The safety inspections of the affected cars were done by unqualified personnel and hence did not comply with government regulations, said Nissan, whose alliance with Renault vaulted the company to become the world’s biggest carmaker.

The problem affects around 60,000 vehicles stockpiled at plants and dealers as well as thousands of others that have already been sold, Japanese news agency Kyodo reported.

Among the affected models are the Note, Skyline, and Leaf electric cars, all manufactured in the six plants in the country with unqualified workers.

The Japanese automaker decided to announce the irregularities after they were detected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism during an inspection of its factories.

Nissan, along with the Japanese authorities, is evaluating the need to carry out a recall of its vehicles, which could affect those sold in Japan as well as in other countries.

Last year, Nissan came to the rescue of another Japanese carmaker, Mitsubishi Motors, when it was going through serious financial troubles after admitting it falsified fuel consumption data of several of its mini vehicles.

Mitsubishi is now controlled by Nissan, which has entered into an alliance with France’s Renault, run by French-Brazilian businessman Carlos Ghosn. ■