NHTSA Complaint #10515049 — 2011 NISSAN LEAF

THE INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO BE DRIVEN OFF WITHOUT THE KEY PRESENT (IT WAS IN THE POCKET OF A PERSON STANDING OUTSIDE THE CAR). THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS THEN WENT ON A 15 MILE TRIP, WHEREIN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED (SAFELY). AFTER AWHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RE-ENTERED, BUT THE DRIVER COULD NOT START THE CAR BECAUSE THE KEY WAS NOT PRESENT. 2 YOUNG CHILDREN WERE LEFT WAITING IN THE HOT SUN, BUT WERE NOT INJURED. EVENTUALLY ANOTHER PERSON RETRIEVED THE KEYS AND BROUGHT THEM TO THE DISABLED CAR AND DRIVER USING A SECOND VEHICLE. IT WAS VERY INCONVENIENT AND STRESSFUL FOR ALL PARTIES INVOLVED AND LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. NOTE: LATER ON, AFTER TESTING THE VEHICLE IN A CONTROLLED SITUATION, THE WARNING SYSTEM DID NOT INDICATE THAT THE KEY WAS NOT PRESENT AS THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES IT SHOULD. *TR