What 34 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Nissan Leaf Plus (60 Kwh Battery)

[XXX] - I was on the way to work on a clear and sunny morning. After stopping at a traffic light, vehicles started moving forward through the intersection. Traffic was building and the lady in front of me stopped very quickly. When I pressed the the brake pedal to stop behind her nothing happened. The brakes did not brake! The pedal went all the way to the floor. It didn't even try to slow down. I just rolled right into the back of her. The front end of my 2014 Nissan LEAF sustained significant damage and the rear bumper of her SUV sustained minor damage. Both of us had minor neck/back pain after. I am still recovering from spine surgery and I'm concerned about any long term issues that may be caused from this accident. We were in a very busy area of Atlanta and it is amazing that no one was seriously hurt. After calling 911 and being on hold for close to 30 minutes State Farm advised it was okay to swap info without an official police report. I don't want this accident to count against my accident free/good driver discount with my insurance. There were no warning lights on my dash or audible brake sounds. I have had similar problems in the past with the brakes not engaging. It has been to the dealership at least 4 times for brake related issues in the 10 years that I have had this car. The dealership and 1 independent garage have inspected my brake system, including fluid, pads and rotors. Everything is in good condition. In the past there was a correlation between the 12V battery power and the brakes not working. It has not been possible to recreate the problem on demand. I've reported this very serious safety issue to Nissan Consumer Affairs. They deny responsibility, but will not provide it in writing. A basic google search shows that I am not the only LEAF owner that has this problem. It is parked in my driveway and is considered unsafe to drive unless it is repaired per the dealership. I am glad that no one else in my family was injured because of this. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11600609

My car suddenly accelerated out of my control and my car was totaled in a supermarket parking lot. Amazingly no serious injuries though two other cars were damaged by this event. No warnings and no time to act. I demanded that Nissan do an inspection. The email I got from them this morning said they found nothing wrong with the vehicle BUT that the accelerator was at 100% at the time of the accident. I was parked and getting out of my car when this occurred but Nissan did not think it suspicious that my car accelerated to 100% without any reason for me to accelerate and my foot not on the power pedal. Their letter to me claimed no responsibility for the malfunction. In fact. They are claiming no malfunction at all. I have requested in writing to get all the data they collected and although they had previously agreed to provide it to me. They are now backpedaling on that now that I’ve posed legitimate questions. This happened TWICE in a 15 month period and the last accident destroyed my car. Everyone was eager to blame me for the first accident that did thousands of dollars damage, which I know for a fact I was parked in my own driveway and not even driving. It was scary and stressful and still is. The only thing I can feel good about is that the car, my beautiful LEAF, is off the road forever and will not be dangerous any longer to me or anyone else.

NHTSA ODI 11418938

ON FEBRUARY 7, 2018, NISSAN LEAF CAUGHT FIRE WHILE CHARGING AT 3003 SUMMIT BLVD PARKING DECK P4, ATLANTA, GA 30068. AFTER REVIEW, NISSAN CLAIMS THAT THEY "FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF A PRODUCT PROBLEM, FAILURE, OR MALFUNCTION THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE INCIDENT." VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WAS PLUGGED INTO CHARGER FOR LESS THAN 20 MINUTES BEFORE STARTING TO SMOKE AND CATCH FIRE. POLICE AND FIRE UNITS WERE DISPATCHED AND THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. VEHICLE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TOWED TO SALVAGE YARD A WEEK LATER. ROOT CAUSE COULD POSSIBLY BE CHARGING UNIT, HOW CHARGING UNIT WAS INSTALLED/MAINTAINED, OR A VEHICLE DEFECT. NISSAN'S CLAIMS NO PRODUCT PROBLEM, FAILURE, OR MALFUNCTION THAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE INCIDENT. *TT *JS

NHTSA ODI 11080704

I WAS READING A RECENT ARTICLE REGARDING A NISSAN LEAF AND A FIRE. WE JUST HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN AT OUR FACILITY, 3003 SUMMIT BLVD. ATLANTA GA 30319. THE ISSUE IS THAT WE ARE NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE VEHICLE OR THE CHARGING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND A COUPLE OF OTHER CARS NEARBY WERE ALSO DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND CONNECTED TO THE CHARGER. THIS WAS LOCATED ON THE 4TH LEVEL OF THE PARKING DECK.

NHTSA ODI 11071887

MY NISSAN LEAF HAS HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. IF THERE IS ANY AMOUNT OF ACCUMULATED SNOW, EVEN A SMALL AMOUNT, AN AMOUNT ON OTHER CARS I HAVE DRIVEN DOES NOT STOP THE WIPERS OR BREAK THE WIPER'S MOTOR. IN LESS THAN ONE YEAR MY WIPER'S MOTOR HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE MOTOR BROKE I WAS COMING HOME IN A SNOW STORM. I COULDN'T SEE BECAUSE THE WIPERS QUIT WORKING. I TRIED TO SLOWLY PULL OVER BECAUSE I WAS ON A BUSY STREET. I HIT A PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE AND WAS AFRAID TO STOP ON A BUSY ROAD. NISSAN REPAIR SHOP BASICALLY TOLD ME THERE CAN BE NO SNOW ON YOUR WINDSHIELD OR THE WIPERS MOTOR WILL BREAK. THERE WAS VERY LITTLE ACCUMULATED SNOW ON THE WIND SHIELD. AS I SAID, I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY OTHER CAR. I FEEL LIKE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE AN 1/8 OF AN INCH OF SNOW WITHOUT BREAKING THE MOTOR. YOU COULD BE DRIVING AND SNOW COULD DROP FROM A TREE ONTO YOUR CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10928931

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 22 MPH HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS IT VEERED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN CRASHED INTO A POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIGHT KNEE AND HAND, REQUIRING MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 400. UPDATED 06/19/14 AFTER HE CRASHED INTO THE POLE, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A HALT MAKING ALMOST A 75 DEGREE ANGLE IN THE ROAD. AS THE VEHICLE ABRUPTLY STARTED DRIFTING TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE, HE TRIED VERY HARD TO STEER IT BACK TO MAKE IT STRAIGHT, BUT WITH NO SUCCESS. UPDATED 06/26/14

NHTSA ODI 10593665