NHTSA Complaint #10324385 — 2009 NISSAN MAXIMA

WHILE TRAVELING IN THE NUMBER (2) LANE OF THE US 405 N FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF OVER 65 MPH, I NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING, AND WITHIN 10 SECONDS THE ACCELERATOR CEASED TO RESPOND WHEN PRESSURE WAS APPLIED. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED, THE ENGINE WOULD REV, AND THE RPM GAUGE WOULD SHOW THE GAUGE MOVING UP, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR ALL THE WAY INWARDS, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESPOND. APPROXIMATELY 15-20 SECONDS LATER, I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE CEASED OPERATING, AND THE WHEEL LOCKED. I WAS ALSO UNABLE TO APPLY THE BRAKES, AS WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT VERY STIFF AND NON-RESPONSIVE. AT THE SAME TIME, LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD CLUSTER WERE ILLUMINATED. I STARTED PANICKING AS I HAD NO CONTROL OF A VEHICLE TRAVELING OVER 60 MPH ON A FREEWAY DURING EVENING HOURS LOS ANGELES TRAFFIC. I IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATED MY EMERGENCY INDICATORS, AND WAITED IN COMPLETE PANIC UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A ROLLING STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. DURING THE SAME EVENING, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO EXHIBIT THE SAME MALFUNCTIONS AS EXPERIENCED EARLIER THAT DAY AND THE VEHICLE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. DIAGNOSIS: CLIENT STATES VEHICLE WON'T START. BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHTS ARE ON AFTER CHARGING THE BATTERY PERFORMED BATTERY TEST WITH THE BATTERY TESTER CENTER MIDTRONICS NISSAN MCR620. GR8 BATTERY TESTER WAS UNABLE AT THIS TIME. TEST RESULTS GOOD BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION TERMINAL 1 CONNECTOR F6 FOUND TERMINAL MELTING WHERE CONNECT TO ALTERNATOR AND ALSO PART OF THE HARNESS AND ALTERNATOR BURNT DUE TO TERMINAL NUT LOOSE AND HAS MUCH PLAY. CALL NISSAN TECH LINE, AND REPORT THE INCIDENT AND ALSO FOR HELP. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE, THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. THE BATTERY LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AT TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND WOULD START TO FLICKER AND FLASH. UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB