NHTSA Complaint #11301859 — 2018 NISSAN LEAF

THIS NISSAN LEAF HAS AN EZ-PEDAL FEATURE. WHEN ENABLED, TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR SLOWS YOU DOWN QUICKLY UNTIL YOU COME TO A FULL STOP. AND THEN THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. AND THIS NON-MOVEMENT DOES NOT REQUIRE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. WHILE A CONVENIENCE, THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN ENABLED AND THE CAR IS STOPPED (BUT IN DRIVE), THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ONE. IN CONTRAST, WHEN STOPPED USING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! DRIVERS APPROACHING FROM BEHIND DON'T EXPECT A STOPPED CAR TO NOT HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS ON. THEY MAY REALIZE RATHER LATE THAT THE CAR IS STOPPED. IN OTHER WORDS, THE VISUAL CUE OF "BRAKE LIGHTS ON MEANS CAR IS STOPPED OR SLOWING DOWN" IS NOT EVIDENT. WHICH CAN LEAD TO MISTAKES BY DRIVERS WHO ARE NOT PAYING FULL ATTENTION. THIS HAPPENED TO ME RECENTLY. I WAS STOPPED BEHIND A CAR WAITING AT A CROSSWALK. ON A 3 LANE 40MPH STREET, WITH NO LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS FOR A MILE. A FAST STRETCH WITH NO EXPECTATION OF STOPPING!. I, IN MY LEAF, HAD EZ PEDAL ENABLED. I WORRIED THAT SOMEONE MIGHT HIT ME, SINCE I WAS STOPPED IN A PLACE THAT IS UNUSUAL TO STOP IN. AND 15 SECONDS AFTER STOPPING I WAST REAR ENDED! NO PERSONAL DAMAGE, BUT $1500 IN REPAIR (AND MORE FOR THE CAR THAT HIT ME). SINCE I WAS NOT AT FAULT, I WILL GET FULL INSURANCE. BUT IT IS NOT A GOOD THING! I CHECKED LATER - AND INDEED THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT GO ON WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED IN EZ-PEDAL MODE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED! I IMAGINE THIS IS A SOFTWARE UPDATE. I SUGGEST THAT FOR CARS (LEAF OR OTHER) IN DRIVE, WITH EZ-PEDAL ENABLED: WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY STOPPED THE BRAKE LIGHTS MUST GO ON. AND, WHEN THE CAR IS DECELERATING QUICKLY (WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR WHILE MOVING), THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD GO ON. THANKS. I COULD OF PUT ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS, BUT IT IS NOT EASY TO THINK OF SUCH A TRICK ON THE FLY.*DT*JB *DT*JB