles or pedestrians, increasing the risk of a crash.'
Customers must bring their vehicle back to the dealership for a free computer update.
Impacted owners will receive a mailed notice in mid-September. Nissan confirmed the recall in a statement to the Daily Mail, saying some owners experienced a 'brief change in headlight intensity.'
Nissan's Frontier sales have lagged this year, with the company reporting a 23 percent decline compared to last year.
Nissan has recalled its 2025 mid-sive Frontier pickup over a computer glitch in the headlights
The truck is not alone: Nissan has been cash-strapped since November, with executives worrying if the brand will be able to stay alive.
Earlier this year, Nissan held talks with Honda on a potential merger, but negotiations didn't end in a deal.
Moody's, a powerful credit agency, downgraded Nissan's debt to 'junk' status, signalling to investors that lending money to Nissan is now considered a very risky bet.
Makoto Uchida, the company's CEO at the time, stepped down after the failed talks. Ivan Espinosa was named the replacement.
Recall fall
So far, Nissan has issued six recalls in 2025.
The largest bulletin reached the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in June - impacting 443,899 cars, including the company's best-selling Rogue SUV and Altima sedan.
The problem centered on a potential bearing defect that could lead to engine failure. If that happens while driving, the vehicle can lose power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The truck's headlights had been unintentionally dimming when the car's stop-start feature was engaged
Nissan switched CEOs in April, with Ivan Espinosa taking over the company's top position after financial strain
Carmakers have been turning to a new recall approach to avoid customer headaches and parts delays at dealerships
However, drivers typically receive audible and visual warnings before a failure occurs.
To remedy the problem, Nissan said it would completely replace the engine on impacted cars.
It's been a tough year for vehicle recalls: so far, the top 13 major automakers have issued 228 recalls.
And Ford has led the pack. By a lot.
By early August, the iconic automaker has already issued 96 safety bulletins since January, the most any car company has ever issued in an entire year.
But there is a dramatic twist in how car companies are fixing vehicles: many are turning to over-the-air computer updates for patches.
Instead of frustrating customers with backlogged parts and trips to the dealerships, the biggest US automakers, including Ford, have updated vehicle computers while cars are parked via data clouds.
The Detroit automaker previously told the Daily Mail that nearly half of its recalls were fixed with computer updates.
