The model year (2023) Nissan Ariya has a software bug that can cause a short circuit to be detected and lead to the shutdown of the powertrain. The problem affects both the single-engine version and the AWD variant. In the United States, the service action has affected 9,813 units of the car, according to Nissan, and the fault could affect all cars called in for service.
Nissan Ariya and EV System Off
Information about the recall action was posted on the website of the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, source). It shows that small fragments of metal from the motor can cause short circuits in the slip rings that transmit power or control information. The software will detect the short circuit and cause the power unit to shut down, effectively immobilizing the entire car.
The car will display the EV System Off message and will not allow the motor to start until it restarts and exits emergency mode. When driving fast, this can lead to an accident. The solution is to reprogram the inverter, which is done at the manufacturer’s services. Since such accidental short circuits happen, the software will probably start ignoring them, since the service action does not involve replacing the motors themselves [speculation by EV-Catalog editors].
The problem was first noticed in January 2023 in China. In September, complaints began to flow from the United States. The Ariya is produced in two factories: Japan’s Tochigi serves the entire world except China, while the Dongfeng-Nissan plant in Wuhan supplies China with the cars. If the bug has been spotted on both sides of the Pacific Ocean, we can expect it to manifest itself in Europe as well.
This is not the only problem Nissan has had with the Ariya this year. In February, the manufacturer reported that the steering wheel may be loosely bolted or have no mounting bolt at all. This could cause it to detach from the steering column and increase the risk of an accident.
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