Clutch Pedal/linkage problems of the 2014 Nissan 370Z

Summary: the vehicle concentric slave cylinder (csc), a component of the transmission and clutch, failed abruptly in heavy traffic, leaving the vehicle forced in-gear and unable to shift out of gears or to neutral without damaging the transmission. This is a significant safety risk since it happens abruptly and removes control of the vehicle from the driver; due to the nature of the failure, this can also create a panic-situation similar to brake, steering, or throttle failures since the clutch is an essential part of controlling a manual transmission vehicle in all scenarios. Event: while driving in traffic, shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear (at approximately 30 mph) the clutch pedal would not return once the vehicle was in 3rd gear. I had to stall the vehicle intentionally, thus at high speed (approximately 10+mph) and in traffic, the tires of the vehicle locked-up and the car skidded to a stop. This also imparted drivetrain and engine shock due to the large mechanical forces involved. Concerns: in almost all typical driving scenarios, this failure can be deadly. If this happens on a two-lane highway this can lead to head-on collisions. If it happens on a freeway that sees an abrupt stop, this can lead to a multi-car collision. If this happens on a road with bends or turns this can result in loss of control such that the vehicle may be off-road or over guardrails. Why nhsta involvement is critical: this is a significant safety concern and a common failure mode of cars with this same Nissan transmission, and it is caused by negligent design and manufacturing practices by Nissan. Failed class-action lawsuits put together by small teams of people have not resulted in removing this safety concern from those who haven't seen the failure yet. My vehicle is a well maintained 2014 Nissan 370z with less than 20,000 miles on it, for reference.

After driving my 2014 Nissan 370z for 40,000 miles, the clutch stuck to the floor. I was at an intersection and finally able to pull the clutch pedal up with my foot. At the next intersection, again the clutch stayed down and again I was able to pull it up to shift gears. Upon the third shifting of gears, the clutch stayed on the floor and even lifting it with my foot, I was not able to get it into any gear. Had I been in the middle of a highway shifting gears I might not have been able to get to the side of the road therefore I would have definitely been in a hazardous situation for both myself and other drivers.

This incident occurred at a busy intersection during heavy traffic. Manual transmission sunny, air temp approx 75 f. The vehicle had been driven appox 0. 25 miles & 2 minutes immediately prior to event and parked for the previous 4 hours. Driver partially engaged the clutch and shifted to 1st gear to initiate forward movement of the vehicle from a complete stop. At a speed of approx 10mph the driver fully depressed the clutch pedal (to disengage the clutch) to coast momentarily with traffic and shift to 2nd gear. The driver partially re-engaged the clutch with throttle to resume acceleration with traffic. The clutch pedal failed to return to the fully engaged, default, position during operation; the clutch pedal returned only approximately 1/3 of nominal travel distance. Concurrently, the clutch did not engage and slipped with regular throttle applied for the shifting condition. Pumping of the clutch pedal did not restore normal clutch pedal position nor normal clutch function. Failure of the clutch to properly engage and disengage prevented the driver from fully and safely controlling the vehicle. Driver forced transmission to neutral position, indicated to surrounding traffic and coasted to shoulder across multiple lanes. Driver noted that no apparent obstruction to the mechanical operation of the clutch pedal within the cabin. Driver noted an odor, presumably from overheated clutch or hydraulic fluids. Substantially normal clutch pedal and clutch function returned within several minutes. The vehicle was driven several miles and parked for an hour. Normal clutch pedal and clutch function were noted after this hour.