NHTSA Complaint #10949621 — 2016 NISSAN MURANO

I EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT POWER SYSTEM FAILURES SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING A NEW 2016 MURANO ON 12/28/16. I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON 1/4/17 WHEN I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN ONTO A TWO-WAY ROAD. THE POWER SYSTEM FAILED IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENTERING THE TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO PULL HARD AGAINST THE DIRECTION OF THE TURN. THIS CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO OVERSHOOT THE TURN AND I WAS DRIVING IN THE LANE OF OPPOSING TRAFFIC PULLING HARD ON THE WHEEL TO RECOVER. THEN SUDDENLY THE POWER RETURNED AND MY VEHICLE VEERED HARD TO THE RIGHT IN THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION OF THE TURN. THERE WAS NO ONCOMING TRAFFIC SO I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS ON 1/5/17 WHEN I WAS BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER STEERING SO THE VEHICLE DID NOT TURN AS EXPECTED INTO THE TRAFFIC LANE. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE ORIGINAL PARKING SPACE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. RESTARTING THE ENGINE CAUSED THE POWER STEERING TO FUNCTION CORRECTLY AGAIN. THE THIRD OCCURRENCE WAS ON 1/6/17 WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO A NISSAN DEALER FOR REPAIR. AGAIN THE POWER STEERING FAILED MOMENTARILY WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN. I WAS DRIVING SLOWER THAN USUAL AND I WAS PREPARED TO ADJUST MY FORCE ON THE WHEEL BECAUSE I WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE NISSAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THE CONNECTOR E62 TERMINAL 5 WIRE WAS OUT OF POSITION (SEE ATTACHED SERVICE REPORT). SO THE PROBLEM WAS BASICALLY CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE.