US auto regulator opens probe into more than 77,000 Nissan SUVs

(Reuters) - U.S. auto safety regulator has opened a preliminary evaluation into 77,131 Nissan vehicles over reports of an issue with the steering tie rod, it said on Wednesday.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the probe would involve Nissan's 2021 Rogue crossover models, adding that it launched the investigation after reports of inner tie rod failures resulting in a loss of steering control.

The evaluation will assess safety-related consequences and the scope, frequency and root cause of the alleged defect, the regulator said.

In June, the regulator opened a separate investigation into around 75,000 Nissan 2015 Rogue Selects in response to reports of unintended deployments of side airbags in some of them.

(Reporting by Utkarsh Shetti in Bengaluru; Editing by Janane Venkatraman)