Nissan Leaf Complaints (2012)

57 consumer complaints on file.

#11150737November 10, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKES GRAB AND LURCH THE CAR TO A STOP. THIS OCCURS ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC AND THUS IS DANGEROUS. A DRIVER FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND WILL BE SURPRISED BY THE VERY RAPID DECELERATION. IT HAPPENS OFTEN, ALWAYS AT SPEEDS BELOW ABOUT 10 - 15 MPH, BUT NOT EVERY TIME I BRAKE, AND IT IS UNPREDICTABLE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ON BLOGS. I HAVE INFORMED MY NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON MANY OCCASIONS. ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO NISSAN RELEASED A FIRMWARE PATCH, WHICH WAS INSTALLED IN MY CAR. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGES THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM BUT DOESN'T HAVE A SOLUTION. IT'S ALMOST CERTAINLY A SOFTWARE/FIRMWARE ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11111618July 25, 2018
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NISSAN LEAF. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO A NUMBER OF CONCERNS: ELECTRONIC KEY PROBLEMS, FAILED NIGHT LIGHTS IN THE DRIVER DOOR CONTROLS AND MILEAGE ISSUES. *LD *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11112177July 18, 2018
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS AN ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES AT SLOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE PULSATES. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM SINCE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FULLY CHARGED AND NOT REGENERATING THROUGH THE BRAKING SYSTEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10980862April 26, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AS EXPECTED. THE CONTACT FULLY DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE ABS FAILED TO ACTIVATE AND THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AS EXPECTED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT AND THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED MINOR BACK PAIN, BUT NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, ALTHOUGH THE CONTACT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM ABOUT SIMILAR BRAKE ISSUES. THE MANUFACTURER ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN TO A NISSAN DEALER, BUT NOTIFIED ANOTHER DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,264.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10959555March 8, 2017
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND CONTINUED TO FLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS RESET. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR AND CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,470.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10877146June 28, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10875872June 22, 2016
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10850347March 18, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10839620March 3, 2016
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10766695September 21, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10746972August 7, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705901April 15, 2015
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10700917March 22, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10690994February 26, 2015
SEATS
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!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10663841December 12, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10660901November 25, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632898September 12, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628995August 28, 2014
AIR BAGS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10625730August 16, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587147May 7, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Nissan Leaf