NHTSA Complaint #11228501 — 2014 NISSAN 370Z

SUMMARY: THE VEHICLE CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER (CSC), A COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH, FAILED ABRUPTLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, LEAVING THE VEHICLE FORCED IN-GEAR AND UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF GEARS OR TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK SINCE IT HAPPENS ABRUPTLY AND REMOVES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER; DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE, THIS CAN ALSO CREATE A PANIC-SITUATION SIMILAR TO BRAKE, STEERING, OR THROTTLE FAILURES SINCE THE CLUTCH IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CONTROLLING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE IN ALL SCENARIOS. EVENT: WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR (AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH) THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD NOT RETURN ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN 3RD GEAR. I HAD TO STALL THE VEHICLE INTENTIONALLY, THUS AT HIGH SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 10+MPH) AND IN TRAFFIC, THE TIRES OF THE VEHICLE LOCKED-UP AND THE CAR SKIDDED TO A STOP. THIS ALSO IMPARTED DRIVETRAIN AND ENGINE SHOCK DUE TO THE LARGE MECHANICAL FORCES INVOLVED. CONCERNS: IN ALMOST ALL TYPICAL DRIVING SCENARIOS, THIS FAILURE CAN BE DEADLY. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY THIS CAN LEAD TO HEAD-ON COLLISIONS. IF IT HAPPENS ON A FREEWAY THAT SEES AN ABRUPT STOP, THIS CAN LEAD TO A MULTI-CAR COLLISION. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A ROAD WITH BENDS OR TURNS THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL SUCH THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BE OFF-ROAD OR OVER GUARDRAILS. WHY NHSTA INVOLVEMENT IS CRITICAL: THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN AND A COMMON FAILURE MODE OF CARS WITH THIS SAME NISSAN TRANSMISSION, AND IT IS CAUSED BY NEGLIGENT DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING PRACTICES BY NISSAN. FAILED CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS PUT TOGETHER BY SMALL TEAMS OF PEOPLE HAVE NOT RESULTED IN REMOVING THIS SAFETY CONCERN FROM THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN THE FAILURE YET. MY VEHICLE IS A WELL MAINTAINED 2014 NISSAN 370Z WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON IT, FOR REFERENCE.