What 35 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Leaf Plus (62 Kwh Battery)

MY 2016 LEAF SL WAS DAMAGED IN A FAIRLY LOW SPEED COLLISION DURING HEAVY OFFICE RUSH TRAFFIC (AROUND 7:30AM IN THE MORNING). WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED, I ALSO BRAKED HARD. AT THAT TIME I HEARD ABS LIKE SOUND BUT THE CAR DID NOT ACTUALLY STOP, IT KEPT ON GOING AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TOO STRESSED OUT AT THE MOMENT THEREFORE I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO THINK. LATER ON, I SPENT SOME TIME SEARCHING INTERNET WITH SEARCH QUERIES LIKE 'NISSAN LEAF BRAKE PROBLEM' OR 'NISSAN LEAF DID NOT BRAKE' ETC. I FOUND MULTIPLE MENTIONS OF EXPERIENCES VERY SIMILAR TO MINE. IF YOU PERFORM GOOGLE SEARCH, YOU WILL SEE WHAT I MEAN. IS THERE A WAY TO LOOK AT THE LEAF ONBOARD DATA TO SEE WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED?

NHTSA ODI 11084606

CAR LOST ALL BREAK CAPABILITIES AS I APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT. BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOOSE AND CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE BREAKS, LOUD CRACK SOUND ON FIRST PUMP BEFORE BREAK WAS LOST. SINCE I WAS GOING AT LOW SPEED (30MPH) I COULD EMPLOY MANUAL BREAK TO STOP VEHICLE. BREAK REMAIN IN FAILURE STATE TILL ON HOUR LATER WHEN IT SEEM TO HAVE RETURNED.

NHTSA ODI 11075080

ON 6 OCCASIONS THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK ON FIRST CONTACT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A FULL STOP AT EITHER A STOP LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN ON CITY STREETS. RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLYING THE BRAKES FINALLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED TO BOTH MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF AND HAPPENED ON BOTH STRAIGHT FLAT ROADS AND DOWNHILL ROADS. THIS HAPPENED IN BOTH REGENERATIVE AND NON-REGENERATIVE BRAKING BUT THE WORST FAILURE HAPPENED IN NON-REGENERATIVE BRAKING.

NHTSA ODI 11072190

BATTERY DEGRADATION OCCURRING MUCH QUICKER THAN REASONABLY EXPECTED. DETAILS FOLLOW. CAR PURCHASED IN JUNE 2016. AFTER DRIVING A TOTAL OF 6,150 MILES UNDER CONDITIONS OF MODERATE TEMPERATURE, CONSERVATIVE DRIVING (NOT EXCEEDING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, USING ECO MODE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S MANUAL TO ENHANCE BATTERY LIFE) AND RARELY CHARGING THE BATTERY TO MORE THAN 80% NOR MAKING USE OF FREQUENT QUICK-CHARGING (ALSO AS RECOMMENDED IN MANUFACTURER'S MANUAL), I NOTICED THAT 1 OUT OF 12 "BARS" OF BATTERY CAPACITY WERE LOST. USE OF SOFTWARE TO DETERMINE STATE OF HEALTH (SOH) OF THE BATTERY INDICATED THAT AFTER ONLY 2,300 MILES (AND 4 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP), SOH WAS 89%. MOST RECENTLY (NOV. 2016), SOH IS LESS THAN 84%. CAR IS ALWAYS KEPT IN GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE, NEVER PARKED OUTSIDE OVERNIGHT. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER IN OCT. 2016 AND NOV. 2017 ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. SERVICE DEPARTMENT DECLINED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY PROBLEMS IN OCT. 2016 WITH SOH WAS ONLY 89%. CONCLUSION: SINCE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND CHARGED UNDER OPTIMAL CIRCUMSTANCES WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE OF OVERHEATING WHILE IN OWNER'S POSSESSION, IT APPEARS LIKELY THAT THERE IS EITHER A DEFECT IN THE BATTERY PER SE OR POOR HANDLING OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE TIME OF SALE. THERE IS NO WAY FOR A CONSUMER GET AN ACCURATE MEASURE OF BATTERY CAPACITY AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I CAN MAKE A SPREADSHEET OF BATTERY SOH OVER TIME AS MEASURED BY 3RD PARTY SOFTWARE AVAILABLE TO NHTSA AT YOUR REQUEST.

NHTSA ODI 11047839

MY BATTERY LOST 2 OF MY 12 RANGE BARS AND NISSAN DOES NOT SEE ANY OF THIS AS AN ISSUE, OCTOBER 06, 2016 - 110 MILE RANGE MARCH 04, 2017 - AUGUST 28, 2017 - 76 MILE RANGE ' 1 BAR LOSS OCTOBER 23, 2017 - 65 - 72 MILE RANGE ' 2 BAR LOSS I CAN NO LONGER MAKE MY COMMUTE AFTER 1 YEAR OF USAGE. LEASED 2016 NISSAN LEAF OCTOBER 8, 2016 DEALER PURCHASED FROM: AVONDALE NISSAN [XXX] 10/8/2016 SERVICE DATE MILEAGE CHARGED 100% = RANGE DEALER NAME CONCERN 10/8/2016 ODOMITER 110 MILES AVONDALE NISSAN BATTERY DEPLETES AT A RAPID PACE WHEN IT REACHES 20% CHARGE, 3/17/2016 8,193 PINNACLE NISSAN ESTIMATED FOR EVERY MILE DRIVEN IT DROPS 5 MILES IN CAPACITY. 8/5/2017 16,329 82 MILES PINNACLE NISSAN BATTERY DEGRADATION 8/28/2017 17,296 72 MILES AVONDALE NISSAN BATTERY DEGRADATION LOST 1ST BAR 10/23/2017 19,623 68 MILES AVONDALE NISSAN BATTERY DEGRADATION LOST 2ND BAR 38.18% RANGE LOSS ON BATTERY IN ONE YEAR I FIND THE DEALERSHIP AND NISSAN INTENTIONALLY PROVIDING MISLEADING AND FALSE INFORMATION. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE IN SMALL CLAIMS OR OTHER ACTIONS. THE LEMON LAW WILL NOT WORK IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THEY TELL ME IT IS NOT BROKE AND THEY HAVE NOT ATTEMPTED TO FIX ANYTHING? NISSAN CLAIMS THIS IS NORMAL AND TO BE EXPECTED, WHO WOULD BUY THAT FOR OVER 30K. AFTER TWO YEARS OF SERVICE WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE BATTERY DEGRADATION. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11042126

TRACTION MOTOR INVERTER FAILURE ON 2016 NISSAN LEAF. WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS NOT ABLE TO CHARGE OR START THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11011092

WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION IN A BUSY AREA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY, THE BRAKES FAILED ON MY NISSAN LEAF. THE BRAKE SHUDDERED UNDER MY FOOT, MUCH LIKE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGED. AFTER I FELT THE SHUDDERING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE AS IT NORMALLY WOULD IN RESPONSE TO BRAKING. I TRIED THE BRAKE PEDAL A FEW TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE, BUT THE VEHICLE'S MOMENTUM SLOWED ENOUGH FOR ME TO AVOID A COLLISION AND CONTINUE ON THE ROAD. AS I CAME TO A SECOND INTERSECTION, I AGAIN TRIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. I USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE LEAF AT THE INTERSECTION. I LOCATED AN UPHILL DRIVEWAY TO A CORPORATE PARKING LOCATION, AND DROVE THE VEHICLE VERY SLOWLY TO A PARKING SPOT. I INTENDED TO PARK THE CAR AND CALL A TOWING SERVICE, BUT WHEN I ONCE AGAIN TRIED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE NISSAN LEAF RESPONDED TO THE BRAKES AND STOPPED IN THE PARKING SPOT. BECAUSE I WAS CLOSE TO WORK AND THE BRAKES HAD RE-ENGAGED, I DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE PARKING LOT AT MY OFFICE AND LATER THAT DAY CALLED NISSAN'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS LINE FOR THE LEAF (877-664-2738). I REPORTED THE ISSUE TO NISSAN, AND THEY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A NEARBY NISSAN DEALERSHIP. AT THIS POINT IN TIME, NISSAN IS WORKING WITH MOSSY NISSAN IN POWAY, CA TO TRY TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. NISSAN OPENED CASE #27170321 ON THE ISSUE. THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE (BOUGHT IN SEPTEMBER 2016), AND I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ANY PHYSICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE PADS OR MECHANISM. MY BEST GUESS IS THAT AN ELECTRIC/CONTROLLER FAILURE OCCURRED WITH REGENERATIVE BRAKING.

NHTSA ODI 11001701

DECEMBER 07, 2016 I BOUGHT NISSAN LEAF 2016 IN JUNE 30, 2016. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2016, IT JUST STOPPED AND NOT GOING IN REVERSE OR FORWARD, JUST STAY ON NEUTRAL AND PARK. IT HAS TWO RECALLS ISSUED BY TRANSPORT CANADA (# 2016179 AN # 2016302). NISSAN CANADA NEVER SEND MY ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT RECALLS. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2016 IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, 401/DIXIE MISSISSAUGA, ON CANADA.SINCE THEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING AND AFTER REPEATED CALL, THEY ARE UNABLE TO TELL ME WHATS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I REQUESTED A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE WHILE THEY ARE FIXING MY VEHICLE AND THE REQUEST WAS DENIED. IT LOOK LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT ASSOCIATED WITH SAFETY ISSUE. SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS NOT RELEASING ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROBLEM.IT IS MORE THAN ONE WEEK NOW. I HOPE THIS INFORMATION MAY BE HELPFUL FOR OWNERS AND POTENTIAL BUYERS.DECEMBER 7, 2016 8:15 PM

NHTSA ODI 10933775

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI 10904540

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ODI 10888766