NHTSA Complaint #11629497 — 2019 NISSAN LEAF

The vehicle has developed fluctuating range estimates when going up steep grades on the highway. I was traveling at about 72 mph on a 5% grade with a 50% battery charge and a 60-mile range estimate. The range instantly started to drop from 50% to 40%, then 20%, then 10%. The car then entered what is called “turtle mode,” which limits the top speed to 20 mph. I managed to get the car off the highway onto an off-ramp, and then the battery percentage returned to 50% and turtle mode was deactivated. I was told that the battery pack has a weak cell, and under heavy load, the car’s software detects the lowest voltage in the battery pack, triggering the turtle mode. This is a dangerous situation, as the car loses acceleration and can suddenly drop from 70 mph to 30 mph, putting the driver at risk of being rear-ended or causing an accident. I have recorded this event on camera for reference. I am aware that Nissan has an open recall for fire hazards related to Level 3 charging, but these vehicles are also plagued by faulty high-voltage battery packs.