Nissan is recalling 140,500 of the popular Altima sedans to replace air filters that could catch fire according to company officials.
The recall affects 2007 Altimas with four-cylinder, 2.5-liter engines produced between September 2006 and May 2007 at its Smyrna, Tennessee plant and between October 2006 and May 2007 at its Canton, Mississippi plant.
The Altima is Nissan's best-selling car, with more than 114,000 sold from January through May, and the fourth best-selling mid-sized car in the United States.
A spokesperson for the automaker said that flammable objects, such as cigarettes, could enter the filter and catch fire.
"There is little chance this can happen, but we had a couple of cases of this happening, so we don't want to take any risk," she said.
Four engine compartment fires in February and March prompted Nissan to launch an investigation, according the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Nissan is now sending recall letters to consumers. The automaker will install replacement filters made of less flammable material at no charge along with an air deflector to keep debris from entering the air filter.
