What 63 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Nissan Leaf (40 Kwh Battery)

THE CONTROL PANEL TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY IN THE NISSAN LEAF (2018) HAS A DENIAL OF SERVICE VULNERABILITY THAT CAN BE USED TO LOCK UP THE SCREEN. ONCE LOCKED, THE TOUCH SCREEN CAN NO LONGER BE USED EVEN IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ON. THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE SCREEN IS BY REMOVING AND RE-INSERTING THE SD CARD CONTAINING THE MAPPING DATA. THIS SEEMS TO ARISE FROM THE SOS FUNCTIONALITY LOCKING THE TOUCHSCREEN AND NOT TURNING OFF WHEN THE CAR DOES. TO REPLICATE: 1. TURN ON THE CAR, VERIFY THAT NISSANCONNECT WITH SOS FUNCTIONALITY IS ENABLED BY CHECKING THAT THE LITTLE LIGHT ON THE SOS BUTTON IS LIT. 2. PRESS THE SOS BUTTON. 3. PRESS AND HOLD THE SOS BUTTON WHILE TURNING OFF THE CAR. 4. THE SOS CALL WILL LOCK THE SCREEN OF THE CAR, AND WILL STAY THAT WAY UNTIL THE SD CARD IS REMOVED AND RE-INSERTED. TRIED REPORTING THIS TO NISSAN, NO RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI 11308645

THIS NISSAN LEAF HAS AN EZ-PEDAL FEATURE. WHEN ENABLED, TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR SLOWS YOU DOWN QUICKLY UNTIL YOU COME TO A FULL STOP. AND THEN THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. AND THIS NON-MOVEMENT DOES NOT REQUIRE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. WHILE A CONVENIENCE, THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN ENABLED AND THE CAR IS STOPPED (BUT IN DRIVE), THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ONE. IN CONTRAST, WHEN STOPPED USING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! DRIVERS APPROACHING FROM BEHIND DON'T EXPECT A STOPPED CAR TO NOT HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS ON. THEY MAY REALIZE RATHER LATE THAT THE CAR IS STOPPED. IN OTHER WORDS, THE VISUAL CUE OF "BRAKE LIGHTS ON MEANS CAR IS STOPPED OR SLOWING DOWN" IS NOT EVIDENT. WHICH CAN LEAD TO MISTAKES BY DRIVERS WHO ARE NOT PAYING FULL ATTENTION. THIS HAPPENED TO ME RECENTLY. I WAS STOPPED BEHIND A CAR WAITING AT A CROSSWALK. ON A 3 LANE 40MPH STREET, WITH NO LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS FOR A MILE. A FAST STRETCH WITH NO EXPECTATION OF STOPPING!. I, IN MY LEAF, HAD EZ PEDAL ENABLED. I WORRIED THAT SOMEONE MIGHT HIT ME, SINCE I WAS STOPPED IN A PLACE THAT IS UNUSUAL TO STOP IN. AND 15 SECONDS AFTER STOPPING I WAST REAR ENDED! NO PERSONAL DAMAGE, BUT $1500 IN REPAIR (AND MORE FOR THE CAR THAT HIT ME). SINCE I WAS NOT AT FAULT, I WILL GET FULL INSURANCE. BUT IT IS NOT A GOOD THING! I CHECKED LATER - AND INDEED THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT GO ON WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED IN EZ-PEDAL MODE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED! I IMAGINE THIS IS A SOFTWARE UPDATE. I SUGGEST THAT FOR CARS (LEAF OR OTHER) IN DRIVE, WITH EZ-PEDAL ENABLED: WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY STOPPED THE BRAKE LIGHTS MUST GO ON. AND, WHEN THE CAR IS DECELERATING QUICKLY (WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR WHILE MOVING), THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD GO ON. THANKS. I COULD OF PUT ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS, BUT IT IS NOT EASY TO THINK OF SUCH A TRICK ON THE FLY.*DT*JB *DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11301859

NISSAN PROPILOT HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW. WHEN USING PROPILOT ON MY 2018 NISSAN LEAF SV IN STOP AND GO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, SOMETIMES WHEN MY NISSAN LEAF COASTS TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP 15 FEET BEHIND A "BOXY" VEHICLE LIKE A SEMI-TRUCK, THE LEAF SUDDENLY ACCELERATES LIKE IF THERE IS NO VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND IF I AM NOT COMPLETELY ATTENTIVE AND IF I DO NOT IMMEDIATELY APPLY THE BREAKS, THE NISSAN LEAF WOULD REAR END THE SEMI-TRUCK. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS WHEN FOLLOWING A SEMI-TRUCK WITH TRAILER AND THIS MORNING IT OCCURRED AGAIN A FIFTH TIME BUT THIS TIME I WAS BEHIND A SEDAN. I HAVE A DASHCAM VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT FROM THIS MORNING. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO NISSAN BUT THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE TAKEN MY 2018 NISSAN LEAF IN TO THE LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE CENTER BUT THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SENSORS AND THEY DO NOT SEE ANY ISSUES AND NO ERROR CODES REPORTED BY THE CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM WHERE THE SOFTWARE IGNORES THE RADAR IMAGE OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT BECAUSE IT THINKS IT IS AN OVERHEAD SIGN AND NOT ANOTHER VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT, THE CAMERA INPUT OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT ALSO APPEARS TO BE IGNORED BY THE SOFTWARE IN THIS SITUATION. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE HAD AT LEAST TWO INCIDENTS (ALSO OCCURRED THIS MORNING) WHERE PROPILOT LANE KEEPING FEATURE SHUTS OFF AND AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BREAKING IS ALSO SHUT OFF AND DEACTIVATED FOR AND EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME FOR NOW APPARENT REASON (IN EXCELLENT WEATHER AND CLEAR CONDITIONS, NO OBSTRUCTIONS OF SENSORS, ETC.), I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS AS WELL.

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ON THE STREET WE USE TO LEAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE IS ONE SECTION OF THE CEMENT THAT IS A LITTLE TALLER THAN THE ONE BEFORE IT.INTERMITTENTLY, THE AUTOMATIC BREAKING WILL BE SET OFF IN THIS SPOT FOR NO REASON. IT IS ALARMING! WE ARE ALSO WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN ON A BUSY STREET AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEIR SPOUSE WAS DRIVING THE FAMILY VEHICLE AND WAS ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE FROM THE REAR. THEY ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE SLID UNTIL IT HIT CURB. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS NOT INJURED. THERE WAS KNOW ONE ELSE IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE. THE PERSON THAT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS NOT INJURED. THEIR WAS NO MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA ODI 11240675

GROOVED ROAD SURFACE IN COMBINATION WITH SPECIFIC VEHICLES GIVE DRIVERS THE FEELING OF LOSING CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. SPECIFICALLY, THE GROOVED SURFACE OF WASHINGTON STATE ROUTE 520 EVERGREEN POINT FLOATING BRIDGE (REGULAR SPEED OF 60 MPH) IN COMBINATION WITH CURRENT MODEL NISSAN LEAF, ARE LEADING TO SIGNIFICANT "GROOVE WANDER" WITH HEAVY SHAKING TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE RAPID ONSET OF SUCH SHAKING UPON DRIVING ONTO THE BRIDGE AT 60 MPH IS GIVING DRIVERS A FEELING OF LOSING CONTROL OF THEIR VEHICLES. THIS EFFECT DOES NOT GET BETTER EVEN WHEN REDUCING SPEED TO 40 MPH.THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON EVER SINCE THE NEW BRIDGE WAS OPENED OVER A YEAR AGO, AND IS MUCH WORSE THAN THE SIDE WINDS EXPERIENCED ON THE PREVIOUS BRIDGE. NISSAN DENIES BEING AWARE OF THIS ISSUE. AT MY WORKPLACE, MULTIPLE DRIVERS HAVE REPORTED THIS EFFECT, WHICH ALSO OCCURS ON A PAVEMENT TEST SEGMENT BETWEEN REDMOND WA AND WOODINVILLE WA (AVONDALE RD).

NHTSA ODI 11230120

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR STOPPED ITSELF SIMULATING A "SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES" AFFECT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE CAR JUST STOPPED. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, AN ERROR APPEARED ON THE SCREEN SAYING "POWER SUPPLY FAILURE. TO AVOID ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH DO NOT DRIVE. CONTACT DEALER FOR SERVICE." THE CAR STOPPING SUDDENLY IS VERY DANGEROUS, IF THERE WAS ANOTHER CAR BEHIND ME, OR IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY, I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN REAR ENDED.

NHTSA ODI 11208166

THE VEHICLE'S BLIND SPOT DETECTOR TURNS OFF AT LOW SPEEDS POTENTIALLY PUTTING THE DRIVER AT RISK IF THE DRIVER DEPENDS ON THE BLIND SPOT DETECTOR. THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM IS UNRELIABLE. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT SWITCHES LANES AND THERE IS A STOPPED CAR IN FRONT THE VEHICLE STARTS TO SLOW DOWN BUT RELEASES THE BREAKS ABOUT 50 FT FROM THE STOPPED CAR AND STARTS WARNING OF IMPENDING COLLISION. AND THE BREAKS ARE NOT APPLIED.

NHTSA ODI 11164720

NISSAN LEAF WITH PRO-PILOT ASSIST PACKAGE. INTERMITTENTLY THE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT FOR AUTOMATIC FORWARD EMERGENCY BRAKING AND/OR LANE KEEP ASSIST WILL FLASH INDICATING SYSTEM UNAVAILABLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OVASSIONS AND AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ISOLATE CAUSE OR EFFECT REPAIR. I ALSO HAD THIS HAPPEN ON A NISSAN SENTRA LOANER CAR THEY PROVIDED SO ISSUE MAY BE WITH SYSTEM AND NOT JUST THE LEAF MODELS

NHTSA ODI 11163616

THIS ISSUE OCCURS WITH THE NISSAN E-PEDAL ENGAGED/ENABLED. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AFTER DRIVING OFF. SYMPTOM REGENERATIVE BREAKING/E-BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE. VEHICLE COASTS. NO BLUE BARS LIGHT UP ON THE DASH TO INDICATE THAT REGENERATIVE BREAKING IS ACTIVE. BREAK PEDAL HAS BE BE ENGAGED FOR IT TO STOP. I HAVE REPRODUCED IT SEVERAL TIMES USUALLY AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A LONG TIME. CHARGE LEVEL BETWEEN 30-80%. ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER (10/23/18). WAITING FOR A RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI 11142217

WHILE DRIVING FORWARD, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY AND VIOLENTLY APPLIES THE BRAKES WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT WHATSOEVER! THERE ARE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME. THIS SUDDEN BRAKING PROBLEM BEGAN ON OR ABOUT 5/15/18 AND HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AFTER THAT. TWICE WHILE ENTERING THE UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE AT AN OFFICE BUILDING AND TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FOR OVER A WEEK BUT NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER APPARENTLY HAS ANY IDEA HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY THINK THAT THERE IS A FAULT IN THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT OTHER INSTANCES OF THE SAME ISSUE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NISSAN. THE SALESPERSON INDICATED THAT THERE WERE 4 OTHER SIMILAR CASES AT THEIR DEALERSHIP ALONE.THEY ALSO WILL NOT LET US TAKE THE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT SIGNING A RELEASE OF LIABILITY DOCUMENT. THE OBVIOUS CONCERN IS THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM WILL AGAIN RANDOMLY ACTIVATE WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE AND INJURIES!

NHTSA ODI 11103747

THIS NISSAN CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH FEATURES NAMED, PRO-PILOT ASSIST (PPA), INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL (ICC) AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSIST (EBA). WHEN ENGAGED, IT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP LANES AND FOLLOW DISTANCE IF THERE IS A CAR IN FRONT. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT IS STOPPED THIS CAR IS SUPPOSED TO STOP AS WELL. PPA WHEN ENGAGED, IF THERE ARE GOOD ROAD MARKINGS, WILL SHOW A GREEN STEARING ON THE DASH BOARD, TO SHOW THAT CAR CAN STEER IT SELF. HOWEVER IF THERE IS A CAR STOPPED IN FRONT ON THE SAME LANE (EX. STOPPED FOR A RED LIGHT), THIS CAR DO NOT DETECT THAT THERE IS A CAR STOPPED, AND KEEP GOING FORWARD UNTIL CRASH INTO THE STOPPED CAR, DRIVER HAVE TO INTEVENE TO STOP AT THIS TIME TO STOP. I TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THIS IS NORMAL. THAT IS NOT WHAT NISSAN ADVERTISE. THIS BEHAVIOR IS QUITE DANGEROUS OF THESE CARS, AND MY EXPECTATION IS THE CAR NEED TO STOP IF THERE IS AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE ROAD, WHEN THE GREEN STEERING WHEEL ON DASH IS SHOWING THAT CAR IS DOING AUTO-STEER.

NHTSA ODI 11092604

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED MODERATELY AT AROUND 40MPH TO SLOW DOWN, AND IF A WHEEL GO ON TOP OF SOME BUMPS OR POT HOLES, CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE BRAKING POWER, BRAKE PADEL DROP ABOUT 1 INCH, HAVE TO PEDAL HARD TO GET THE BRAKES BACK. AT ONE TIME I SAW A MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD "NOT AVAILABLE" WHICH I WAS NOT ABLE TO READ AND CONFIRM, AS THIS HAPPENED IN A PANIC SITUATION. THIS IS OCCATIONAL BUT HAS HAPPENED TO BE 4 - 5 TIMES NOW. MY GUESS IS CAR TRY TO APPLY REGENERATIVE BRAKES FIRST, IF THAT CANNOT WORK DUE TO EXCESSIVE, BUMP / POT-HOLE ON THE ROAD, IT GIVE UP, AND AS A RESULT, CAR LOOSE BRAKING POWER FOR 1-2 SECONDS. THIS 2 SECONDS CAN BE LIFE AND DEATH IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID, NO ISSUES FOUND. THIS PROBLEM IS HARD TO REPRODUCE, BUT CAN BE REPRODUCED. THIS HAPPENED IN LOCAL ROADS WITH 45MPH SPEED LIMIT. ONE TIME WHEN THERE WAS ROUGH ROAD DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. ANOTHER TIME WHEN ONE TIRE WAS GOING ON TOP OF ROAD DIVIDERS WHICH ARE ABOUT 1 INCH TALL AND 1 FOOT APART, IT HAD MANY OF THESE NEXT TO EACH OTHER, WHEN I WAS APPLYING BRAKE.

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