2014 Nissan Leaf Problems

[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 INFOR

The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that while his wife was reversing from the garage, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately. Additionally, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000. The contact noted that the failure mileage was approximately 50,100 and speed was approximately 5 mph.

[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 INFOR

The power steering has intermittently been de-activating. There is a warning light that comes on (yellow triangle with an exclamation mark). When this happens it causes the steering wheel to feel like it’s pulls in a direction. After we suddenly lose power steering with no warning we’re left to drive a car with no power steering until it suddenly re-engages. There has been no rhyme or reason to when this happens. The issue has been diagnosed at a factory dealership. The car has not sustained any accident (ever) in the +/- 4 years we’ve owned it

THERE IS AN AIR BAG LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES WHEN THERE IS WEIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT BUT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT BE DEPLOYED, MAYBE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE THINKS THERE IS A DOG, SMALL CHILD, OR INANIMATE OBJECT SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE TROUBLE IS THAT THE "AIR BAG DISABLED LIGHT" OCCASIONALLY TURNS ON WHEN MY TEENAGE SONS SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE MY SONS DO NOT ALWAYS SIT SQUARELY TO THE BACK OF THE SEAT; THAT IS, THEY OCCASIONALLY SLOUCH IN THE SEAT. I HAVE VIDEOS OF THIS BEHAVIOR WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU, SO YOU CAN DETERMINE IT IS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO. NISSAN'S RESPONSE IS AKIN TO STEVE JOBS SAYING OF THE IPHONE 4, "YOU'RE HOLDING IT WRONG." I THINK NISSAN SHOULD BUILD THEIR SENSORS FOR THE WAY PEOPLE SOMETIMES SIT IN THEIR SEATS, NOT AS THE WAY THEY WOULD LIKE THEM TO SIT UNDER IDEA CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY PROBABLY HAVE ONE SENSOR AT THE BACK OF THE SEAT, WHEN THEY ACTUALLY NEED ANOTHER IN THE MIDDLE AND MAYBE ONE AT THE FRONT TO BETTER JUDGE THE WEIGHT OF THE OBJECT IN THE SEAT.

WHEN MY 90LB DAUGHTER AND 130LB WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF OUR MY14 NISSAN LEAF, THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY WITH WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL BE ON OR OFF. OFTEN, THE AIRBAG IS ON WITH MY DAUGHTER AND OFF WITH MY WIFE. THE DEALER HAS "RESET" THE AIRBAG FOUR TIMES AND SAYS "IT'S WORKING AS EXPECTED". I'VE SPOKEN WITH NISSAN ELECTRIC CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY SAID THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO AND THEY REFUSED TO LET ME TALK TO THEIR SUPERVISOR. *TR

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.

HI, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE YESTERDAY MORNING IT SPED OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH NO THROTTLE AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. TURNS OUT THE BRAKE, ABS, WARNING AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WERE ALL ON. THROTTLE BEHAVIOR IN DRIVE WAS NORMAL BUT WAS ALSO REALLY HARD TO BRAKE. THERE WAS ALSO A WEIRD HUM AT POWER ON. I POSTED THIS TO THE R/LEAF FORUM ON REDDIT AND EVERYONE SAID REPLACE THE 12V BATTERY WHICH FIXED IT. OTHERS DESCRIBED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE DEFROSTER DID NOT GENERATE AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT OF HEAT TO DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

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

CHILD LOCKS ISSUE: MY FAMILY AND I WERE GOING TO A RESTAURANT, AND, UPON ARRIVAL, MY MOTHER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT. I REALIZED THAT THE CHILD LOCK DEVICE LEVER IN OUR 2014 NISSAN LEAF WAS OUT OF THE CHILD-UNLOCKED, OR NORMAL-EGRESS, POSITION. I ALSO REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I INVESTIGATED THE DOOR CHILD-LOCK MANUAL LEVER ON THE LEAF AND INVENTED A DEVICE TO KEEP THE LEVER POSITION IN THE CHILD-UNLOCKED CONDITION UNTIL WE DESIRED TO REPOSITION IT (WHEN TRAVELING WITH SMALL CHILDREN). I ALSO INVENTED THE ALTERNATE DEVICE, THAT IS, TO MAINTAIN THE CHILD-LOCKED POSITION. THIS DEVICE WAS DESIGNED TO RESTRAIN THE LEVER AND INDICATE THE CHILD-LOCK CONDITION AT A GLANCE; THIS IS WHY THE LEVER KNOB IS VISIBLE WHEN THE OBJECT IS INSTALLED AND COLORS WERE USED TO AFFIRM THE STATUS. FOR OUR NISSAN LEAF, I USED A GREEN RUBBER INSERT FOR THE CHILD-UNLOCKED POSITION, AND A RED RUBBER INSERT FOR THE CHILD-LOCKED POSITION. THIS INVENTION, ALONG WITH SEVERAL VARIATIONS TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT ACTUATORS AND INDICATION PARADIGMS FOR INDICATING STATUS, WAS RECENTLY SUBMITTED TO THE US PATENT OFFICE, AND IS THUS ?US PATENT PENDING.? I CONTACTED BOTH NISSAN AND TOYOTA AND THEY REPLIED WITH NO INTEREST. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL SHARE DETAILS, INCLUDING DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF MY FIXES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THERE IS AN AIR BAG LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES WHEN THERE IS WEIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT BUT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT BE DEPLOYED, MAYBE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE THINKS THERE IS A DOG, SMALL CHILD, OR INANIMATE OBJECT SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE TROUBLE IS THAT THE "AIR BAG DISABLED LIGHT" OCCASIONALLY TURNS ON WHEN MY TEENAGE SONS SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS BECAUSE MY SONS DO NOT ALWAYS SIT SQUARELY TO THE BACK OF THE SEAT; THAT IS, THEY OCCASIONALLY SLOUCH IN THE SEAT. I HAVE VIDEOS OF THIS BEHAVIOR WHICH I CAN SEND TO YOU, SO YOU CAN DETERMINE IT IS IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO LOOK INTO. NISSAN'S RESPONSE IS AKIN TO STEVE JOBS SAYING OF THE IPHONE 4, "YOU'RE HOLDING IT WRONG." I THINK NISSAN SHOULD BUILD THEIR SENSORS FOR THE WAY PEOPLE SOMETIMES SIT IN THEIR SEATS, NOT AS THE WAY THEY WOULD LIKE THEM TO SIT UNDER IDEA CIRCUMSTANCES. THEY PROBABLY HAVE ONE SENSOR AT THE BACK OF THE SEAT, WHEN THEY ACTUALLY NEED ANOTHER IN THE MIDDLE AND MAYBE ONE AT THE FRONT TO BETTER JUDGE THE WEIGHT OF THE OBJECT IN THE SEAT.

1) start the vehicle 2) exit the vehicle 3) Unplug the vehicle 4) re-start the vehicle 5) put in drive Seat belt chime does not ring. I found that I can also 1) Start the vehicle 2) Put in drive 3) Put in park 4) exit the vehicle 5) enter the vehicle w/o seatbelt buckled 6) put in drive. No seatbelt chime.

THIS IS A GENERAL COMPLAINT ABOUT RECENT-MODEL HEAD RESTS. IT IS NOT LIMITED TO OUR CAR. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I THINK SOMEONE AT THE TRANSPORTATION BOARD IS OVERLY ZEALOUS IN THIS. MOST NEW CARS TODAY HAVE THE HEADRESTS VERY FAR FORWARD. IT SEEMS AS IF THE TRANSPORTATION BOARD WANTS THE HEADREST TO TOUCH THE HEAD. I DO NOT LIKE THIS. MY HEAD IS JOSTLED WHEN THE HEADREST TOUCHES MY IT. I THINK EVEN ONE HALF INCH AWAY IS TOO CLOSE, AS THEN IT TOUCHES MY HAIR. THE RESULT OF HAVING IT SO FAR FORWARD IS THAT IT PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD, TOWARDS MY CHIN, AND MY NECK AND BACK HURTS. AND UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE, I AM SURE, IS THAT MY WIFE AND I PUSH THE SEATS FORWARD AND THE BACK OF THE SEATS BACKWARDS. THIS HELPS TO KEEP THE HEADREST BACK A LITTLE BIT. BUT, I THEN HAVE TO TILT MY HEAD FORWARD TO KEEP IT VERTICAL, SO IT STILL IS A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE. I THINK YOU DO NOT REALIZE THAT IF YOU MAKE THINGS TOO UNCOMFORTABLE FOR PEOPLE, THEY WILL FIND WAYS AROUND IT AND NEGATE YOUR SAFETY SYSTEM. I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THIS. AND, I HOPE YOU WILL CORRECT THE ERROR AND PUSH HEADREST BACK IN THE NEAR FUTURE. *TR

The power steering has intermittently been de-activating. There is a warning light that comes on (yellow triangle with an exclamation mark). When this happens it causes the steering wheel to feel like it’s pulls in a direction. After we suddenly lose power steering with no warning we’re left to drive a car with no power steering until it suddenly re-engages. There has been no rhyme or reason to when this happens. The issue has been diagnosed at a factory dealership. The car has not sustained any accident (ever) in the +/- 4 years we’ve owned it

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

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.

CHILD LOCKS ISSUE: MY FAMILY AND I WERE GOING TO A RESTAURANT, AND, UPON ARRIVAL, MY MOTHER WAS UNABLE TO EXIT. I REALIZED THAT THE CHILD LOCK DEVICE LEVER IN OUR 2014 NISSAN LEAF WAS OUT OF THE CHILD-UNLOCKED, OR NORMAL-EGRESS, POSITION. I ALSO REALIZED THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. I INVESTIGATED THE DOOR CHILD-LOCK MANUAL LEVER ON THE LEAF AND INVENTED A DEVICE TO KEEP THE LEVER POSITION IN THE CHILD-UNLOCKED CONDITION UNTIL WE DESIRED TO REPOSITION IT (WHEN TRAVELING WITH SMALL CHILDREN). I ALSO INVENTED THE ALTERNATE DEVICE, THAT IS, TO MAINTAIN THE CHILD-LOCKED POSITION. THIS DEVICE WAS DESIGNED TO RESTRAIN THE LEVER AND INDICATE THE CHILD-LOCK CONDITION AT A GLANCE; THIS IS WHY THE LEVER KNOB IS VISIBLE WHEN THE OBJECT IS INSTALLED AND COLORS WERE USED TO AFFIRM THE STATUS. FOR OUR NISSAN LEAF, I USED A GREEN RUBBER INSERT FOR THE CHILD-UNLOCKED POSITION, AND A RED RUBBER INSERT FOR THE CHILD-LOCKED POSITION. THIS INVENTION, ALONG WITH SEVERAL VARIATIONS TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT ACTUATORS AND INDICATION PARADIGMS FOR INDICATING STATUS, WAS RECENTLY SUBMITTED TO THE US PATENT OFFICE, AND IS THUS ?US PATENT PENDING.? I CONTACTED BOTH NISSAN AND TOYOTA AND THEY REPLIED WITH NO INTEREST. PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL SHARE DETAILS, INCLUDING DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF MY FIXES. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHEN STATIONARY, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO PARK, AND WILL ROLL UNLESS PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER THEIR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS PART OF THE POWERTRAIN ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY FLAW. DASH DISPLAYS AN ERROR THAT READS "T/M SYSTEM MALFUNCTION VISIT DEALER", AND "WHEN PARKED APPLY PARKING BRAKE".