Automatic Emergency Braking Problems of Nissan Leaf

On [xxx], I was slowly pulling into my driveway, took my foot off the accelerator and turned the steering wheel slightly to the right as the driveway is l shaped. Suddenly, the car sped up towards the garage door. I looked down quickly to see if I’d somehow pressed the accelerator by accident but I had not. I slammed on the brakes as hard as I could but the car kept going and smashed into the garage door and the corner of the garage, causing close to $20k in property damage. The hood and front bumper were badly caved in at the point of impact and pieces of the undercarriage were on the ground. The air smelled like rubber and there were tire marks on the driveway here I had slammed on the brakes. The airbags did not deploy. The automatic braking system did not work. There were no warning messages or lamps. The only unusual symptom that I noticed was that on my way home from kona, when I was pulling up slowly to a traffic light, the car seemed to hesitate a couple of times, which seemed odd but not severe enough for me to be concerned about a wreck. That occurred about a half hour before the incident. I was not physically injured but I have been very shook up and depressed since the incident. If this had happened on the highway, I could have been killed and the car could have killed others on the road. I reported the collision to usaa immediately and, on their advice, I had it towed to kona Nissan, the dealership where I purchased the vehicle and where I have had it serviced. The expectation was that they would perform diagnostics on the vehicle but they won’t touch it, nor will they talk to usaa. I had taken the car in when it was recalled for the vcm issues and I don’t believe it was fixed properly. Or the repair wasn’t effective. The car is at gerber body shop in kona, hawaii. Please arrange inspection with them. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2018 Nissan Leaf 🔎.

I've had four incidents of the automatic braking system engaging and braking when there was no object in front of the car that should have required it to stop. There doesn't seem to be a common factor. Twice in a lighted garage. Once on a highway while making a turn during daylight, and once on a highway going straight at night. It's very dangerous.

See all problems of the 2019 Nissan Leaf 🔎.

Brakes problem: during rain season the moisture can get into the brake system. When backing up, the brakes feel partially seized, and make squeeze sound. The problem is more serious when pulling the parking brake during overnight parking. Somehow the sound is coming out of front brakes. The sound will diminish after break several times during normal breaking. Forward collision warning system: the system only alerts driver with deeps and lights on dashboard. It doesn’t enables the brake system to slow or stop the car.

See all problems of the 2021 Nissan Leaf 🔎.

Hello. I have a 20/20 Nissan Leaf sv plus. This morning I had a total brake failure for lack of a better term. The e-pedal system, which I always use, suddenly failed while I was driving, showing a warning on screen that said e-pedal system malfunction. . . Please use pedal to break. When I went to use the pedal to break nothing happened except for this horrible sound and feel in the pedal. It barely just finally grabbed a little bit enough to stop before I hit the car ahead of me. But it was nothing short of a total brake failure, both e-pedal and manual pedal. Extremely distressing. What I want to know is how on earth when the e-pedal fails, the normal manual brake pedal doesn't work either. One thing to note, I let it sit almost all day while I was at work, went out and tried it, and it suddenly was working. I drove around the parking lot, turned it off. . . Back on . . And then the e-pedal warning came up again. I then went and purchased a 12 volt battery, as I read in some forums that it's possibly due to that. That also did nothing. Got the same e-pedal malfunction. The main reason I'm letting your agency know, is because I would consider this a total break failure, and completely unacceptable. By sheer luck I was only going about 5 mph when it first happened, and I could still barely break in time. Any help on the federal level. . . Would be great. Thank you so much for your time.

See all problems of the 2020 Nissan Leaf 🔎.

The incident occurred at a stop sign where I was waiting behind one other vehicle. The vehicle ahead of me accelerated from the stop sign to turn into traffic, but abruptly slammed on their brakes. I had began accelerating up to the stop sign and was unable to stop before impacting the car in front of me. As soon as I saw the vehicle was braking, I immediately slammed on the brake pedal. Braking did not immediately occur. My wife said she was afraid that I had slammed the gas pedal because she could hear my foot hit the brake pedal and neither of us felt any braking. The Nissan Leaf was in eco mode and epedal at the time of the incident. I believe that the transition from regenerative braking to mechanical braking delayed the stopping of my vehicle. We were lucky that this happened in a very low consequence situation, but if this happened with a pedestrian or at a higher speed where emergency braking is required, this delay in braking could be dire. In addition, this vehicle is equipped with automatic emergency braking. I have heard this feature go off before in this specific car when a car is braking faster than I am. In this case, the alarm and assisted braking did not go off, despite a car stopping within extremely close proximity.

Twice now - both times on the south bound richmond bridge, the automatic emergency braking lights came on and slammed on my brakes for me, as if I was about to crash when I was going 65 mils per hour, no one in front or behind me and no traffic, accident or reason. I almost lost control of the vehicle and would have caused an accident had anyone been closer to me.

My front collision system will sporadically start flashing when there is nothing in front of me. One time a dealer was able to read a code saying that it overheated, and told me that was a known issue with no solution. It was 100f, but I have had the same issue at 35f. The dealership and corporate cannot tell me how the safety system will respond with this error, either disabling my crash prevention system or possibly automatically breaking for no reason. I have taken it to the dealership 4 times. One refused to even try to read the code as it was happening. Another read the code but refused to record it. The other times they kept the car for a total of 8 days and didn’t even look at the component. It seems like they know that this safety issue exists and have no plans to address it. They also refuse to answer my question about liability if it causes my car to automatically break and cause an accident. This has happened at speeds between 0 and 75 mph.

See all problems of the 2023 Nissan Leaf 🔎.

I was driving on the highway when the car in front of me applied their breaks - I took my foot off of the accelerator but the car did not slow down. I applied the breaks but they did not work - in fact, the car seemed to accelerate. I heard the collision alarm sound but the automatic emergency braking system did not engage or stop the car, so I crashed into the car in front of me. Air bag deployed and then the car filled with smoke from the batteries but I couldn't get out as the power locks didn't work or allow me to open the door. The emt's had to break the rear window to get me out of the car.

See all problems of the 2022 Nissan Leaf 🔎.

The malfunction warning light came on to indicate that the automatic braking system was not working. I brought the car to the dealership, which quoted me $1900 for a new sensor. I have read about accidents and near collisions due to the malfunctioning of this system and am now worried that there might be sudden braking that others have experienced. I would like to get this system fixed, but do not believe consumes should need to pay $2000 to repair a defective system.

A yellow warning ?? and two cars crashing comes on and during driving the car applies sudden breaking. I took the car in for repairs but no time line was given for repairs or parts. Also even though it's under warranty the dealer and the headquarter would not give me a rental car until the repairs are made.

The car (2023 Nissan Leaf sv plus) was being driven down an urban street during daylight hours and in good weather (no precipitation). The car was being driven in the middle lane, between the right lane and the left turn lane, and at slow speed, as it had been stopped for a stop light. There was a truck parked in the right lane with a "cherry picker" on it that was involved in tree trimming. The truck was not moving. As the Nissan Leaf started to accelerate from the stoplight, the car suddenly applied it's brakes, rapidly slowing the car to a stop, and almost causing the car following to strike the Leaf from behind.

Around 45 degree weather, while driving on the freeway, a warning light indicating the aeb had been turned off started flashing on my dashboard without any collision, jerky movements, sudden stops, or changes to settings. At the same time this happened, my electric battery mileage started to fluctuate erratically (73% to 8% to 14% back to 70% and finally to 60%). This is extremely concerning because of the car immediately brakes or if the battery dies on the freeway, it could cause a major collision.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? aeb may have malfunctioned. Yes, I will provide the car for official inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? possible injuries from abrupt braking; possible and likely rear-end collision if drivers behind me. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? no. I have not contacted Nissan. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no. I have not contacted any gov agency or insurance carrier. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? yes. I saw three red flashes and associated sounds warning of imminent collision - even though nothing was in front of the car that would cause the aeb to engage. Below is my incident description: my work has an underground garage. I was entering the garage, went down one level, and then on my way back up the next level. There are speed bumps going down and going up, so you cannot go very fast. On my way back up (incline), the aeb unexpectedly activated with red buttons flashing about three times with sound (as if I was about to crash into something) and then the car abruptly stopped. I stepped on the accelerator to try and go and it would not budge. I'm still on the incline. If there were cars behind me, I would have most likely been rear-ended because this incident came out of nowhere and my car just stopped. There were no moving cars in front of me that would indicate a near collision, only parked cars. I had driven this route in the past so I don't know what was different today. Car just stopped. I am still on incline; placed car in park; waited few seconds; placed car in drive and was finally able to move the car.

7/21/22 -we left our property, brakes working fine, drove 1/2 mile, no brakes. Dash lights lit up, brake, abs, ! and anti skid. Finally jammed parking brake and regular brakes on, creating a grinding noise and car stopped. 7/22/22-towed car to mechanic in sonora, CA…he said brakes working now. 7/23/22- drove car to central valley Nissan. New intelligent brake control unit was installed. Car has less than 36,000 miles on it. This part should not have failed. Part is available for examination. 7/23/22-I called Nissan consumer affairs to discuss the issue with the part, they said the car was no longer under warranty, so to bad, so sad.

See all problems of the 2017 Nissan Leaf 🔎.

The incident happened on a bright afternoon while I was entering our two car parking garage in our home ; steering wheel steered to the utmost right to enter the right parking space in our garage. I was driving an almost dead battery (8% charge remaining and 13 miles left) and the 2019 model Nissan Leaf car (20k miles driven) was already very heavy while entering our alley (backyard parking). I was driving at 10 mile speed or under when our fence door was in the process of opening (half way opened) and the car garage was already opened; the car jerked forward with a sudden speed, dashed through the fence door and did not stop on drive way (brakes failed) and entered into the garage, hitting the storage racks built to the wall and the toilet right behind it. Things fell on the windshield, obstructed the car when it finally stopped (had to hit the stop button by force). I was scared to death if the car was going to get on a fire or would result in an electric short circuit. Luckily I was saved with no major injuries and god was beside me and saved me from causing any damage to anyone or other's properties. I am sure there might have been other such complaints on Nissan Leaf and want to bring this to light.

Aeb system malfunction around 25000 miles. Dealer diagnose as the front radar failed and cause the cruise control not available.

I had an accident that totaled the Leaf the day after I bought it. It was dark. The road was more congested than usual and a dog ran out into the road. According to eye witnesses, three vehicles including two Honda suvs (the first vehicle that stated the whole mess didn't stay) managed to brake to a complete stop without rear ending one another. The Nissan Leaf could not brake quickly enough and I rear ended a cr-v with enough force that the Leaf airbags deployed and I could tell the Leaf was totaled at the scene. The emergency braking system never engaged and the brake pedal felt the same from beginning to end. I was not tailgating. The Leaf felt enough like my 2020 kia niro that I made the mistake of not being more cautious with a vehicle that was new to me. Bottom line: I expected the Leaf to behave in an emergency the same as a vehicle I had been driving without incident for 18 months and it didn't. My 2020 kia niro does not have emergency braking and I hadn't planned to test it out with the Leaf. Being dark, I saw the instant the vehicle in front of me slammed on their brakes and slammed on mine, but it felt the Leaf wasn't slowing down fast enough. Not nearly as quickly as the Honda.

2 incidents have occurred with this vehicle. The first earlier this year (2021) is that upon slowly accelerating to move closer to vehicle that moved up in a turn lane, the automatic emergency brake system engaged, abruptly stopped the vehicle and many lights lit up across the dashboard. The brakes then released and all lights on the dashboard disappeared. I was not close enough to the car ahead or at any rate of speed that should have caused this abrupt brake reaction. The 2nd incident and most dangerous happened on 8/13/21. I was slowly reversing out of a parking spot at a crowded location, when I saw a car behind my vehicle. I went to brake (not hard brake just regular), and the brakes did not work. I continued to slowly roll back towards the car behind me. I tried pressing the brakes repeatedly and it would not stop rolling backwards. I then pulled the emergency brake and the car came to a stop. No lights appeared on the dashboard. I turned the car off and powered it on again and slowly moved forward into the parking space and tried reversing again. The car was driving completely fine just after. I had a short trip home & didn't drive the rest of the evening. I didn't charge the car as there was still 85% left on the battery. The next morning, the car would not start and a message showing "service ev system no power" appeared on the dashboard with multiple lights lit. I called a tow truck to take it to the dealer and they found that the 12v battery was completely dead. Battery light not lit on dashboard prior to the complete outage. The dealer said it was the 12v battery that was likely the cause of these incidents and they replaced it. The brake issues could not be reproduced at the dealer after the new battery installed. Also note, that I just had the vehicle in for a multi-point inspection in June where nothing was found to be faulty. They did recommend a brake fluid exchange, so this was done as well as tire rotation.

I was driving alone at 4:20pm at about 30 mph, with no other cars or pedestrians around when the brakes suddenly activated, and the accelerator went to idle. The braking lasted about one second and did not stop the car completely. This occurred on a city street. These events have been happening several times a month.

"automatic braking system failed to engage" on a offramp lane from freeway 5 southbound to crown valley parkway off ramp while traveling approximately 25mph I rear ended a vehicle that was at dead stop and that vehicle rear ended a second vehicle. California highway patrol was called and report was documented which is attached. This happened on December 22,2020 at about 7pm, dark clear evening in the city of mission viejo. It was on the straight freeway lane leading to the offramp with other lanes on the freeway moving freely. Upon discussion with Nissan investigation (claim no. 42994813) 615 725 7590, they summarized 10 page disclaimer from owners manual stating that braking system is not 100%. Its understandable if the vehicle was old but this is a new vehicle with what is advertised as a automatic braking system and that system did not work. I manually braked to a crash.