What 57 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Leaf Plus (75 Kwh Battery) Bev

I HAVE OBSERVED THE TRANSIENT GRABBY BRAKE SYNDROME IN MY LEAF DURING COLD WEATHER MONTHS IN THE PAST COUPLE YEARS. I COMPLAINED TO MY NISSAN DEALERSHIPS SERVICE DEPARTMENT A COUPLE TIMES ABOUT IT, BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPLICATED AT THE TIME. I ALSO NOTICED ON THE ENERGY SCREEN THAT THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING WAS CYCLING BETWEEN 10 AND 20 % COINCIDENT WITH THESE BRAKE INTENSITY PULSATIONS. IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM LIGHTLY BRAKING WITH VERY STEADY LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I SUSPECT A POSSIBLE CAUSE TO BE THE SENSOR THAT DETERMINES BRAKE PEDAL POSITION FOR THE REGEN BRAKING MAY BE DEFECTIVE OR NON-LINEAR AT SOME PORTION OF THE TRAVEL, OR THE REGEN BRAKING PROGRAM MAY HAVE A PROBLEM, OR THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM HAS A FAULTY COMPONENT AND THE REGEN SYSTEM IS JUST RESPONDING TO THE CYCLING BETWEEN HARD AND LIGHT BRAKING. IN ANY EVENT THIS PROBLEM MAY BE FEEDING OTHER BRAKING PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE READ ABOUT HERE, SO SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BY NISSAN TO FIND A FIX SO AS TO PREVENT INJURIES OR FATALITIES.

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NHTSA MUST PASS REGULATIONS REQUIRING VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO DRASTICALLY IMPROVE A-PILLAR OBSCURATION ANGLE! THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT OF MANY MODERN VEHICLES THAT MUST HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN MANY ACCIDENTS, THE EXTENT TO WHICH IS PROBABLY UNQUANTIFIED & LARGELY UNKNOWN DUE TO THE FACT THAT MOST PEOPLE DO NOT EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY REMEDY IS FOR THE DRIVER TO MOVE HIS HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE STARTS FROM A STOPPED POSITION TO ASCERTAIN THAT THERE ARE NO PEOPLE OR VEHICLES HIDING IN OR TRANSITING THE A-PILAR BLOCKAGE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM IN THE INDUSTRY, AS PROVEN BY THE PAPER PUBLISHED BY PIPKORN BENGT OF AUTOLIV RESEARCH (SWEDEN) ENTITLED SAFETY & VISION IMPROVEMENTS BY EXPANDABLE A-PILLARS (UNDATED), WHICH IS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE/WEBSITE, WHERE A 25% IMPROVEMENT IN A-PILLAR OBSCURATION ANGLE IS DEMONSTRATED BY THE USE OF EXPERIMENTAL EXPANDABLE A-PILLARS. THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ALREADY INJURED OR KILLED BY THIS COMMON MODERN CAR DEFECT WILL PROBABLY NEVER BE KNOWN, WITH THE UNFORTUNATE DRIVERS BEING DISBELIEVED WHEN THEY SAY THEY NEVER SAW ANYONE/THING DUE TO THE OBSCURE NATURE & KNOWLEDGE OF THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. IN MY LAST EXPERIENCE WITH IT, THE WORST CASE SCENARIO OCCURRED (EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT INJURY/DEATH WAS AVOIDED). I WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 10MPH IN A PARKING LOT & AN OLDER WOMAN WAS WALKING AT ABOUT 1MPH TOWARD MY CAR FROM THE LEFT AT JUST THE RIGHT DISTANCE/SPEED. MY WIFE IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, HAVING A BETTER LEFT VIEW, STARTED YELLING AT ME 'STOP - ARE YOU GOING TO RUN OVER THAT LADY'. I SAID 'WHAT LADY?' REALIZING IN A COUPLE SECONDS THAT IT SHE MUST BE BEHIND MY WINDOW PILLAR, I MOVED MY HEAD ABOUT 6 INCHES TO THE RIGHT, & THERE SHE WAS! SHE JUST APPEARED OUT OF THIN AIR! I NEVER SAW EVEN A TINY BIT OF HER BEFORE. SHE WAS LOOKING AT ME WITH DISBELIEF ON HER FACE. WHAT IF IT WERE A CHILD?

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THE BRAKES ON THIS CAR OFTEN BECOME GRABBY, ESPECIALLY IN EITHER COLD OR WET WEATHER. IT IS OFTEN DIFFICULT TO MODULATE THE BRAKES SMOOTHLY AND THE AMOUNT OF BRAKING ACTION IS NOT LINEAR WITH PEDAL PRESSURE. THIS WILL CHANGE DURING A SINGLE TRIP WHERE THE BRAKES WILL START OUT GRABBY BUT THEN GET BETTER. SOMETIMES THE BRAKES ARE NORMAL AT THE START OF A TRIP AND THEN GET GRABBY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRIP. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED A MODULATION IN BRAKING WHEN HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH STEADY PRESSURE AS I'M SLOWING FOR TRAFFIC. THIS MODULATION IS ABOUT ONE CYCLE PER SECOND AND FEELS LIKE I AM PUMPING THE BRAKES BUT I'M NOT. THE WORST PART OF THIS IS IT OFTEN HAPPENS DURING A COLD MORNING WITH SNOW AND ICE ON THE ROAD, SO THE BRAKES JAM ON WITH VERY LITTLE PEDAL PRESSURE CAUSING THE CAR TO SKID UNEXPECTEDLY. I CAN SOMETIMES GET THE BRAKES WORKING PROPERLY BE PRESSING HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AT A STOP, WHICH SEEMS TO FREE WHATEVER IS STICKING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM (THE PROPORTIONING VALVE PERHAPS?). I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. I HAVE EVEN DONE THIS DURING A SNOWSTORM WHEN IT WAS PARTICULARLY BAD, AND AGAIN, THE DEALER SAYS THE BRAKES ARE FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW AND REALLY HASN'T CHANGED OVER THE 50,000 MILES I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR. NISSAN NEEDS TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND GET IT FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT IN A CRASH CAUSED BY GRABBY BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI 10850347

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY OPENED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE LATCH WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000. UPDATED 04/22/16*LJ

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THE CAR CONTINUES TO BRAKE EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NO LONGER PRESSED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE ABS KICKS IN. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AFTER SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I DID NOT WANT TO COMPLETELY STOP AS I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO APPLY FULL BRAKES EVEN WHEN I NO LONGER WANTED TO STOP AND NO LONGER PRESSED THE BRAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES TOTAL, ALWAYS WHEN I HAD TO BRAKE VERY HARD TO AVOID A COLLISION. VERY LUCKY I HAVE NOT BEEN REAR ENDED AFTER ANY OF THESE INCIDENTS, ONE PERSON DROVE OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID ME AFTER THE CAR DECIDED TO STOP FULLY.

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IN MAY 2015 WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO DEALER SERVICE CENTER COMPLAINING OF PERIODIC SENSITIVE AND PERIODIC NON-RESPONSIVE BRAKES AT LOW SPEED. DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THE ISSUE. NO REPAIRS OFFERED. ON AUGUST 05 2015, BRAKES COMPLETELY FAILED WHILE MOVING UNDER 15 MPH AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. VEHICLE WENT INTO THE INTERSECTION BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER SERVICE CENTER. THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. NO REPAIRS OFFERED.

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SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT IN MANY MODERN CARS - HUGE WINDOW PILLAR BLOCKAGE!!! I AM A RETIRED ENGINEER AFTER ALMOST 34 YEARS OF FEDERAL SERVICE FOR THE US ARMY MOSTLY AT FORT MONMOUTH NJ. ABOUT A YEAR AGO I ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN WHO WAS WALKING VERY CLOSE TO THE FRONT LEFT OF MY CAR AT NIGHT. YESTERDAY I LOOKED LEFT BUT DID NOT SEE A LARGE BLACK SUV TRANSITING FROM MY RIGHT IN BROAD DAYLIGHT. I LOOKED LEFT AND THEN STARTED TO SLOWLY TURN LEFT AS I LOOKED RIGHT AGAIN AND WOW...IT PASSED RIGHT IN FRONT! TO MY PERSPECTIVE, IT LITERALLY CAME OUT OF NOWHERE!!! BOTH OF THESE INCIDENTS WERE DUE TO ME LOOKING QUICKLY, NOT DWELLING FOR A COUPLE SECONDS. A VEHICLE OR PERSON MUST BE IN JUST THE RIGHT SPOT AND TRAVELING SLOWLY, SO IT HAPPENS ONLY ABOUT ONCE A YEAR. I MEASURED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD PILLAR SUPPORT WIDTH OF ABOUT 30 CARS IN A PARKING LOT. MOST OLD CARS AND SOME MODERN ONES HAVE SMALL WINDOW PILLAR BLOCKAGE OF 4 TO 5 INCHES. HOWEVER MANY MODERN CARS HAVE WINDOW PILLAR BLOCKAGES OF 5 TO 6 INCHES, HIDING MUCH VIEW! THE NISSAN LEAF HAS THE WORST ABOUT 5.5 INCHES UP HIGH, BUT A PHENOMENAL 8 INCHES AT SIDE MIRROR LEVEL. UNFORTUNATELY THIS IS THE HEIGHT OF MY EYES IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT! IT BLOCKS THE WIDTH OF A WHOLE CAR WHEN THE CAR IS ONLY A CAR LANE AWAY AND AT JUST THE RIGHT ANGLE! SINCE THE SUV WAS BLACK, MY EYES WERE TRANSITING LEFT TO RIGHT AND BACK IN ABOUT A SECOND AND THE SUV WAS GOING VERY SLOW TO TURN LEFT IN FRONT OF ME, I SAW NOTHING. FORTUNATELY I WAS JUST STARTING TO SLOWLY PULL OUT WHEN I LOOKED RIGHT AGAIN AS IT MAGICALLY APPEARED RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, SO I STOPPED ABRUPTLY AND AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT! NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE REGULATIONS THAT REQUIRE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO RETURN TO THE SMALL WINDOW PILLAR SUPPORT WIDTHS OF THE PAST DECADES. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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I WAS COMING TO A STOP SIGN THERE WAS A LITTLE SAND ON THE ROAD AND THE CAR STARTED TO SKID IN THE FRONT WHEELS. I LET GO OF THE BRAKE BUT THE WHEELS DID NOT STOP BRAKING. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU TRY AND STOP HARD EVEN ON CLEAN DRY PAVEMENT. THE FRONT WHEELS LOCK UP AND DON'T UNLOCK EVEN WITH YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKES. THIS WILL CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ONE DAY WHEN SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING ME. I HAVE ALSO HAD 4 INSTANCES ONE WHICH LEFT ME STRANDED WHERE I CAN FEEL A DRAG ON THE CAR AND THE BATTERY DRAINS TWICE AS FAST. I HAVE TRIED TO TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IT DID NOT HELP. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT HAD TO FULLY CHARGE BEFORE BEING RESET. THEN THEY RELUCTANTLY SCANNED THE CAR BUT FOUND "NOTHING WRONG" THE RANGE PERDITION ON THE DASH BOARD IS ALWAYS WAY OFF. I HAVE TO ADD AT LEAST 10-15 MILES ON TOP OF WHATEVER DISTANCE I WANT TO GO. AND I DRIVE VERY CONSERVATIVELY. IN THE WINTER AT 0 TO -5 DEG F I GET 35 MILES RANGE!! NOT THE 80-100 CLAIMED. *TR

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NEW CAR HEADRESTS ARE ANGLED TOO FAR FORWARD. I DO NOT WANT TO SLOUCH, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SIT WITH MY SEAT UPRIGHT. THIS FORCES MY HEAD INTO A VERY UNNATURAL POSITION, CAUSING ME PAIN. EVEN WITH THE SEAT TILTED BACK, THE HEADREST STILL FORCES MY HEAD FORWARD, AND CREATES A DIFFICULT DRIVING POSITION WITH MY SHOULDERS SLUMPED FORWARD AND MY HEAD TILTED. THIS CAUSES HEADACHES & DISTRACTION. THIS DISCOMFORT IS ALSO TRUE OF THE 2013 FORD FOCUS, THE 2010 TOYOTA PRIUS, AND THE 2013 SUBARU OUTBACK THAT I HAVE RECENTLY DRIVEN. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN EFFORT TO REDUCE WHIPLASH INJURIES, BUT IT IS CAUSING FLEXION/OVERUSE INJURIES IN OWNER'S NECKS!

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MY 2012 NISSAN LEAF HAS A BATTERY CHARGE INDICATOR ON THE DASH THAT DOES NOT TRULY REFLECT HOW MUCH ACTUAL DRIVING RANGE MILEAGE IS LEFT. IN FACT, IT IS SO FAULTY THAT IT IS REFERRED TO ONLINE AS THE GOM OR GUESS-O-METER. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS I HAVE NO ACCURATE WAY OF KNOWING IF I WILL BE LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON AN EXPRESSWAY, A BUSY HIGHWAY, A BACK ROAD DETOUR, OR SIMPLY MILES AWAY FROM ANY CHARGING STATION. THE FIRST TIME I REALIZED HOW SERIOUS THIS PROBLEM WAS I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO COME AND GET ME. I LEFT MY HOME WITH 39 MILES OF CHARGE ON THE RANGE INDICATOR. IT WAS A COOL DAY SO THE CLIMATE CONTROL WAS OFF. I DROVE SEVEN MILES AND MY CAR RAN OUT OF CHARGE LEAVING ME ALONE AND FRIGHTENED IN AN UNFAMILIAR AREA. I AM A 70 YEAR OLD WIDOW. AFTER RECEIVING A TOW HOME, I CHARGED THE CAR AND THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A BATTERY TEST. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND THAT THE PROBLEM MUST BE MY DRIVING STYLE. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR MORE THAN A FEW MILES FROM MY HOME AT A TIME. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY TESTED PERIODICALLY AND VOICED MY CONCERN TO NISSAN BUT TO NO AVAIL. I CONTEND THAT IF A GAS DRIVEN AUTO HAD AN INACCURATE FUEL INDICATOR THAT CAUSED VEHICLE OPERATORS TO LOSE POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING THEN THE NTSB WOULD WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE THAT MY NISSAN HAS A COMPARABLE PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR THREE YEARS NOW AND HAVE LESS THAN 4,600 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT ANYWHERE LEST I HAVE ONLY ONE THIRD OF REAL DRIVE TIME THAN IS DISPLAYED ON THE BATTERY DRIVE RANGE AND CHARGE INDICATOR. MY GUESS-O-METER IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ADVICE AND INPUT IN THIS REGARD. *TR

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WHEN MOVING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK YOU MUST DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. I'VE HAD 3-4 TIMES WHERE AS SOON AS THE GEAR SELECTOR MOVES TO "D" THE BRAKE PEDAL SOFTENS AND SINKS IN AND THE CAR ROLLS FORWARD UNTIL THE BRAKES ENGAGE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO FAR I'VE HAD TIME TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT I'M WORRIED THAT ONE OF THESE TIMES I WON'T. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10660901

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND IGNITION STARTED AND THRUSTED CAR FORWARD. IT SEEMED LIKE THE BRAKE GOT SOFT AND THEN WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE CAR TO DAMAGE PRIVATE PROPERTY AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10632898

DESPITE AN ADULT OCCUPYING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED INDICATOR CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED WITH TWO DIFFERENT FULL SIZED ADULTS. DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO ATTEMPT A REPAIR. *TR

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AN ANIMAL RAN IN FRONT OF THE CAR. AFTER A HARD APPLICATION OF BRAKES AND SUBSEQUENT RELEASE OF BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR CONTINUED TO STOP, COMING TO A FULL STOP IN THE STREET WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT. THE CONDITION CAN BE REPEATED, IF YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD ENOUGH. THE BRAKES FUNCTION NORMALLY IN TYPICAL DRIVING. THE PROBLEM ONLY MANIFIESTS ITSELF IN EMERGENCY OR UNUSUALLY HARD BRAKING AS ENCOUNTERED IN COLLISION AVOIDANCE OF CARS, PEDESTRIANS, OR OTHER OBSTACLES. A SECOND INCIDENT ALSO OCCURRED AT 30 MPH. AN ONCOMING CAR APPEARED IN MY LANE ON A BLIND CURVE. THE ABRUPT BRAKING RESULTED IN THE LEAF STOPPING UNEXPECTEDLY AND COMPLETELY IN THE CURVE. DUE ONLY TO THE VIGILANCE OF THE DRIVER FOLLOWING BEHIND US, WE WERE NOT REAR ENDED. I HAD STOPPED APPLYING THE BRAKE LONG BEFORE THE LEAF WAS STOPPED, AS THE DANGER HAD PASSED. FROM 40 MPH, A HARD APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES, AND THE RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY AT 35 MPH, WILL RESULT IN THE CAR COMING TO A FULL STOP IN THE ROAD. APPLICATION OF THROTTLE IMMEDIATELY AFTER RELEASE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL AT APPROX 35 MPH WILL RESULT SLIGHT MITIGATION OF BRAKING, BUT ONLY AFTER A DELAY. THE CAR WILL STILL CONTINUE TO SLOW DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY AND PUT THE OCCUPANTS IN SIGNIFICANT DANGER FROM FOLLOWING TRAFFIC. I TESTED ANOTHER 2012 LEAF AND EXHIBITED IT THE SAME BEHAVIOR WHILE A 2014 DID NOT, INSTEAD, REACTING NORMALLY TO HARD BRAKING.

NHTSA ODI 10625730

VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPPED MID-TRAFFIC, WHILE GENTLY PRESSING THE BRAKES, CAUSING A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM AND A NEAR-ACCIDENT. I UNDERSTAND SAFETY AND GENTLE - I'M A SURGEON. AFTER THIS POINT, THE VEHICLE EITHER REFUSED TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY, AND CLEARLY INHIBITED BY THE BRAKE. THE BRAKE WOULD NOT LET UP, DESPITE STARTING/STOPPING/POWERING CYCLING THE CAR. THE EMERGENCY ELECTRIC BRAKE WAS CYCLED, IN EFFORTS TO RESET THE BRAKING SYSTEM - WITHOUT SUCCESS. TOWING TO DEALER. *TR

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EXITING FREEWAY, HIT BRAKES TO START A TURN. THE BRAKES COMPLETELY LOCKED UP SENDING THE CAR INTO A SLIDE AND INTO THE END OF A GUARD RAIL. *TR

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PAGE 1-21 OF THE 2012 NISSAN LEAF OWNER MANUAL HAS AN ILLUSTRATION OF A FORWARD-FACING CONVERTIBLE CHILD RESTRAINT INCORRECTLY INSTALLED, WITH THE CAPTION "LATCH WEBBING-MOUNTED ATTACHMENT". THE ILLUSTRATION SHOWS THE FORWARD-FACING CONVERTIBLE CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLED WITH THE LOWER ANCHORAGE FLEXIBLE CONNECTOR STRAP (LATCH WEBBING) ROUTED THROUGH THE REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT BELT PATH. NO WEBBING IS ROUTED THROUGH THE FORWARD-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT BELT PATH. THIS ILLUSTRATION MAY SUGGEST TO USERS THAT THIS IS HOW TO ROUTE THE "LATCH WEBBING" IN A FORWARD-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT ILLUSTRATION, WHICH MAY LEAD TO INJURY. THIS ILLUSTRATION IS COMMON TO MANY MODELS OF 2003 AND LATER NISSAN VEHICLES, NOT JUST THE LEAF. *TR

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WITH THE CAR PARKED AND ALL SEATS UPRIGHT, I FOUND THE CENTER REAR SEATBELT RETRACTOR LOCKED. IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE TO USE THE SEATBELT. I FOLDED THE SEAT DOWN, THEN BACK UP, AND IT WAS LOCKED TIGHTER. MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER REPLACED THE BELT FREE OF CHARGE THE NEXT WEEK. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THEY SERVICE SEVERAL LINES OF CARS, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, AND OCCASIONALLY SEE SEATBELT RETRACTORS LOCKED UP IN SEVERAL LINES OF CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10546822

I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 NISSAN LEAF ON MY MORNING COMMUTE TO WORK, ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM FREEWAY AND 3 MILES AWAY FROM HOME WHERE I STARTED, THE CAR GAVE A ALARM BEEP, AND STARTED DECELERATING. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR BUT THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO THAT. NOTICED THE DASH SAYING "I KEY SYSTEM FAULT" THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP. I QUICKLY TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND TRIED TO TURN OFF/ON THE CAR BUT IT KEPT ON SAYING "I KEY SYSTEM FAULT", AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF TRYING THIS I DECIDED TO PUSH THE CAR INTO A DRIVEWAY TO NOT CAUSE A TRAFFIC JAM, HERE I TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES TO TURN OFF /ON THE CAR BUT IT DID NOTHING HAPPENED, IT BEHAVED LIKE THAT AS OVER AN HOUR AND HALF, EVEN THE SAME WAY WITHOUT THE FOB, EVENTUALLY THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE SHOP STILL ON AND IS STILL BEING LOOKED AT BY THE TECHNICIANS THERE. PRETTY SCARY TO HAVE THE CAR BEHAVE LIKE THIS WHILE DRIVING. CANT IMAGINE WHAT COULD CAUSE THIS FAILURE AND WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I WERE ON THE FREEWAY. WILL TRY AND UPDATE WITH WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WITH THE CAR.

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DROVE CAR INTO DRIVEWAY WITH SLIGHT INCLINE, PRESSED BUTTON TO ENGAGE CAR INTO PARK, GOT OUT OF VEHICLE, PLUGGED IN CAR TO CHARGE IT. WALKED UP 2 STEPS TO HOUSE, CAR ROLLED BACK NEARLY STRIKING 9 YEAR OLD. RUSHED TO THE CAR TO TRY TO STOP IT. CAR STOPPED WHEN ROLLED BACK ACROSS STREET AND INTO NEIGHBORS YARD / ROCK. TORE CHARGING STATION OFF THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE. CAUSED BREAKER TO TRIP AND RUINED THE UNIT COMPLETELY.

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WHEN I DRIVE THE CAR INTO MY DRIVEWAY ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND I GET OUT OF THE CAR WHILE ITS IN DRIVE AND THE CAR IS ON, THE CAR REMAINS STABLE AND DOES NOT MOVE. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY QUIET. IF I PLUG THE CHARGER INTO THE CAR, THE CAR IMMEDIATELTY DROPS OUT OF DRIVE AND INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING THE CAR TO ROLL BACKWARD.

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DRIVING MY 2012 LEAF ON A SECONDARY ROAD ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, AT 45 MPH, I APPLIED MY BRAKES TO TURN RIGHT ON TO ANOTHER STREET. AFTER MODERATELY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES LOCKED, BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP IN THE ROADWAY. MY FOOT HAD NOT BEEN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL FOR AT LEAST A FULL SECOND WHILE MY VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ABRUPTLY STOP. A VEHICLE BEHIND ME REAR-ENDED THE LEAF. I AND MY TWO PASSENGERS RECEIVED NECK INJURIES. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY A DEFECT IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. I CONSIDER NISSAN AT FAULT AND NOT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE THAT REAR ENDED US. *TR

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I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BEGAN A FAST REDUCTION IN SPEED. I RAPIDLY APPLIED MY BRAKES TO THE POINT OF FULL STOPPING POWER. SHORTLY AFTERWARD I RELEASED THE BRAKE AS I WAS CONFIDENT I WOULD NOT HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE BRAKES KEPT THEIR FULL STOPPING FORCE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER 1/2 TO 1 SECOND. I HAD TO STEER OFF THE ROAD TO PREVENT THE CAR BEHIND FROM HITTING ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE BUT I DID NOT RECORD ALL THE DETAILS UNTIL TODAY. THIS IS TWICE NOW THAT I HAD TO MAKE A MEDIUM SPEED EMERGENCY DIVE OFF THE HIGHWAY TO AVOID IMMEDIATE COLLISION FROM THE REAR. IN MY FIRST INCIDENT I WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH ON I25. THIS IS FRIGHTFUL DANGEROUS BRAKING BEHAVIOR. I LOVE MY LEAF BUT IN MY OPINION THIS AUTOMOBILE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON A FREEWAY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND WILL TAKE THE CAR IN TOMORROW BUT I WAS TOLD THERE ARE NO NISSAN NOTES ON THIS FAILURE MODE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10522239

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10519849

DRIVER AND DRIVER'S YOUNG CHILD WERE IN VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND SLIGHTLY INCREASED SPEED TO CROSS INTERSECTION. ACCELERATOR PEDAL DROPPED TO THE FLOOR, RESULTING IN SHARP ACCELERATION AT FULL POWER TOWARDS THE NEXT INTERSECTION. THE NEXT INTERSECTION CONTAINED OTHER VEHICLES AND A RAILROAD CROSSING, AND DISPLAYED A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNAL AGAINST THE VEHICLE'S DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. THE DRIVER PRESSED BRAKES AND WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SHARPLY AGAIN WHEN THE BRAKES WERE RELEASED. THE DRIVER PRESSED BRAKES AGAIN AND PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE SWITCH TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE DRIVER THEN PUSHED THE PARK BUTTON LOCATED ON THE SHIFTER AND THE VEHICLE JERKED TO A STOP. THE DRIVER THEN LOOKED AT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SAW THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT PHYSICALLY STUCK. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO POP BACK UP TO ITS NORMAL POSITION BY USING DRIVER'S HAND. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE INCIDENT, STATED THAT "NO CODES WERE STORED, NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL, VEHICLE INSPECTED BY NISSAN DTS...AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE AT THIS TIME." NISSAN STATES THAT NO REPAIR WAS NECESSARY BECAUSE NISSAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AFTER 11 MILES OF TESTING. NISSAN HAS REFUSED TO ACCEPT RETURN OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. *TR

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