Nissan may have more angered Leaf drivers after Saturday

Release Date: Currently available in most of the US and Canada
MSRP: $29,990
Battery Pack Size: 40 kWh
Electric Range: 150 miles
MPGe: 99 MPGe
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Nissan Leaf Glacier Pearl

In response to the less than adequate response from Nissan (according to the owners of the affected Leafs), a group of Nissan Leaf owners will take to the highway Saturday morning to do a scientific test.

Things started months ago on the MyNissanLeaf.com forum when some owners in hot climates like Arizona started reporting they had lost a range bar on their Leaf displays. Nissan responded and even took some of the affect Leafs to their test facility in Arizona. When the Leafs were returned in July, it appears to have a reset battery capacity gauge as if to indicate that Nissan had replaced the battery with a new one. Williams says “it appears on the surface that an outright fraud may have been committed, since it doesn’t appear that the vehicle’s range has improved; only the gauge’s now improper reading.”

In response, Williams organized a test this weekend where a group of Leaf drivers will follow a set of rules and do a full-charge test drive and compare results.

The Leaf owners will use GPS data logging and the popular ‘Gidmeter’ to see how the 12 Leafs compare. They hope to solve whether or not they have a battery problem. With Nissan remaining tight-lipped on the subject of battery capacity loss, Williams and his team of volunteers hope Saturday’s range test gives them better insight into what is really happening.

At the same time, Nissan CEO Carlos Goshn spoke with the Wall Street Hournal saying “there is a second generation battery coming now… which is less costly than the previous one.” Perhaps the new battery will solve the heat-related issues.

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4 Comments on "Nissan may have more angered Leaf drivers after Saturday"

  1. Iive in the Antelope Valley of California and have lost up to 20 potential miles in the heat. I went from recording ranges of77+ to suddenly barely making 60 total ( driven and remaining potential ). Nissan plugged the computer into my Leaf and declared nothing wrong. I drive around in a very hot car because I cannot afford the additional loss to make it into town and back again. I’m beginning to become very worried.

  2. Kelly R. Olsen | September 19, 2012 at 12:14 am |

    This is sad to see and disappointing that Nissan has not taken the high road. I hope they change their attitude and realize that the early adopters need to be seen as leaders and should be treated with respect. You invested money in good faith into an new unproven product and in return for your risk you deserve loyalty and cooperation.

    The people involved in replying to this should be removed from their job and located someplace else within the company. They need to take responsibility and work hard to fix the problem and make all of the owners completely happy and satisfied. Anything else is unacceptable.

    I still plan on getting a 2013 LEAF, but this makes me a bit concerned.

    • Nissan has started buying back some of the Leafs in Arizona – similar to the lemon law, but not because they were forced under the lemon law (as Nissan says).

  3. For short trips I’m very happy so far. The only complaint so far with my ’12 SV is that the backup
    lights do not shine on the road
    but rather up in the trees.
    Three cents of electricity per mile. GREAT! after 2k miles.
    Good luck, Don

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