Nissan says it’s aware of one crash after recall repairs were made, but no injuries. Dealers will inspect and reposition the switch if necessary starting in March.
The issue affects only 2013 through 2015 model years of the Pathfinder, and no other Nissan or Infiniti vehicles, the report says. It’s most likely to occur under “frequent stop-and-go driving with repeated brake pedal input” and can cause “chattering” in the light’s relay that can eventually cause it to become stuck.
Although always-on brake lights can be a safety problem, more serious consequences could include interference with the brake-shift interlock and the potential for “limited engine power (brake override), the ability to shift the vehicle out of park without depressing the brake pedal, and/or the engine starting without depressing the brake pedal,” Nissan said.
Dealers will either fix the relay by reinstalling it in a better position or replace it entirely. The 2013 and 2014 models of the Pathfinder were previously recalled for the same problem in 2016. Owners can go to the NHTSA recall site to see if their vehicle is involved in the current recall.