NHTSA Complaint #10722066 — 2011 NISSAN LEAF

MY CAR REQUIRES ME TO WAIT AFTER PUSHING THE START BUTTON BEFORE I CAN SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. IF I DO NOT WAIT, THEN THE CAR SKIPS D OR R AND SHIFTS INTO THE NEUTRAL EVEN WHEN I SELECT THE GEAR SHIFTER TO R OR D. I HAVE EXPLAINED THIS SITUATION TO MY LOCAL AUSTIN NISSAN DEALER ON 5/28/15. IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THIS IS NORMAL. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHEN I START MY CAR ON AN INCLINE OR HILL AND ATTEMPT TO SHIFT TO D OR R. IF I DO NOT WAIT, THEN THE CAR ROLLS DOWNHILL IN NEUTRAL, REGARDLESS IF I SHIFT TO D OR R. THE CAR IS THEN ABLE TO LURCH FOR SEVERAL FEET DOWN AND FREE ROLL DOWNHILL BEFORE I REAPPLY MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. I COULD EASILY HIT ANOTHER CAR OR PEDESTRIAN. IT SEEMS UNSAFE FOR THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO REMEMBER TO WAIT FOR > 0.5 SECOND (ESTIMATE) BEFORE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. THE ELECTRONICS SHIFTER SHOULD DEFAULT TO REMAIN IN PARK IF IT IS NOT READY TO GO INTO D OR R. GOING INTO N SEEMS LIKE A POOR ELECTRONIC DEFAULT POSITION WHEN SHIFTING FROM P TO D OR R AT THE START OF CAR. I FOUND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS ONLINE WHEN I SEARCHED "NISSAN LEAF SHIFT TO NEUTRAL". THANKS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.