RoadVitals

2011 Nissan Leaf Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest May 31, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
23%
of 95 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 Nissan Leaf submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectrical
Filed May 31, 2024

When applying brakes, at a point in the pedal travel the vehicle deceleration goes from too little to vastly too much. This makes the vehicle challenging to drive in traffic without colliding into the vehicle in front and not stopping so quickly as to cause the trailing vehicle to collide. The dealer has confirmed the behavior. There is a TSB to supposedly address the problem, and a receipt is attached of that TSB software update being applied. However, this has not changed the behavior. This is at least partially a software issue, since the vehicle blends physical brakes with EV regenerative braking.

NHTSA ID
11591749
Incident
Dec 16, 2023
Brakes
Filed Jan 9, 2020

THE BRAKES MALFUNCTION AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL PROGRAM. NISSAN HAS NOT HELPED AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO EMAILS OR QUESTIONS ON TWITTER. AT LOW SPEEDS THE BRAKES WILL SPORADICALLY ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE WITH REGENERATIVE BRAKING ENABLED. THEY WILL SOMETIMES CATCH WHICH CAUSES SUDDEN STOPPING OR SKIDDING IN HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. THEY WILL ALSO NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THEY ARE PRESSED EXTREMELY HARD WHICH WILL ALSO CAUSE SUDDEN BRAKING AND CAN BE HAZARDOUS IN TRAFFIC OR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. I'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO REACH NISSAN TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT THEY DO NOT RESPOND. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT TIMES.

NHTSA ID
11298175
Incident
Feb 1, 2019
Mileage
60,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 11, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DOWN A MOUNTAIN, THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT BRAKING ABILITY AND THE VEHICLE WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE HILL DESCENT ASSIST FAILED TO ENGAGE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY NISSAN OF STAUNTON (297 LEE JACKSON HWY, STAUNTON, VIRGINIA 24401, (540) 213-9600) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING WAS NOT RESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ADDITIONAL TESTING SHOULD BE PERFORMED ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID
11288434
Incident
Jan 1, 2019
Mileage
30,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 17, 2017

INTERMITTENTLY, LITTLE OR NO BRAKING FORCE MAYBE BE AVAILABLE WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN GEAR AFTER INITIAL KEY-ON FOLLOWING ABOUT 10 MINUTE KEY-OFF AFTER A 20-30 MINUTE DRIVE CYCLE. THE FAULT IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN WARM WEATHER. PUMPING THE BRAKES ONCE BEFORE PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR WILL CLEAR THE PROBLEM. IF THE BRAKES ARE NOT PUMPED THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO ROLL DUE TO THE RESIDUAL TORQUE FROM THE ELECTRIC DRIVE THAT EXISTS EVEN WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS NOT DEPRESSED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A NISSAN DEALER WHO CHARGED $209 FOR ANALYSIS AND TO APPLY A, "SOFTWARE UPGRADE," TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER SYSTEM. IT S NOT YET KNOWN IF THE SOFTWARE RESOLVED THE ISSUE DUE TO INTERMITTENT NATURE. THIS ISSUE COULD POSE A HAZARD FOR ITINERANT DRIVERS OF LEAFS WITHOUT SOFTWARE UPGRADE BECAUSE THOSE DRIVERS WOULD NOT KNOW BRAKE PUMPING ALLEVIATES THE PROBLEM. THE NORMAL REACTION IS TO PRESS THE BRAKES HARDER WITHOUT LIFTING, WHICH HAS NO EFFECT ON RESTORING BRAKE FORCE.

NHTSA ID
11005959
Incident
Jul 10, 2017
Mileage
35,900 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 17, 2016

I HAVE HAD THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TWICE IN THE PAST 1 1/2 YEARS TO 'REPROGRAM' THE GRABBY BRAKES. THEY GET VERY SENSITIVE WHEN BRAKING BELOW 25 MPH. THEY GRAB, LET GO, GRAB, AND LET GO. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT IT WILL COST ME OVER $100 JUST FOR THEM TO LOOK AT THEM A THIRD TIME. I AM TIRED OF THE BANDAID APPROACH AND WANT IT FIXED BUT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY A PENNY FOR IT. THE CAR JUST TURNED 40,000 MILES. I LOVE IT EXCEPT THIS ANNOYING AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS BRAKING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
10885404
Incident
Jul 14, 2016
Mileage
40,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 27, 2016

I ECHO SO MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF THE BRAKES BEING OUT OF ONE'S CONTROL AT LOW SPEEDS. INSTEAD OF ALLOWING FOR A SMOOTH, SLOW DECELERATION, THE BRAKES ACTIVATE HARD END END UP JERKING THE CAR. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN THIS HAS BEEN REALLY FRIGHTENING. ENOUGH PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS THAT IT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO! IT'S HARD TO RECALL EXACTLY THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THIS HAPPENS, BECAUSE IT'S INTERMITTENT, BUT MOSTLY AT LOW SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID
10871280
Incident
May 27, 2016
Mileage
25,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 4, 2016

WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE GOES FROM A SOFT BRAKING TO A JOLTING STOP AT SPEEDS BELOW 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE JERKS SEVERLY WHEN BRAKING AND I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM ON WET ROADS AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT BEING REAR-ENDED AS IT STOPS SUDDENLY. I EXPERIENCE THIS EVERYDAY THAT I DRIVE IT. NOW, THE BRAKES HAVE ALSO BEEN RELEASING WHEN I'M TRYING TO STOP AT HIGHER SPEEDS, GIVING THE FEELING THAT I MAY NOT GET STOPPED IN TIME. AND THIS IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. THE CAR ESPECIALLY JOLTS WHEN CREEPING FORWARD AT A LIGHT OR INTO A PARKING SPOT. THE RELEASING, WHERE I FELT LIKE I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY ALSO HAPPENED IN THE SAME SITUATIONS. THE CAR WILL ALSO OCCASIONALLY CREEP FORWARD WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL DEPRESSED.

NHTSA ID
10863130
Incident
Mar 31, 2016
Mileage
15,677 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 12, 2016

BRAKES DID NOT WORK AFTER ENGAGING DRIVE FROM STATIONARY POSITION. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, NORMAL BRAKE ACTIVITY RESUMED. BELIEVED TO BE RELATED TO DEPLETED 12 V BATTERY.

NHTSA ID
10819773
Incident
Jan 10, 2016
Mileage
21,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 20, 2015

THE BRAKES GO FROM A SOFT BRAKING TO A JOLTING STOP AT SPEEDS BELOW 20 MPH. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR, AND THEIR HEADS ARE BEING JOLTED AROUND WHEN THE CAR BRAKES THIS WAY. I AM CONCERNED THIS WILL BE A PROBLEM ON SLICK ROADS AND I'M WORRIED ABOUT BEING REAR-ENDED WHEN IT STOPS SO SUDDENLY. IT DOES THIS EVERYDAY THAT I DRIVE IT, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. LATELY, THE BRAKES HAVE ALSO BEEN RELEASING WHEN I'M TRYING TO STOP, GIVING THE FEELING THAT I MAY NOT GET STOPPED IN TIME. I WOULD SAY IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR CANNOT SMOOTHLY TRANSITION BETWEEN REGULAR AND REGAIN BRAKES. I HAVE HAD IT AT THE DEALERSHIP TWICE, AND THEY PERFORMED A SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. THE CAR ESPECIALLY JOLTS WHEN CREEPING FORWARD AT A LIGHT OR INTO A PARKING SPOT. THE RELEASING, WHERE I FELT LIKE I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED RECENTLY ALSO HAPPENED IN THE SAME SITUATIONS. THE CAR WILL ALSO OCCASIONALLY CREEP FORWARD WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED, AND THE BRAKE PEDAL IS STILL DEPRESSED.

NHTSA ID
10783837
Incident
Oct 18, 2015
Mileage
35,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 29, 2014

WHILE IN A LINEUP OF CARS AT A STOP SIGN INTERSECTION, I HAD TO START AND STOP REPEATEDLY, AS EACH CAR MOVED FORWARD. VERY SOON, THE BRAKES DEVELOPED A JERKY RESPONSE, GRABBING AND RELEASING. SO THE CAR WAS LURCHING FORWARD AND JERKING TO A STOP. IT WAS QUITE EMBARRASSING, AND THE CAR BEHIND ME NEARLY REAR-ENDED ME. THIS WAS THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, AND THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. THE BRAKES ARE NOT CONSISTENT - SOMETIMES THEY GRAB COMPLETELY AND A COUPLE OF TIMES I HAVE COMPLETELY LOST BRAKING POWER FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THE ISSUE STILL EXISTS, AND I KNOW SEVERAL OTHER LEAF DRIVERS WHO HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED IT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND ONE OF THESE DAYS SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED BECAUSE OF NISSAN'S NEGLIGENCE, UNLESS NHTSA FORCES SOME ACTION ON IT. THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO VERY THOROUGHLY AND FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10640045
Incident
Jul 5, 2011
Mileage
2,550 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 17, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,060.

NHTSA ID
10637058
Incident
Jul 15, 2014
Mileage
50,060 mi
Brakes
Filed May 28, 2014

BRAKES ON THE NISSAN LEAF WERE PULSING ON AND THE WOULD TURN OFF AND A FEW SECONDS LATER WOULD TURN BACK ON. CYCLE WOULD REPEAT EVERY 3 SECONDS TILL THE CAR CAME TO COMPLETE STOP. LOCAL DEALER INVESTIGATED AND INFORMED ME THE DISC BRAKE ROTORS WERE WARPED. CAN'T BELIEVE THE BRAKES WOULD SHUT DOWN IF ROTORS WERE WARPED. COULD HAVE LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10594659
Incident
Mar 14, 2014
Mileage
7,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 5, 2014

TWO MONTHS AGO I WAS BRAKING MODERATELY WHEN THE CAR SHUTTERED, THERE WAS A BUMP AND THE CAR BEGAN COASTING. I SAW THAT IT HAD POPPED INTO N (NEUTRAL) EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T TOUCH THE GEAR SHIFT. I TRIED TO PUT IT BACK INTO D (DRIVE) BUT IT WOULDN'T RESPOND. I PUSHED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO SHUT IT DOWN. FINALLY, IT RESPONDED, THEN RESTARTED AND DROVE NORMALLY. AFTER THAT, THERE WOULD BE INTERMITTENT SHUTTERING AND BUMPING WHILE BRAKING. THE RECHARGING LIGHTS WILL PULSE AND I CAN FEEL THE REGENERATIVE FEATURE GRAB AND THEN RELEASE. ONE MORNING RECENTLY, ALONG WITH THESE SYMPTOMS THE RANGE PLUMMETED QUICKLY, BY ABOUT 1 MILE PER SECOND. AFTER DRIVING ONLY 20 MILES I HAD 17 MILES OF INDICATED RANGE. THEN, YESTERDAY, THE FIRST PROBLEM REAPPEARED: THE CAR WENT INTO NEUTRAL AND BRIEFLY WOULDN'T RESPOND. THE CAR IS NOW AT THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10563036
Incident
Feb 4, 2014
Mileage
25,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 1, 2013

MY NISSAN LEAF HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY SORT, AND HAS NEVER EVEN BEEN DRIVEN OVER A CURB. IT IS LESS THAN 18 MONTHS, AND LESS THAN 15,000 MILES. FRONT THE DAY I GOT IT, I FELT THAT AT TIMES WHEN I PRESSED THE BRAKES ON IT, THAT THEY WOULD SLIP, OR NOT GRAB FOR A 1/2 SECOND, BUT THOUGHT THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN ME. THE CAR FAILED COMPLETELY 10 DAYS AGO, AND WILL NOT START, TELLING ME THAT MY FOOT WAS NOT ON THE BRAKE! (A CONDITION FOR STARTING). COMBINED WITH THE FACT THAT IT CANNOT SEE THE BRAKES BEING HEAVILY DEPRESSED (FOR STARTING) AND ITS COMPUTER CONTROLLED BRAKES SLIPPING FOR 1/2 SECOND, IT MAKES ME THINK THAT THE COMPUTER HAS SOME REASON FOR NOT SEEING THE BRAKES WORKING. THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AND NISSAN USA HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND AFTER 10 DAYS NISSAN USA HAS NOT GOTTEN ANY CLOSER TO A RESOLUTION. IS THIS A COMPUTER/BRAKING DEFECT? IS IT COMMON? IT CERTAINLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY OF THOSE RIDING IN A CAR, AS BRAKE FAILURE IS CERTAINLY AS IMPORTANT AS AN ACCELERATOR STICKING. HAS A RECALL BEEN ORDERED FOR THIS, AND HOW MANY CARS ARE INVOLVED IN IT? *TR

NHTSA ID
10505292
Incident
Mar 22, 2013
Mileage
12,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 12, 2012

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 50 MPH. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED QUICKLY, AND I HAD TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PRETTY HARD TO SLOW DOWN QUICKLY. BUT AS SOON AS I DID THAT, SOME CRAZY EMERGENCY/AUTOMATIC BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED INTO OVERDRIVE AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES LIKE 10 TIMES HARDER THAN I DID, AND CAUSED MY CAR TO PRACTICALLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET HIT BY A CAR, BUT LUCKILY I DIDN'T. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY, AND CLEARLY A DEFECT IN SOME BRAKING OR COMPUTER SYSTEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD A SIMILAR THING HAPPEN WHEN I AM DRIVING SLOWER (LIKE 30 MPH), BUT THE EFFECT IS NOT AS DANGEROUS OR INTENSE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY UPDATED SOME COMPUTER UPGRADES THAT WERE NOT RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER LEAF OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS, AND YET NISSAN DOES NOT SEEM TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10461319
Incident
Jun 5, 2012
Mileage
7,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 19, 2012

BRAKE APPLICATION IS AT TIMES VERY INCONSISTENT. ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS (<40MPH) SOMETIMES A LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATION CREATES A DISPROPORTIONAL BRAKE FORCE. THIS RESULTS IN SUDDEN INVOLUNTARY STOPS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE HEADS OF PASSENGERS AND DRIVER BEING JERKED FORWARD. THE ISSUE DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME BUT IS REPRODUCIBLE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10458995
Incident
Nov 1, 2011
Mileage
4,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 23, 2012

I NOTICED THE BRAKING DEFECT SOON AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF MY LEAF. SIMILARLY TO THE OTHER RESPONDENTS, THE CONTINUANCE TO BRAKING AFTER THE PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED OCCURS AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS, ON THE FREEWAY, AND AT ALL SPEEDS IN BETWEEN. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DISCERN ANY PARTICULAR SITUATION THAT SEEMS TO 'CAUSE' THE PHENOMENON. I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS TO TWO SEPARATE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES (AT DOWNTOWN NISSAN OF LOS ANGELES, AND UNIVERSAL CITY NISSAN) WHO BOTH SAID IT WAS THE FIRST THEY'D HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. NEITHER SEEMED INCLINED TO LOOK INTO MY CLAIM IN ANY WAY. THE FACT THAT A SERIOUS FREEWAY COLLISION HAS BEEN REPORTED ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER LESS SERIOUS OCCURRENCES DETAILING THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATES THAT THERE IS INDEED A PROBLEM. IS NISSAN WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? I REALLY LOVE THE CAR, EXCEPT FOR THIS BRAKING PROBLEM, BUT I REALLY HATE NISSAN FOR IGNORING SOMETHING POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING UNTIL SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10444875
Incident
Jan 23, 2012
Mileage
100 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 27, 2011

WHILE BRAKING LIGHTLY AND NOT SUDDEN TO TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER, THE LEAF APPLIED FULL BRAKES AND DID NOT RELEASE THE BRAKES UNTIL THE CAR WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10437414
Incident
Nov 18, 2011
Mileage
4,300 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 1, 2011

I HAVE DEFINITELY NOTICED THE BRAKING ASSIST DISPLAYING A MIND OF ITS OWN, THOUGH NEVER ON THE FREEWAY AS YET. SOMETIMES I JUST TAP THE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES APPLY MUCH MORE THAN I WAS PUSHING. OTHER TIMES THE BRAKES APPLY NORMALLY, BUT DO NOT RELEASE IMMEDIATELY AFTER RELEASING THE PEDAL. NISSAN...SOMETHING IS UP HERE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10422865
Incident
Aug 31, 2011
Mileage
1,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 26, 2011

WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY, I HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I DECELERATED TO ABOUT 30MPH WHILE VEERING TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR. TO INFORM THE RAPIDLY APPROACHING CAR BEHIND ME, I TAPPED MY BRAKES ABOUT 4-5 TIMES A SECOND TO FLASH MY TAILLIGHTS. AT THAT POINT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND MY CAR RAPIDLY DECELERATED EVEN THOUGH I HAD REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. AFTER ABOUT 1/3-1/2 SECOND, THE BRAKES RELEASED AND I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CONTINUE DRIVING. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE FORUMS AND MY LOCAL EV GROUP, IT TURNS OUT THAT TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR BRAKING BEHAVIOR WHERE THE CAR DECELERATED RAPIDLY EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED.

NHTSA ID
10415888
Incident
Jul 24, 2011
Mileage
1,620 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 26, 2011
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING APPROPRIATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SWERVED IN TO MY LANE AND BRAKED HARD IN FRONT OF ME. WITH NO PLACE TO GO ON EITHER SIDE OF ME, I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE FAST AND HARD. THE ABS KICKED IN AS EXPECTED BUT ONCE I HAD DECELERATED TO A POINT WHERE I KNEW A COLLISION WAS NOT IMMINENT AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR CONTINUED BREAKING VERY HARD. IT TOOK THE BETTER PART OF A SECOND WITH MY FOOT NOW COMPLETELY OFF THE BRAKE BEFORE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY RELEASED. IN THIS TIME, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AND HIT ME HARD, CAUSING INJURY TO TWO PEOPLE IN THE CAR WHO WERE NOT BELTED IN. THIS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDABLE IF THE LEAF HAD NOT FAILED TO DECREASE THE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN I RELEASED PRESSURE AND THEN ULTIMATELY TOOK MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT FELT AS IF SOMETHING LIKE THE BRAKE ASSIST FUNCTION WAS MALFUNCTIONING... *TR

NHTSA ID
10415264
Incident
Jul 26, 2011
Mileage
4,786 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 25, 2011

I WAS ACCELERATING AFTER GETTING ON THE FREEWAY HEADING NORTH AND SLIGHTLY UPHILL I MIGHT HAVE BEEN PEAKING AT 55MPH WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SLAMMED HIS BRAKES ON. I DID THE SAME AND I HEAR MY TIRES SCREECHING , I PRESUMED THAT THEY WERE LOCKING. HOWEVER I DID MAINTAIN MY DIRECTION AND DIDN'T SEEM TO LOOSE CONTROL. WHEN I REALIZED I WOULD NOT REAR-END THE TRUCK I LEFT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. I WAS ALARMED WHEN MY TIRES WERE STILL LOCKED AND REMAINED LOCKED FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A VERY LONG HALF SECOND. BY THAT TIME I THINK I WAS UNDER 20 MPH ON A FREEWAY AND I WAS DARN LUCKY NOBODY WAS REAR-ENDING ME! I THINK THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE BRAKING RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10415124
Incident
Jun 22, 2011
Mileage
800 mi

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