Nissan is recalling over 26,000 vehicles due to door issues, and the fastest way to know if yours is affected is to check your VIN before you do anything else. If you own a recent Altima, Sentra, Frontier, or Kicks, take two minutes to run the check at NHTSA.gov/recalls or Nissan’s own recall lookup. Enter your 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (it’s on your dashboard by the windshield and on your registration), and the tool tells you instantly whether your car falls under NHTSA campaign 26V023. The repair is free. Here’s everything else you need.
What happened
Nissan filed a voluntary safety recall covering 26,432 vehicles after discovering that door strikers — the metal loops the door latch grabs onto to hold the door shut — were improperly welded during production. The affected strikers were supplied by MAGNA Winmex and built into vehicles during a narrow August–September 2025 window.
The risk is exactly what it sounds like. A weld that doesn’t hold means a door may not latch securely, may pop open unexpectedly while you’re driving, or may fail to stay closed in a crash — when an occupant is most likely to be thrown against or out of it. That’s why the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration classifies a door that won’t stay shut as an injury risk, not just an annoyance.
This is a defect-and-fix recall, not a design flaw across Nissan’s lineup. The problem is confined to a specific batch of parts from a specific production window, which is good news: if your VIN clears, you’re clear.
Who is affected: is my Nissan included?
The recall covers four models, all built in the same short window. Use this as your first-pass checklist — but the VIN check is what confirms it, because not every vehicle of these model years is included.
- 2025 Nissan Altima (sedan)
- 2025 Nissan Sentra (sedan)
- 2025–2026 Nissan Frontier (pickup)
- 2026 Nissan Kicks (SUV)
The common thread is the build date: vehicles assembled roughly between August and September 2025. If your Nissan is one of these models and left the factory in that window, it’s a strong candidate. If you drive a Rogue, Pathfinder, Murano, or an older Altima or Sentra, this particular recall almost certainly does not apply to you — though it’s still worth running your VIN, since Nissan has issued more than one recall this year and headlines blur together.
Product details: what’s actually wrong
The defect is in the door striker weld, not the latch mechanism inside the door itself. A striker is the U-shaped bracket bolted to the door frame; when you close the door, the latch snaps around it. If the striker’s weld is weak, the latch can lose its grip. Owners most likely to notice a symptom early would feel a door that rattles at speed, doesn’t sit flush, or requires an extra shove to close and stay closed.
Because the fix is a physical part replacement rather than a software patch, dealers can address it quickly — typically in under 30 minutes per affected door. Nissan is tracking the campaign under internal recall numbers PD185 and PMA61; NHTSA’s public campaign number is 26V023. You may see either referenced depending on where you look.
How to check if your Nissan is included
Two official tools will confirm your status in minutes. Both are free and neither requires an account.
- NHTSA VIN lookup. Go to NHTSA.gov/recalls, enter your 17-digit VIN, and read the results. This tool pulls from every manufacturer and shows all open recalls on your vehicle — not just this one — which is why we recommend it first.
- Nissan’s recall lookup. Visit Nissan’s official recall page or call Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261 and reference recall PD185 or PMA61. A representative can check your VIN over the phone.
What if your VIN isn’t listed yet? Recall databases update in batches, and a specific car can take days or weeks to appear even after a campaign is announced. Nissan is mailing owner notification letters, with the mailing expected to be completed by mid-March. If your model and build date match but the tool comes back clean, check again in a week — and call the dealer if you have any door symptom in the meantime. Don’t wait for the letter to act if something feels off.
What consumers should do now
You don’t need to park the car, and for most owners there’s no need to panic. But there are three concrete steps worth taking.
- Schedule a dealer appointment even before your letter arrives. Once your VIN shows as affected, any authorized Nissan dealer can perform the repair at no charge. You do not need the letter in hand — the recall number is enough.
- Confirm every door is fully latched before you drive. This matters most with rear doors and child passengers, who can’t always tell whether their door caught. Give each door a firm close and a visual check that it sits flush with the body.
- Act immediately if you notice a symptom. A door that rattles at highway speed, feels loose, or won’t stay shut is a reason to stop driving that vehicle and call your dealer or Nissan customer service the same day. Keep rear child locks engaged as an added precaution until the striker is replaced.
Consumer-safety recalls follow the same playbook whether they cover cars, car seats, or groceries: verify, then act. If you’ve navigated one recently — say the FCA US 2019-2023 recall for Jeep owners or the 14,000 Evenflo car seats recalled — the VIN-and-appointment process here will feel familiar.
Refund, remedy, and contact options
There’s no refund involved because there’s nothing to buy back — this is a free repair, not a return. Here’s how the remedy shakes out:
- Cost to you: $0. By federal law, the manufacturer covers safety-recall repairs on vehicles within the coverage period. Dealers replace the affected door striker(s) at no charge.
- Time: under 30 minutes in most cases. Because it’s a quick part swap, most owners won’t need a loaner. If you’d have to wait for parts or a long service backlog, ask the service department directly whether a loaner or rental is available — policies vary by dealer.
- Already reimbursed? If you paid out of pocket for a related door-striker repair before the recall, keep your receipt and ask Nissan about reimbursement.
Contacts to keep handy: Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261 (recall PD185 / PMA61); the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (campaign 26V023); and your local Nissan dealer’s service department for scheduling.
A Florida note worth flagging
Florida has one of the densest Nissan dealer networks in the country, so getting an appointment shouldn’t be the bottleneck here. The more practical local angle is timing: a door that doesn’t seal properly is a bigger problem during hurricane season and heavy summer rain, when wind pressure and standing water make a loose door both a safety and a water-intrusion issue. If your VIN is affected, we’d move the repair up the list rather than letting it ride to the next oil change. For context on why the rain keeps coming, see our look at why it’s raining so much in 2026.
This is also not the only automaker sending owners scrambling this year. If you saw multiple recall headlines and got confused about which applied to you, our breakdown of the Hyundai recall of almost 84,000 US vehicles walks through a similar VIN-check process for a different defect.
The bottom line
Nissan is recalling over 26,000 vehicles due to door issues tied to a batch of bad striker welds on 2025 Altima and Sentra sedans, 2025–2026 Frontier pickups, and 2026 Kicks SUVs built in a two-month window. The fix is free and fast. Run your VIN today, schedule the repair if you’re on the list, and make sure every door is firmly shut until it’s done — especially with kids in the back.
FAQs
Which Nissan cars are being recalled?
The recall covers the 2025 Nissan Altima and Sentra sedans, the 2025-2026 Nissan Frontier pickup, and the 2026 Nissan Kicks SUV, all built in an August-September 2025 window. It totals 26,432 vehicles under NHTSA campaign 26V023.
How do I know if my Nissan is part of the recall?
Enter your 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls or on Nissan’s recall lookup page, or call Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 and reference recall PD185 or PMA61. The tool confirms instantly whether your specific vehicle is affected.
What is the NHTSA recall number for this Nissan door recall?
The NHTSA campaign number is 26V023. Nissan tracks the same recall internally as PD185 and PMA61. You may see any of these referenced depending on the source.
Is the Nissan door recall free to fix?
Yes. By federal law, safety-recall repairs are free to owners. A Nissan dealer replaces the affected door striker at no charge, and the repair typically takes under 30 minutes.
What should I do if my Nissan door opens or rattles while driving?
Stop driving the vehicle and contact your dealer or Nissan customer service the same day. Until the striker is replaced, confirm every door is firmly latched before driving and keep rear child locks engaged as a precaution.
When will Nissan send recall notification letters?
Nissan expects to complete owner notification mailings by mid-March. You don’t need to wait for the letter, though – if your VIN shows as affected, any Nissan dealer can schedule the free repair now.
