NHTSA Complaint #10490246 — 2011 NISSAN VERSA

I WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AT NITE AND WANTED TO DIM MY BRIGHTS FOR ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I PULLED BACK ON THE STEM IN ORDER TO DO SO. AT THAT SAME TIME I LOST MY HEADLIGHTS COMPLETELY. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH BECAUSE IT WAS A DARK NIGHT AND ALL I COULD SEE WAS THE HEADLIGHTS OF THE ONCOMING CAR-- BUT NOT MY ORIENTATION TO THE ROAD. I IMMEDIATELY USED THE BREAK AND EASED THE CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER AND STOPPED. I FOUND THE HEADLIGHT KNOB TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION. I WAS CONFUSED BECAUSE I DID NOT BELIEVE THAT I HAD ROTATED IT MYSELF. THIS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL MORE OCCATIONS IN THE FIRST WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR. EVENTUALLY I REALIZED THAT THE TURN-ON ROTATOR FOR THE HEADLIGHTS IS SO LOOSE, AND FREE-TURNING, THAT THE SIMPLE MOTION OF ACTIVATING OR DEACTIVATING THE BRIGHTS LOCATED ON THE SAME STEM AS THE HEADLIGHTS CAN CAUSE IT TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AS AN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE. MY HUSBAND AND DAUGHTER EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING SEVERAL TIMES EACH. THEY FELT AS PANICED AS I HAD BEEN WHEN IT HAPPENED TO THEM THE FIRST TIME. NOW WE KNOW THAT IF WE TOUCH THE HEADLIGHT STEM FOR ANY REASON THAT WE MUST BE PREPARED TO TURN THE HEADLIGHT ROTATOR BACK TO THE ON POSITION IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZZARD THAT COULD BE LIFE-THREATENING. WE ASKED THE DEALER WHO SOLD US THE CAR TO PLEASE SEE IF IT COULD BE FIXED. THEY SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I WOULD NOT GIVE THIS CAR TO AN INEXPERIENCED LOVED ONE TO DRIVE AS THEY MAY PANIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR INJURY TO THEMSELVES. *TR