NHTSA Complaint #10626501 — 2014 NISSAN 370Z

THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC. MANUAL TRANSMISSION SUNNY, AIR TEMP APPROX 75 F. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPOX 0.25 MILES & 2 MINUTES IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO EVENT AND PARKED FOR THE PREVIOUS 4 HOURS. DRIVER PARTIALLY ENGAGED THE CLUTCH AND SHIFTED TO 1ST GEAR TO INITIATE FORWARD MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. AT A SPEED OF APPROX 10MPH THE DRIVER FULLY DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL (TO DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH) TO COAST MOMENTARILY WITH TRAFFIC AND SHIFT TO 2ND GEAR. THE DRIVER PARTIALLY RE-ENGAGED THE CLUTCH WITH THROTTLE TO RESUME ACCELERATION WITH TRAFFIC. THE CLUTCH PEDAL FAILED TO RETURN TO THE FULLY ENGAGED, DEFAULT, POSITION DURING OPERATION; THE CLUTCH PEDAL RETURNED ONLY APPROXIMATELY 1/3 OF NOMINAL TRAVEL DISTANCE. CONCURRENTLY, THE CLUTCH DID NOT ENGAGE AND SLIPPED WITH REGULAR THROTTLE APPLIED FOR THE SHIFTING CONDITION. PUMPING OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL DID NOT RESTORE NORMAL CLUTCH PEDAL POSITION NOR NORMAL CLUTCH FUNCTION. FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH TO PROPERLY ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE PREVENTED THE DRIVER FROM FULLY AND SAFELY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. DRIVER FORCED TRANSMISSION TO NEUTRAL POSITION, INDICATED TO SURROUNDING TRAFFIC AND COASTED TO SHOULDER ACROSS MULTIPLE LANES. DRIVER NOTED THAT NO APPARENT OBSTRUCTION TO THE MECHANICAL OPERATION OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL WITHIN THE CABIN. DRIVER NOTED AN ODOR, PRESUMABLY FROM OVERHEATED CLUTCH OR HYDRAULIC FLUIDS. SUBSTANTIALLY NORMAL CLUTCH PEDAL AND CLUTCH FUNCTION RETURNED WITHIN SEVERAL MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN SEVERAL MILES AND PARKED FOR AN HOUR. NORMAL CLUTCH PEDAL AND CLUTCH FUNCTION WERE NOTED AFTER THIS HOUR. *TR