Nissan Leaf Reliability Problems

1. A lawsuit claiming Nissan's automatic emergency braking (AEB) system has dangerous defects will continue in court

   following a U.S. District Court judge tossing out the automaker's motion to dismiss. AEB systems monitor the road and can apply the brakes if the system detects a collision is imminnent. But according to the lawsuit, Nissan's AEB detects items that aren't there and can randomly bring the car to a screeching halt.…

   keep reading article "Nissan Wanted An Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) Lawsuit Tossed. It Didn't Work."

2. Nissan has been hit with another lawsuit for their forward emergency braking system

   that detects objects that aren’t really there. Instead of protecting drivers, system creates perfect conditions for rear-end and side crashes. A safety feature that actually causes crashes? Talk about awwwkward.…

   keep reading article "Another Lawsuit for Forward Emergency Braking Malfunctions"

3. Does Nissan's automatic emergency braking (AEB) system have a defective radar?

   A California lawsuit says malfunctions in the system create random emergency braking situations when the radar detects objects that aren’t really there.

   The owner's manuals for many of the vehicles admit the automatic emergency braking systems do "not function in all driving, traffic, weather and road conditions.” But the plaintiff says the manual leaves out the part about how the systems can cause vehicles to suddenly stop even when no objects are in the driving lane.

   It’s scary to think that a safety system might actually create more crash scenarios than it prevents.

   keep reading article "AEB Lawsuit Says System Can Randomly Stop Vehicles"

5. The 2nd-generation Leaf is due out later this year and, according to reports, it may be trying to kill off the brake pedal.

   Steph Willems from TheTruthAboutCars.com says Nissan promises a brake pedal designed to gather dust. The brand’s new e-Pedal, found in the 2018 Leaf, allows — with the push of a button — the ability to speed up, slow down, and hold a stop via the pedal on the right.

   The car will come to a complete stop when you lift your foot off the e-Pedal, which Nissan says will be a more "exciting and engaging way to drive." The only exciting about it will be watching traffic swerve around the Leaf driver who tried to coast but instead came to a screeching halt.

   

   "Drivers can cover 90% of their driving needs with the e-Pedal, making the process of driving more exciting. In heavy traffic and during city commutes, drivers will greatly reduce the need to shift from one pedal to the other, making your drive simpler and more engaging."

   I'd argue that one pedal isn't simpler. Hell, some people still can't tell the difference between the pedals we have now.

   keep reading article "Nissan Might be Trying to Ditch the Brake Pedal in the Next Gen Leaf"

6. Anyone else getting the feeling there's a major issue with Nissan's Occupant Classification System (OCS)?

   For roughly the 103rd time – ok, 4th – Nissan is recalling their defective OCS. And this one is a doozy at 3.8 million vehicles.

   "Nissan says the occupant classification systems in the front passenger seats can turn off because the systems classify an adult as a child or classify a seat as empty even if an adult is in the seat."

   That will disable the airbags for someone who really needs it.

   "Nissan says in the case of a child classification, the system is designed to illuminate the airbag light indicating the airbag is turned off. However, if the initial classification is “empty seat,” the light will not illuminate and there is no indication that the airbag is suppressed."

   Does any part of this thing work?

   

   Nissan has been accused of covering up the OCS issue and issuing repairs that didn't work in a lawsuit.

   keep reading article "For the Love of Everything, Nissan Issues Another Massive OCS Recall"

7. If you're driving a 2013-2015 Leaf, head south.

   That's because cold weather has been known to freeze the electronic brake booster, making the car a whole heck of a lot harder to stop. The recall was ordered after Nissan launched a "service campaign" in October 2015 on 2013-2015 LEAF cars. The voluntary service campaign was issued in the U.S. and Canada after Nissan said the problem wasn't related to safety.

   Say what you will about Nissan, but arguing that a brake defect isn't a safety defect takes a certain amount of gravitas.

   The affected cars were built between 11/192012 and 07/31/2015.

   keep reading article "The Leaf’s Electronic Brake Booster Can Freeze in Cold Weather"

8. Nissan's Occupant Classification System (OCS) has been the subject of two recalls in the past couple years, but a lawsuit says the fixes aren't working.

   Plaintiff Matthew Senci filed the proposed class-action lawsuit that alleges the vehicles have occupant classification system software that can incorrectly classify a front passenger seat as empty when it's occupied by an adult passenger.

   The error can cause the airbag to deactivate and fail to deploy in a crash and the lawsuit alleges Nissan has known about the problem since at least 2012 due to complaints and warranty claims.

   The first "limited" recall was in February 2013, but the fix was ineffective. A second, larger recall was announced in March 2014, but once again the lawsuit says the fix didn't do diddly.

   The lawsuit, Matthew Senci v. Nissan North America, Inc., accuses the automaker of unfair and deceptive acts and seeks damages for the decreased value of the cars.

   keep reading article "Nissan Sued Over Faulty Occupant Classification System (OCS) And Airbag Warnings"

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