TITAN, FRONTIER NISSAN TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS
9-Speed Transmission Problems for 2020-21 Titan, Frontier Trucks
CVT-style transmissions are not the only problems creating a headache for Nissan in their vehicle lineup. A recently filed class action lawsuit against the manufacturer alleges their non-CVT transmissions used in recent Frontier and Titan vehicles are similarly problematic. Learn more today.
Frontier, Titan Transmission Problems
Legal issues surrounding Nissan transmission problems expanded even further recently with the filing of a major class action lawsuit against the manufacturer for alleged defects impacting their 9-speed transmission offerings. The lawsuit, specifically targeting the transmissions used in Nissan’s Frontier and Titan truck lineup, represents yet another legal challenge against Nissan involving their product integrity and reliability, particularly in the powertrain arena. As you may know, Nissan has already faced significant legal liabilities for the function, or lack thereof, in their CVT transmission lineup. This lawsuit surrounding the 9-speed transmissions used in Frontier and Titan trucks, though, demonstrates an ever-expanding legal problem and increasing liability for Nissan.
The class action lawsuit, filed in the Middle District of Tennessee, is Boone et. al v. Nissan North America, Inc. (3:22-cv-00191). The lawsuit, which seeks to resolve issues as a class action case brought on behalf of all current and former owners of the proposed Class Vehicle definition, centers around 2020-21 Nissan Titan and Nissan Frontier vehicles.
Among the complaints regarding the 9-speed “GE9R01A” transmission include problems with hesitation, ‘clunk’-like noises during driving, lurching during attempted acceleration and overall erratic shifting patterns. These issues all make for a driving experience Plaintiffs believe is unacceptable and requiring immediate action by Nissan to resolve. What’s more, the complaint reflects a belief that Nissan has had significant notice and knowledge over the years that their 9-speed transmission was defective, yet it chose to sell the vehicles using the GE9401 transmission without making unwary purchasers aware of these known issues.
The litigation involving the Nissan transmission used in the 2020-21 Nissan Titan and 2020-21 Nissan Frontier trucks is a 9-speed unit. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit claim that the complications with operating the transmission also present a safety hazard that make the vehicles unsafe to drive, much less appropriate for sale. As mentioned before, the fact that plaintiffs in this suit allege Nissan had prior knowledge that these transmissions were defective and yet still chose to install them, is troubling as it suggests “corporate board room” decision making that falls far short of the reliable, trustworthy reputation the company has attempted to foster. Given that roughly 100,000 Nissan Frontiers were sold in 2020 and 2021 (combined), and about 50,000 Nissan Titans were sold during that same period, with an unknown amount of those vehicles then being re-sold to new owners, a significant number of owners will be impacted by any class action settlement covering these vehicles. What’s more, these class actions are most often opt out, not opt in, legal matters – meaning that owners are automatically subject to the terms of the class action settlement considered class members unless they opt out by a time-limited deadline of sixty (60) days or less. Because of this, it will be critical for those impacted to closely monitor the matter or contact our firm to explore their legal options now, as we strongly suggest. By timely opting out, owners and former owners are then permitted to pursue all the available legal damages in their own individual claim. We provide this service to our clients at no out of pocket cost as we force the manufacturer, not the client, to pay any legal fees or costs.
So where does this 9-speed transmission lawsuit put Nissan? At present, the issue is being addressed through the early stages of the class litigation. The manufacturer will undoubtedly deny all charges and move for dismissal, typically alleging there is no evidence that these problems persist beyond a limited number of individual customer satisfaction issues. In the big picture, this presents a disturbing claim for a manufacturer concerned about the effectiveness and reliability of its vehicle lineup. The company has already worked aggressively to resolve lawsuits surrounding its CVT transmission lineup; millions of current and former owners of Rogue, Pathfinder, Altima, Sentra, Versa and Versa Note vehicles have found themselves subject to class action settlement terms because they failed to opt out. These class action settlements, which a significant number of owners have found to be completely unhelpful, were limited in assistance for owners beyond an extended limited warranty and selective reimbursement for repairs to the transmission within a narrow window of time. Our hope for owners of 2020-21 Nissan Titan and Frontier vehicles is that any class settlement in this matter will be more beneficial, but history strongly suggests it will be more of the same.
Because our firm has seen how detrimental class action settlements can be to those who either misunderstand, ignore or unwittingly become subject to their terms, Stern Law is proactively assisting owners of 2020-21 Nissan Titan and 2020-21 Nissan Frontier in understanding their legal options, including the process of opting out of any future class settlement impacting their vehicle. Our hope is to ensure that those who contact us better understand their options, any timelines which may impact their legal rights and ultimately, for those who may reject a class settlement, to instead recover all the cash compensation they deserve. For more information about Stern Law’s work in assisting owners of Nissan vehicles with problematic transmissions, please call our firm at (844) 808-7529 or fill out the contact form on our website.