While the Nissan Qashqai is most notorious for the “Chassis Control System Fault” error message, this warning can come up on the dash of almost any Nissan model. Especially if it’s equipped with the start-stop feature.
The most common reason for this problem is the issue with the battery – it should be weak and the start-stop system doesn’t operate which triggers the message. Don’t ask me why Nissan just doesn’t say something like “battery low” or “charge battery” – this is the question to Nissan engineers and software developers.
But of course, there are some other things you need to know about this error message and the cause of why it may pop up on the dash in your car.
What are the possible reasons for the “Chassis Control System Fault”?
The Chassis Control is the control module that operates several systems in your car such as Active Trace Control or Active Engine Brake. Actually, this is the computer that gathers some data from sensors and then gives some commands to keep your car safe and under full control.
And I should say that the Chassis Control System Fault message almost never pops up because of the control unit failure or because of other issues with the systems that it curates. No, the reasons are almost always different.
Here are the common issues:
- 12V battery is dying – in this case, you may also see the Start/Stop light and other warning lights illuminating;
- alternator doesn’t charge the battery – this leads to pretty quick battery death and the new or charged battery dies also;
- issues with the Start/Stop system – the Chassis Control error message may mean that the start/stop system can’t work properly;
- electrical problems – the module itself may be disconnected, corroded, water-damaged, etc.
While some electrical issues require professional help, several common reasons may be checked on your own with zero payments towards the dealership or garages. And I will focus on those methods at first, of course.
Also, in some cases, the “Chassis Control System Fault” message may result in the limp mode when your Nissan car is only able to drive at 5 MPH top speed. This is also repairable with no costs – keep reading to find out more.
I’ve also posted the article about the “Key ID Incorrect” message – you may want to have a look.
What can you check on your own?
First of all, I want to list the things that you may check without going to the dealership or an independent garage.
Here are your steps:
1) Check the battery
The 12V battery in your Nissan car doesn’t live its best life. It’s loaded by myriads of different electronic modules even when the engine is on and the alternator is taking over the power supply tasks.
Measure the voltage on the battery terminals when the car is off. It should be about 12.5 volts. If it’s significantly lower, your battery is about to die. At least, it needs some recharging with a proper charger.
Then, keep the multimeter connected to the battery terminals and ask someone to start the car. At the moment of engine cranking, look at the voltage. If it drops under 10 volts, the battery is about to die.
Also, if you see the “Chassis Control System Fault” when the battery is about 4-5 years old, you may be sure that it should be replaced with a new one.
2) Check for other warning lights and messages
It’s not common for the “Chassis Control System Fault” to pop up on its own. Very often, it will be accompanied by the Start-Stop system warning, check engine light, or some other lights and messages on the dash like the Warning System Fault message with some pictogram or something like that.
Understanding and analyzing those messages and lights will give you a proper understanding of what can cause the problem other than the battery.
3) Check the alternator
Connect the multimeter to the alternator’s terminals while the vehicle is off. Then ask someone to start the car and see what happens with the readings.
The terminals should read above 14 volts (usually 14.5 or 14.7 volts) so that the battery can get its charge back. Otherwise, the battery will quickly degrade and die.
If the alternator shows low voltage, the problem may be with the alternator itself or with the voltage regulator which is pretty common for Nissan vehicles.
4) Check for software glitches
While most car owners can’t check for glitches directly via a scanner and computer, they can do that by resetting the system. Disconnect the battery for 5-7 minutes and let the system reset all the parameters. Then connect the battery back and see if the problem disappears.
Here’s how you should do that:
- disconnect the negative terminal first (look for the minus sign on the battery’s body);
- disconnect the positive terminal, make sure the cables won’t touch the terminals unintentionally;
- press the honk or turn on the lights to use all the remaining power;
- wait for 5-7 minutes;
- connect the positive terminals and then the negative one.
After this, the “Chassis Control System Error” should be gone. If the problem was with some glitch in the software, it’s likely that the error will not come back again in the near future. If the issue is with something else like the low battery voltage, it will come back on after several engine start cycles.
What to do when the limp mode is activated?
Unfortunately, sometimes, this message can be accompanied by limp mode. It means that you can only travel at 5 MPH and basically limp home or to the dealership.
You can solve the problem by resetting the computers with the described above method (disconnecting the battery) or using the scanner. Unfortunately, if the limp mode is activated, it won’t just turn off automatically.
If you are near the Nissan dealership, the best solution is to go there and get some quick help. Otherwise, the battery-disconnection method will most likely work for you.
Here are the problems that you will not likely solve on your own and they still can trigger the message:
- emission control problems;
- engine issues;
- engine sensor problems;
- electronic issues;
- wiring problems;
- ECU faults;
- transmission problems.
This is not the entire list of issues that can eventually be the reason for the “Chassis Control System Error” message. Of course, you aren’t likely to locate these issues on your own unless you have professional equipment for diagnostics.
When will you need professional help?
If you tried everything but you still see the annoying “Chassis Control System Fault” message on the dash of your Nissan vehicle, you will need to plan a visit to some trusted garage or to the dealer.
Please note that a modern Nissan car is almost a gadget and it’s sometimes very complicated to diagnose. So, professional OBD equipment and proper software will help much in this process.
I’ve seen the “Chassis Control” message popping up because of numerous reasons. Although in 95% of those cases, it was exactly the battery or alternator problem, sometimes the chain of events leading to this message may be way more complicated.
If you have experience in dealing with this problem, please write in the comments below. This will help other Nissan owners suffer less and find the solution!