“The inverter software may detect a short circuit and shut down the EV system, resulting in a loss of drive power,” as per the summary report. The affected models include both the front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of the Ariya – no other Nissan or Infiniti cars are affected, as the Ariya uses a unique motor type.
Nissan expects 100 percent of the recalled vehicles to contain the defect. The report states that tiny bits of conductive material from a drive motor part might briefly cause a short circuit in the slip rings – rotary electrical devices that transmit power or electrical signals, crucial in the effective spinning of the motor.
This can cut off the power temporarily to avoid damage to the internal components, triggering an "EV System Off" dashboard message. Torque to driven wheels can also be cut off until the “fail-safe mode” is released with a restart. But if this happens while driving fast, it could lead to a crash.
Dealers will reprogram the inverter software to fix this issue free of charge, and owners will be notified by October 20, 2023.
Source: NHTSA
