NHTSA Complaint #10780631 — 2011 NISSAN LEAF

THIS IS NOT RELATED TO ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE, BUT IT IS RELATED TO CONSUMER SAFETY AND PROTECTION. NISSAN SETTLED A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AND AMENDED THEIR BATTERY REPLACEMENT/REPAIR WARRANTY SHORTLY AFTER THEY INTRODUCED THE LEAF TO THE US. VERY SOON AFTER THIS AMENDED WARRANTY WENT INTO EFFECT NISSAN SENT A LETTER TO ALL LEAF OWNERS AND ASKED US TO BRING OUR CAR IN FOR A "SOFTWARE UPGRADE" THAT WOULD GIVE US A BETTER RANGE DISPLAY. I SUSPECT THAT THIS "UPGRADE" ACTUALLY KEEPS THE CAPACITY (RANGE) DISPLAY ABOVE THE THRESHOLD THAT WOULD OTHERWISE OBLIGATE NISSAN TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE BATTERY. IS YOUR AGENCY THE APPROPRIATE ON TO BRING THIS SUSPICION/COMPLAINT TO AND REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION OR SHOULD I CONTACT SOMEONE ELSE. I DO NOT HAVE EVIDENCE, BUT IT IS MORE THAN A HUNCH. BEFORE THIS ALLEGED ""FIX" MY CAR HAD LOST 2 BARS OF DISPLAY, AFTER, ONLY 1, YET IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND RECHARGED MUCH MORE EXTENSIVELY THAN BEFORE THE "FIX". ALSO, NISSAN HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO SHARE DATA ON THE LEAF OR ITS BATTERY, AND INSISTS THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY COMPANY WHO CAN DIAGNOSE THE BATTERY, AND THEREFORE, THE ONLY COMPANY WHO CAN DECIDE IF THE WARRANTY SHOULD BE HONORED IN ANY CASE. THIS IS TROUBLING. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF ANY RESOURCES COULD BE DEVOTED TO LOOKING INTO THIS SOFTWARE "FIX" - THOUGH I UNDERSTAND BUDGET AND PERSONNEL CONSTRAINTS MAY INHIBIT THIS WITHOUT EVIDENCE BEYOND MY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE AND MY GUT FEELING. STILL, IT BEARS CONTACTING YOU TO ASK, AS WE HAVE SEEN HOW OTHER MAJOR AUTO MAKERS ARE WILLING TO BEND RULES AND LAWS IN ORDER TO PAD THE BOTTOM LINE. THANK YOU!! *TR