NHTSA Complaint #11296820 — 2020 NISSAN MAXIMA

NISSAN IN THE 2020 MAXIMA MODELS REMOVED THE LOCKING FEATURE OF THE GAS CAP DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR POSSIBLE VANDALISM TO THE VEHICLE A PERSONAL SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE IS A KEYED LOCKING CAP IS INSTALLED THE INDIVIDUAL HAS TO FUMBLE THROUGH UNLOCKING THE CAP IN ORDER TO FILL THE TANK. NEITHER THE SALES PERSON OR SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL KNEW THIS FEATURE HAD BEEN REMOVED IN THE 2020 MODEL. IT'S AVAILABLE IN THE 2019 MAXIMA MODELS. THE REMOVAL OF THIS FEATURE, EVEN THOUGH ITS STANDARD ON MOST VEHICLES SOLD IN NORTH AMERICA SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCLOSED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. FURTHER, THE FACT THAT NEITHER THE SALES PERSON AT THE DEALER, SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL OR MANAGEMENT AT THE DEALER KNEW ABOUT THIS, SHOWS THAT NISSAN PURPOSELY WITHHELD THIS INFORMATION FROM THE CONSUMERS. HAD I KNOWN THIS FEATURE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE, EVEN THOUGH IT'S STILL AVAILABLE IN LESS EXPENSIVE MODELS IN THE NISSAN BRAND, I MAY HAVE OPTED TO PURCHASE A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. NISSAN MARKETS IT PRODUCTS AS BEING OVERLY SAFE, HOW DOES THE REMOVAL OF THIS KEY FEATURE MAKE THE NISSAN AS SAFE AS NISSAN MARKET THEIR PRODUCTS? THE REMOVAL OF THIS FEATURE MAKES THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PERSON FUELING THE VEHICLE QUESTIONABLE! *JS