What 95 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Leaf Plus (62 Kwh Battery)

WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE GOES FROM A SOFT BRAKING TO A JOLTING STOP AT SPEEDS BELOW 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE JERKS SEVERLY WHEN BRAKING AND I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM ON WET ROADS AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT BEING REAR-ENDED AS IT STOPS SUDDENLY. I EXPERIENCE THIS EVERYDAY THAT I DRIVE IT. NOW, THE BRAKES HAVE ALSO BEEN RELEASING WHEN I'M TRYING TO STOP AT HIGHER SPEEDS, GIVING THE FEELING THAT I MAY NOT GET STOPPED IN TIME. AND THIS IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. THE CAR ESPECIALLY JOLTS WHEN CREEPING FORWARD AT A LIGHT OR INTO A PARKING SPOT. THE RELEASING, WHERE I FELT LIKE I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY ALSO HAPPENED IN THE SAME SITUATIONS. THE CAR WILL ALSO OCCASIONALLY CREEP FORWARD WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL DEPRESSED.

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PASSENGER AIRBAG TURNED OFF. CANNOT TURN BACK ON. NOW HAVE FLASHING RED WARNING LIGHT. SEEMS RIDICULOUS TO HAVE THIS SAFETY FAILURE FAIL ON A CAR BOUGHT IN AUGUST 2011. NISSAN DEALER (ELK GROVE, CA) SAYS THEY'VE NEVER HEARD OF THIS. I DON'T BELIEVE THEM.

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VEHICLES ELECTRIC WINDOWS MALFUNCTION. WINDOW WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, BUT THE OTHERS WILL. MANY LEAF OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.

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BRAKES DID NOT WORK AFTER ENGAGING DRIVE FROM STATIONARY POSITION. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, NORMAL BRAKE ACTIVITY RESUMED. BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO DEPLETED 12 V BATTERY.

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THE BRAKES GO FROM A SOFT BRAKING TO A JOLTING STOP AT SPEEDS BELOW 20 MPH. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR, AND THEIR HEADS ARE BEING JOLTED AROUND WHEN THE CAR BRAKES THIS WAY. I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM ON SLICK ROADS AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT BEING REAR-ENDED WHEN IT STOPS SO SUDDENLY. IT DOES THIS EVERYDAY THAT I DRIVE IT, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. LATELY, THE BRAKES HAVE ALSO BEEN RELEASING WHEN I'M TRYING TO STOP, GIVING THE FEELING THAT I MAY NOT GET STOPPED IN TIME. I WOULD SAY IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR CANNOT SMOOTHLY TRANSITION BETWEEN REGULAR AND REGAIN BRAKES. I HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, AND THEY PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. THE CAR ESPECIALLY JOLTS WHEN CREEPING FORWARD AT A LIGHT OR INTO A PARKING SPOT. THE RELEASING, WHERE I FELT LIKE I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY ALSO HAPPENED IN THE SAME SITUATIONS. THE CAR WILL ALSO OCCASIONALLY CREEP FORWARD WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL DEPRESSED.

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PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG ON/OFF SWITCH SENSOR NEEDS REPLACEMENT ACCORDING TO NISSAN DEALER. PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT IS FLASHING EVEN WITH 125 POUND PASSENGER IN SEAT. NISSAN COULDN'T TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS REALLY ON OR OFF. QUOTED $2400 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SWITCH AND SEAT ASSEMBLY BECAUSE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY ACCORDING TO NISSAN. THIS APPEARS TO BE EXACTLY THE PROBLEM COVERED BY 2013 LEAF RECALL FOR HARDWARE MANUFACTURING PROBLEM IN SAME SENSOR.

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THIS IS NOT RELATED TO ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE, BUT IT IS RELATED TO CONSUMER SAFETY AND PROTECTION. NISSAN SETTLED A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AND AMENDED THEIR BATTERY REPLACEMENT/REPAIR WARRANTY SHORTLY AFTER THEY INTRODUCED THE LEAF TO THE US. VERY SOON AFTER THIS AMENDED WARRANTY WENT INTO EFFECT NISSAN SENT A LETTER TO ALL LEAF OWNERS AND ASKED US TO BRING OUR CAR IN FOR A "SOFTWARE UPGRADE" THAT WOULD GIVE US A BETTER RANGE DISPLAY. I SUSPECT THAT THIS "UPGRADE" ACTUALLY KEEPS THE CAPACITY (RANGE) DISPLAY ABOVE THE THRESHOLD THAT WOULD OTHERWISE OBLIGATE NISSAN TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE BATTERY. IS YOUR AGENCY THE APPROPRIATE ON TO BRING THIS SUSPICION/COMPLAINT TO AND REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION OR SHOULD I CONTACT SOMEONE ELSE. I DO NOT HAVE EVIDENCE, BUT IT IS MORE THAN A HUNCH. BEFORE THIS ALLEGED ""FIX" MY CAR HAD LOST 2 BARS OF DISPLAY, AFTER, ONLY 1, YET IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND RECHARGED MUCH MORE EXTENSIVELY THAN BEFORE THE "FIX". ALSO, NISSAN HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO SHARE DATA ON THE LEAF OR ITS BATTERY, AND INSISTS THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY COMPANY WHO CAN DIAGNOSE THE BATTERY, AND THEREFORE, THE ONLY COMPANY WHO CAN DECIDE IF THE WARRANTY SHOULD BE HONORED IN ANY CASE. THIS IS TROUBLING. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF ANY RESOURCES COULD BE DEVOTED TO LOOKING INTO THIS SOFTWARE "FIX" - THOUGH I UNDERSTAND BUDGET AND PERSONNEL CONSTRAINTS MAY INHIBIT THIS WITHOUT EVIDENCE BEYOND MY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE AND MY GUT FEELING. STILL, IT BEARS CONTACTING YOU TO ASK, AS WE HAVE SEEN HOW OTHER MAJOR AUTO MAKERS ARE WILLING TO BEND RULES AND LAWS IN ORDER TO PAD THE BOTTOM LINE. THANK YOU!! *TR

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2011 NISSAN LEAF, HAVE TAKEN IT MULTIPLE DEALERS AND DONE THE UPDATE(S) REQUIRED BY NISSAN, WHICH ACTUALLY MADE MATTERS WORSE, REGEN IS NOT WORKING LIKE HAD PRIOR TO THE P3227 UPDATE. THE BIGGEST ISSUE WITH THE NISSAN LEAF IS THE BATTERY CAPACITY AND ADVERTISED CLAIMS. CURRENTLY CHARGING 100% AND GETTING LESS THAN 60 MILES RANGE. THE WARRANTY APPARENTLY AFTER TWO CLASS ACTIONS IS 5 YEARS 60,000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. ALL ANYONE AT NISSAN OR THE DEALERS CAN SAY IS TO WAIT UNTIL WE DROP THE 9TH BAR. BUT FROM WHAT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TOLD ME, I NEEDED TO DROP BELOW 70% , WHICH ACCORDING TO MY CALCULATIONS I HAVE. BUT NISSAN DOES NISSAN MATH, EACH BAR IS WEIGHTED AND THE SOFTWARE UPDATE MADE ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE MYSTERIOUS TO MOST. NISSAN MISREPRESENTED THE LEAF AND WITH THE POOR BATTERY CHEMISTRY FAILED TO DELIVER AS PROMISED, AND NOW THESE CARS ARE PRACTICALLY BEING GIVEN AWAY. NISSAN DOES NOT COOL THE BATTERIES PROPERLY AND THERE COULD BE A DANGER THAT THEY ARE NOT DISCLOSING. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED FURTHER BY NHTSA/DOT

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MY CAR REQUIRES ME TO WAIT AFTER PUSHING THE START BUTTON BEFORE I CAN SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. IF I DO NOT WAIT, THEN THE CAR SKIPS D OR R AND SHIFTS INTO THE NEUTRAL EVEN WHEN I SELECT THE GEAR SHIFTER TO R OR D. I HAVE EXPLAINED THIS SITUATION TO MY LOCAL AUSTIN NISSAN DEALER ON 5/28/15. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN I START MY CAR ON AN INCLINE OR HILL AND ATTEMPT TO SHIFT TO D OR R. IF I DO NOT WAIT, THEN THE CAR ROLLS DOWNHILL IN NEUTRAL, REGARDLESS IF I SHIFT TO D OR R. THE CAR IS THEN ABLE TO LURCH FOR SEVERAL FEET DOWN AND FREE ROLL DOWNHILL BEFORE I REAPPLY MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. I COULD EASILY HIT ANOTHER CAR OR PEDESTRIAN. IT SEEMS UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO REMEMBER TO WAIT FOR > 0.5 SECOND (ESTIMATE) BEFORE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THE ELECTRONICS SHIFTER SHOULD DEFAULT TO REMAIN IN PARK IF IT IS NOT READY TO GO INTO D OR R. GOING INTO N SEEMS LIKE A POOR ELECTRONIC DEFAULT POSITION WHEN SHIFTING FROM P TO D OR R AT THE START OF CAR. I FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS ONLINE WHEN I SEARCHED "NISSAN LEAF SHIFT TO NEUTRAL". THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

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I PURCHASED MY 2011 NISSAN LEAF IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012 FROM STADIUM NISSAN IN ORANGE, CALIFORNIA. I QUICKLY LEARNED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT BUILT FOR MY 69 MILE COMMUTE(4.9 MILES PER KWH), BUT WAS ABLE TO ADAPT AND MAKE IT WORK UNTIL A JOB CHANGE IN OCTOBER OF 2013. MY 10 YEAR OLD SON AND I WERE REAR ENDED SHORTLY AFTER OUR MOVE TO TURLOCK, CALIFORNIA. MY NISSAN LEAF HELD UP VERY WELL TO BEING REAR ENDED AT 45MPH BY A FULL SIZED CHEVY SILVERADO; AS I DROVE IT AWAY AND THE CHEVY WAS TOTALED. MY SON AND I BOTH RECEIVED CONCUSSIONS FROM THE ACCIDENT, AND UNFORTUNATELY HE IS STILL FACED WITH MEMORY LOSS. MY LEAF WAS TAKEN TO ALFRED MATTHEWS COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS, AND SENT TO CENTRAL VALLEY NISSAN TO HAVE THE BATTERIES REMOVED AND REINSTALLED BEFORE AND AFTER THE BODY REPAIRS. THE REPAIRS TOOK MORE THAN 2 MONTHS TO COMPLETE, AND MY LEAF HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME. MY LEAF WILL NO LONGER GET THE 69PLUS FREEWAY MILES THAT I DROVE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND WILL NOW ONLY GET 40-50 CITY MILES PER CHARGE (3.8 MILES PER KWH). I HAVE TAKEN MY LEAF BACK TO CENTRAL VALLEY NISSAN AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 8 MONTHS, AND EVEN HAD ONE OF THE TWO NISSAN LEAF MECHANICS EVALUATE THE ISSUES. AAA WAS WILLING AND READY TO TOTAL MY LEAF BASED ON THIS DRASTIC PERFORMANCE ISSUE, BUT THEY WERE TOLD BY CENTRAL VALLEY NISSAN AND THE LEAF MECHANIC THAT MY LEAF IS PERFORMING WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS FOR A 2011 LEAF WITH 35,000 MILES. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE BASED ON YOUR EPA ESTIMATES OF 106 CITY / 92 HIGHWAY (I AM CURIOUS IF OTHER LEAF OWNERS KNOW THAT WHEN THEIR VEHICLE IS 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS 35,000 MILES; THEY WILL ONLY GET 40 MILES PER CHARGE). *TR

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AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION, LOOKING BOTH WAYS AND NOT SEEING ANYBODY, I STARTED GOING THROUGH AND CROSSING THE STREET, THEN I SUDDENLY COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH A PEDESTRIAN ONLY INCHES FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR! I ALMOST HIT SOMEONE, AND THE EXPERIENCE LEFT ME QUITE RATTLED. THE PROBLEM IS THE PILLAR AT THE FRONT LEFT CORNER IS AT THE WORST POSSIBLE POSITION AS IT COMPLETELY BLOCKS THE VIEW OF THE FAR STREET CORNER, SO I DID NOT SEE THE PEDESTRIAN WHO STARTED CROSSING THE STREET. ALSO, THE PILLAR AT THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE COMPLETELY BLOCKS THE VIEW OF THE NEAR STREET CORNER. I HAVE SINCE TRAINED MYSELF TO CONSCIOUSLY PERFORM A CRAZY-LOOKING MANEUVER TO MOVE MY BODY TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT AND BACK, AT EVERY INTERSECTION, TO PEEK AROUND THE OBSTACLE. I DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. THIS CAR HAS EXCEPTIONALLY TERRIBLE VISIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE PILLAR, AND IT IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS. THIS NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE IT RESULTS IN A PEDESTRIAN FATALITY. IT ALMOST DID. *TR

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WHILE IN A LINEUP OF CARS AT A STOP SIGN INTERSECTION, I HAD TO START AND STOP REPEATEDLY, AS EACH CAR MOVED FORWARD. VERY SOON, THE BRAKES DEVELOPED A JERKY RESPONSE, GRABBING AND RELEASING. SO THE CAR WAS LURCHING FORWARD AND JERKING TO A STOP. IT WAS QUITE EMBARRASSING, AND THE CAR BEHIND ME NEARLY REAR-ENDED ME. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. THE BRAKES ARE NOT CONSISTENT - SOMETIMES THEY GRAB COMPLETELY AND A COUPLE OF TIMES I HAVE COMPLETELY LOST BRAKING POWER FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THE ISSUE STILL EXISTS, AND I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER LEAF DRIVERS WHO HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND ONE OF THESE DAYS SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED BECAUSE OF NISSAN'S NEGLIGENCE, UNLESS NHTSA FORCES SOME ACTION ON IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO VERY THOROUGHLY AND FIXED. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,060.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY WOULD DRAIN RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE MILEAGE SPECIFIED FOR THE BATTERY TO BE RECHARGED WAS INACCURATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

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VEHICLE'S MAIN TRACTION BATTERY LOST 15% OF ITS USABLE CAPACITY AFTER ONLY 1 YEAR AND 3631 MILES OF VEHICLE USE. THIS RAPID LOSS IN BATTERY CAPACITY IS CONTRARY TO NISSAN'S ADVERTISED SERVICE LIFE OF 70%TO 80% CAPACITY AFTER 100,000 MILES. DEFECTIVE BATTERY COULD POTENTIALLY FAIL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND OR BRAKES. *TR

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BRAKES ON THE NISSAN LEAF WERE PULSING ON AND THE WOULD TURN OFF AND A FEW SECONDS LATER WOULD TURN BACK ON. CYCLE WOULD REPEAT EVERY 3 SECONDS TILL THE CAR CAME TO COMPLETE STOP. LOCAL DEALER INVESTIGATED AND INFORMED ME THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED. CAN'T BELIEVE THE BRAKES WOULD SHUT DOWN IF ROTORS WERE WARPED. COULD HAVE LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

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VEHICLE HAS DIGITAL DISPLAY THAT INDICATES HOW MANY MILES OF TRAVEL REMAIN IN THE BATTERY. METER READS AT LEAST TWICE AS HIGH AS MILES ACTUALLY DELIVERED. COULD CAUSE UNAWARE DRIVE TO RUN OUT OF CHARGE AND STOP IN TRAFFIC LANES THUS POTENTIALLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OF BODILY HARM TO OCCUPANTS OF VEHICLE. *TR

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THE NISSAN LEAF REPRESENTATIVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH A LEAF MECHANIC HERE IN MIDLAND. I ARRIVED AT MY APPOINTMENT AND ASK THE MECHANIC IF HE WAS THE LEAF MECHANIC THAT I HAD THE APPOINTMENT WITH. HE ANSWERED YES. I TOOK HIM FOR A TEST DRIVE WHERE HE EXPERIENCED THE FRONT END PROBLEM. WHEN WE GOT BACK, THE SHOP MANAGER WANTED TO SEE THE PROBLEM FOR HIMSELF. THEN I TALKED TO THE GENERAL MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT NEITHER WAS A CERTIFIED LEAF MECHANIC. WHEN I CALLED THE LEAF REPRESENTATIVE HE AGAIN TALKED TO ME. AFTER SEVERAL MORE CALLS TO HIM HE SAID THAT THE MECHANIC AND MANAGER SAID THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING ERRATIC EVEN WHEN I TOOK IT OUT ON THE LOOP AND THE HIGHWAY. THAT WAS A PURE LIE BY SOMEONE. I DID NEITHER. I ONLY DROVE IT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE TEST DRIVE. THEN THE LEAF REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO DRIVE TO ODESSA TO HAVE A LEAF MECHANIC TO CHECK IT OUT. THAT IS WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY TOLD ME ABOUT GOING TO MIDLAND FOR MY APPOINTMENT. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT MY CAR WILL NO LONGER MADE IT TO ODESSA AND BACK ON A CHARGE. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE OVER THERE AND RENT A CAR TO GET BACK TO MIDLAND AND THEN I COULD DRIVE BACK TO ODESSA THE NEXT DAY. I SUGGESTED THAT THEY SEND THE LEAF MECHANIC OVER TO MIDLAND TO CHECK MY CAR. THEY WOULD NOT DO IT. IT IS OK FOR THEM TO HAVE ME SPEND TWO DAYS OF MY TIME BUT IT IS NOT OK FOR THEM TO SPEND A HALF DAY. NOW THEY SAY THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING ELSE UNLESS I DO IT THEIR WAY. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY EVER FIXED THE STEERING PROBLEMS BUT I KNOW THAT I HAVE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE STEERING. I NOW HAVE TO DRIVE EXTREMELY CAREFUL. I DO NOT KNOW IF I COULD AVOID AN ACCIDENT IF I HAVE TO SWERVE FAST TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. NOW THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE 2011 AND 2012 MODELS. *TR

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TWO MONTHS AGO I WAS BRAKING MODERATELY WHEN THE CAR SHUTTERED, THERE WAS A BUMP AND THE CAR BEGAN COASTING. I SAW THAT IT HAD POPPED INTO N (NEUTRAL) EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T TOUCH THE GEAR SHIFT. I TRIED TO PUT IT BACK INTO D (DRIVE) BUT IT WOULDN'T RESPOND. I PUSHED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO SHUT IT DOWN. FINALLY, IT RESPONDED, THEN RESTARTED AND DROVE NORMALLY. AFTER THAT, THERE WOULD BE INTERMITTENT SHUTTERING AND BUMPING WHILE BRAKING. THE RECHARGING LIGHTS WILL PULSE AND I CAN FEEL THE REGENERATIVE FEATURE GRAB AND THEN RELEASE. ONE MORNING RECENTLY, ALONG WITH THESE SYMPTOMS THE RANGE PLUMMETED QUICKLY, BY ABOUT 1 MILE PER SECOND. AFTER DRIVING ONLY 20 MILES I HAD 17 MILES OF INDICATED RANGE. THEN, YESTERDAY, THE FIRST PROBLEM REAPPEARED: THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND BRIEFLY WOULDN'T RESPOND. THE CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALER. *TR

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BATTERY CAPACITY HAS DROPPED 1 BAR. NISSAN CASE NUMBER [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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THE INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN OFF WITHOUT THE KEY PRESENT (IT WAS IN THE POCKET OF A PERSON STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR). THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS THEN WENT ON A 15 MILE TRIP, WHEREIN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED (SAFELY). AFTER AWHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RE-ENTERED, BUT THE DRIVER COULD NOT START THE CAR BECAUSE THE KEY WAS NOT PRESENT. 2 YOUNG CHILDREN WERE LEFT WAITING IN THE HOT SUN, BUT WERE NOT INJURED. EVENTUALLY ANOTHER PERSON RETRIEVED THE KEYS AND BROUGHT THEM TO THE DISABLED CAR AND DRIVER USING A SECOND VEHICLE. IT WAS VERY INCONVENIENT AND STRESSFUL FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. NOTE: LATER ON, AFTER TESTING THE VEHICLE IN A CONTROLLED SITUATION, THE WARNING SYSTEM DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE KEY WAS NOT PRESENT AS THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES IT SHOULD. *TR

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MY NISSAN LEAF HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY SORT, AND HAS NEVER EVEN BEEN DRIVEN OVER A CURB. IT IS LESS THAN 18 MONTHS, AND LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. FRONT THE DAY I GOT IT, I FELT THAT AT TIMES WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES ON IT, THAT THEY WOULD SLIP, OR NOT GRAB FOR A 1/2 SECOND, BUT THOUGHT THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN ME. THE CAR FAILED COMPLETELY 10 DAYS AGO, AND WILL NOT START, TELLING ME THAT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BRAKE! (A CONDITION FOR STARTING). COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT IT CANNOT SEE THE BRAKES BEING HEAVILY DEPRESSED (FOR STARTING) AND ITS COMPUTER CONTROLLED BRAKES SLIPPING FOR 1/2 SECOND, IT MAKES ME THINK THAT THE COMPUTER HAS SOME REASON FOR NOT SEEING THE BRAKES WORKING. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AND NISSAN USA HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND AFTER 10 DAYS NISSAN USA HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY CLOSER TO A RESOLUTION. IS THIS A COMPUTER/BRAKING DEFECT? IS IT COMMON? IT CERTAINLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THOSE RIDING IN A CAR, AS BRAKE FAILURE IS CERTAINLY AS IMPORTANT AS AN ACCELERATOR STICKING. HAS A RECALL BEEN ORDERED FOR THIS, AND HOW MANY CARS ARE INVOLVED IN IT? *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL AND BATTERY SYSTEM FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DISCHARGED NUMEROUS TIMES AT LOW SPEED OF 35 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT WAS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO THE ELECTRICAL SPECIFICATIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 6,130 WAS AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,900.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BATTERY AND RAPID RANGE CAPACITY BARS DISAPPEARED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO DECIPHER HOW MUCH FURTHER THE VEHICLE COULD ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO DIAGNOSE, REPAIR OR ADMIT THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE DUE TO COMPANY POLICY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,232 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,025.

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THE NISSAN LEAF WE PURCHASED FROM ABC NISSAN (PHOENIX, AZ) IN MARCH, 2011 BEGAN EXPERIENCING A RAPID DECREASE IN RANGE BEGINNING IN MARCH, 2012. FOR 5 MONTHS, DURING MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS, VISITS TO DEALERS, AND AMONG 2 WEEKS OF TESTING AT THE PROVING GROUNDS, WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT THE 30% REDUCTION IN DRIVING RANGE WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IS NORMAL, GRADUAL CAPACITY LOSS AND IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. WE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE LEAF BATTERY CAUSING IT TO RAPIDLY DEGRADE FASTER IN WARMER CLIMATES, ALTHOUGH OWNERS IN CALIFORNIA ARE STARTING TO SEE RANGE LOSS AS WELL. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN TEST REPORTS BY OUR DEALERSHIP THAT OUR TREATMENT OF THE CAR ?IS VERY GOOD FOR YOUR BATTERY.? THE USABILITY AND VALUE OF THE CAR HAS BEEN IRREVOCABLY DIMINISHED DUE TO THIS NONCONFORMIST, DESPITE THE CARE GIVEN TO THE BATTERY AS CONFIRMED BY THE EV BATTERY USAGE REPORTS. OWNERS APPEAR TO HAVE NO RECOURSE AT THIS TIME. ONE OWNER TRIED TO TRADE-IN HIS LEAF TO 11 LOCAL CAR DEALERS, AND 10 REFUSED TO MAKE ANY TRADE-IN OFFER FOR A MINT-CONDITION CAR, NO CAPACITY LOSS, NO FLAWS, LESS THAN 10,000 MILES. WE ARE STUCK WITH A $35,000 CAR THAT WE CAN NO LONGER USE ON A DAILY BASIS. OWNERS HAVE BEGUN TO COLLECT SELF-REPORTED COMPLAINTS ONLINE(1), AND RANGE-LOSS IS EXPERIENCED BY AT LEAST 46 CARS IN ARIZONA (OUT OF 400 TOTAL SOLD), 18 CARS IN TEXAS, AND 12 CARS IN CALIFORNIA. *TR

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