NHTSA Complaint #11205346 — 2011 NISSAN 370Z

FOR YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) THAT DISABLED THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION IN A WIDE RANGE OF NISSAN AND INFINITI VEHICLES. THE ESCL'S PRIMARY JOB IS TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UNTIL YOU BRING YOUR KEY FOB IN RANGE OF THE VEHICLE. IT'S MEANT TO PREVENT THEFT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE ESCL MALFUNCTIONS (EVEN WITH THE FOB PRESENT AND WORKING) THE ESCL WON'T DETECT IT AND, THEREFORE, WON'T RELEASE THE WHEEL. WHEN YOU PRESS THE START/STOP BUTTON TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENS. HOWEVER, THE "INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT" SYMBOL COMES ON, INDICATING YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FO YEARS AND HAS ISSUED A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR VARIOUS MODELS. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT DONE SO FOR THE 370Z, EVEN THOUGH THIS MODEL IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEM AS THE MODELS INCLUDED IN THE VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THIS MALFUNCTION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GENERAL "WEAR & TEAR". THIS MALFUNCTION IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART AND POOR ENGINEERING. I AM ASKING NHTSA TO ENCOURAGE NISSAN TO CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY OR MANDATORY RECALL TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE AT NO COST TO VEHICLE OWNERS.