Brake Failure

33725 Views 167 Replies 45 Participants Last post by srichards, Oct 29, 2021

Clogman

Discussion Starter · Jun 19, 2017

Hi all,

Brief history first I have been a Leaf owner for 4 years and my second one has just gone back as the PCP had run its course. I was a leaf Ambassador during the earlier years (hi people if you remember me from Maine road) and up till 30th April I would have told everybody I spoke to how brilliant they are. I am deliberately posting this as a new thread as I find adding to existing just means facts get confused and lost.
On the 1st May whilst in a queue of traffic I rear ended the car in front because my brakes failed completely.
The only reason I stopped was because I hit it . 30 seconds earlier I was doing 70 on the motorway.
The brake pedal just went to the floor and nothing happened other than the ABS system apparently kicking in as I could feel the brake pedal vibrating under my foot.
The incident has now been reported to DVSA. and I would encourage others who have experienced similar to do the same.
The response from Nissan has been less than satisfactory. I would have been happy to help in any way but they have not spoken to me.
I note the other instances on threads of similar things happening and I can only say that this SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. Its a car and it should have brakes that work ALL the time.

Reactions: 3

141 - 160 of 168 Posts

Kieren

· #141 · Apr 12, 2019

Agreed. Wrote off my first leaf due to this issue. Leaf 2 appears to work differently and so far no issues. I seriously think a global recall is required... I think that having brakes that work is rather important.

Be good to know what the issue is....

Matt w

· #142 · Apr 13, 2019

I'm still waiting to find out what the issue is with our Leaf, it's been over two weeks since the loss of brakes. Nissan have been out to inspect it at the dealership and now waiting for their report. Unless they guarantee that the brakes are 100% and this will never reoccur I can't see us driving the car again and will expect Nissan to buy the car back. The liability on Nissan if there was a fatal accident after this has been reported would be corporate manslaughter.

We both like the leaf a lot, so much so we've had two but Nissan really don't seem to care that much about the customer experience. After this problem I wont be buying another Nissan.

Reactions: 1

TheWongs

· #143 · Apr 15, 2019

After reading the GTE story, one would start to wonder if the brake issues on the Leaf could have something to do with the dreaded 12v battery problems?...

I've had mine doing silly things over bumps a few times but nothing too scary. Once I was approaching traffic lights, pressed the brake early to slowly reduce speed and quickly discovered that I had to stand pretty hard on it for anything to happen. I was very glad that I pressed it early! I've not had any problem like it since, but it's always in the back of my mind.

freddym

· #144 · Apr 15, 2019

The NZ ChCh based EV aftermarket specialist has an upgrade / fix for this well known and documented Leaf Brake failure.

No need to speculate, get in touch with someone that has the expertise.

Reactions: 1

TheWongs

· #145 · Apr 15, 2019

freddym said:
The NZ ChCh based EV aftermarket specialist has an upgrade / fix for this well known and documented Leaf Brake failure.

No need to speculate, get in touch with someone that has the expertise.

Not speculating. Just thinking out loud. I must try to stop that thinking thing.....

There is obviously a problem with some Leaf brake systems and I wasn't trying to say otherwise. What I was trying to convey is that some of the glitches in the Leaf could be down to the 12v battery. Another very well known issue.

noiseboy

· #146 · Apr 15, 2019

TheWongs said:
What I was trying to convey is that some of the glitches in the Leaf could be down to the 12v battery. Another very well known issue.

Once the car is running, the 12v electrics run from the DC DC converter, so it's extremely unlikely that an end of life battery battery would cause this issue.

freddym

· #147 · Apr 15, 2019

EVS Enhanced, based in ChCh NZ seem to have got on top of this problem and identify it as a bug in the braking software (firmware) that MUST be upgraded on certain Leafs, approximately those build in the UK before end 2016.

See link for description of problem and how to identify what you may have in your Leaf. Brake Control Module Firmware Update – AZE0-2xxxxx Leaf - EVs Enhanced

andrew*debbie

· #148 · Apr 15, 2019

TheWongs said:
What I was trying to convey is that some of the glitches in the Leaf could be down to the 12v battery.

Yes.

When the 12V supply drops below threshold, the power assist motor stops running and the rod from the brake pedal will travel until it connects directly to the master cylinder. My 2014 LEAF did this when the battery failed.

It feels like the pedal is going all the way to the floor but it is actually up against the master cylinder. If you push really hard, the brakes will work.

In my case the car wouldn't start so there was no real safety risk.

Reactions: 3

anemic

· #149 · Apr 15, 2019

@freddym That is a sweet resource for kiwi Leaf owners. In my cursory web check for American Leaf brake failures, they abound (sadly!).

Reactions: 1

TheWongs

· #150 · Apr 15, 2019

Very good information about the problem on a few sites now. Flipthefleet.org say "A weak 12V battery featured in a number of reported failures. We do not have enough data yet to draw a definite causal relationship between brake failure and low 12V battery charge".

Anyway... Because it was on my mind, I just checked my brake firmware version and it seems like it's on the list of older firmwares. It reads:

3NG4A BRAKE 470Y1170252

I'll maybe try Nissan with that one, but won't hold my breath...

DBMandrake

· #151 · Apr 15, 2019

If this is proven (eventually) to be a firmware bug that causes the brake controller ECU to "crash", as postulated in some of the articles, and there is a software fix that Nissan is dragging their heels on (claiming it only applies in very cold climates) then surely that is bordering on scandalous ?

You don't play dice with a potentially buggy/faulty brake controller Nissan! If there is any risk at all and a software update is available it should be the subject of a recall...

New Zealand is a tricky case because most Leaf's there are "grey market" imported from Japan and the UK, as Nissan NZ don't sell the Leaf 30 for example, (hence all 30's are grey market imported) however Nissan still have a sales and service presence there and could theoretically perform a recall software update, (it will be the same diagnostic tool that does all Nissan's, no harder than updating an ICE vehicle ECU) so to my mind the "we're not responsible because we didn't sell the car in NZ" excuse just doesn't fly when safety is a concern.

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Seamus

· #152 · Apr 15, 2019

I have been looking at my readings from Leaf Spy and they are very different, unless I am looking in the wrong place. Mine is a June 2015 Accenta

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TheWongs

· #153 · Apr 15, 2019

You are doing it right.

3NG9A

Yours is in the same position as mine. If you look at this page: Brake Control Module Firmware Update The screenshots show before and after firmware changes and both of ours are in the "before" picture.

I know someone who knows the big wigs in a Nissan dealership around the corner from me, so I'll see if I can get an introduction to have a word about it. If I get a chance, I'll do it this week...

Seamus

· #154 · Apr 15, 2019

Thanks. I didn't see that page. I was looking at this one
Brake Control Module Firmware Update – AZE0-2xxxxx Leaf - EVs Enhanced

Matt w

· #155 · Apr 15, 2019

Spoke to Nissan customer service today, they have road tested the car and roller brake tested it, the brakes now worked fine so we should have the car back - according to Nissan. I have spoken to them about the brake control unit software and deny its applicable, (my Leaf has the earlier software) Even though the brakes failed and they haven't diagnosed a fault they want us to use the car again. I'm actual shocked they are prepared to put road users at such risk.

Reactions: 1

TheWongs

· #156 · Apr 15, 2019

They should at least have updated the software. But then, who's to say that would make a difference anyway?

All it takes is a child to cross the road without looking and the brakes not work as they should. I imagine if that happened, they would check the car, find no problem and then blame the driver. It's a no win situation!

TCH

· #157 · Feb 17, 2020

Hi all, just signed up as sadly this happened to me last week.

We own a 2015 Nissan Leaf which has only covered just over 20,000 miles. On the evening of 13/02 I was leaving work with my wife (who is 36 weeks pregnant) and my mother-in-law when the brakes failed. Luckily we were only travelling around 3mph so I was able to steer the car off the road and apply the handbrake, but needless to say it was a very scary experience. If this had happened 10 minutes later into our journey we would’ve been on a fast moving A-road and could quite easily have been seriously hurt or worse.
The car was recovered by the AA and taken to the local Nissan dealer, who informed me that while they couldn't replicate the issue, they'd been informed by Nissan techs that the brake controller had failed and cost of replacement would be £2900. After some searching online I obviously uncovered this thread and the information from the NZ website about the old firmware. I went back to the workshop manager who has basically refused to acknowledge that a firmware update appears to be the fix. We're at a bit of a stalemate now. I've reported it to the DVSA and have drafted an email to the consumer affairs people at the Guardian.

I’m gobsmacked at how Nissan could allow such unsafe vehicles to remain on the road, but also expect the customer to pay £2900 to rectify the issue.

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Reactions: 3

Mark Short

· #158 · May 2, 2020

Hi all,
I have also been having this severe braking issue. Checked my car last night and also have the version A firmware installed. I'm going to push for the dealer to update it to version C but they have been completely useless so far. It feels like they have been told on high to act completely dumb on this issue. If they don't do anything this time I'll have to part exchange for an ICE car and probably get a terrible deal...
Did anyone manage to get the dealer to fix the problem?

Reactions: 1

freddym

· #159 · May 2, 2020

Mark, please don't trade this car: some other victim will drive it putting their life in danger or crashing into someone's else's wife, mother, daughter etc.

Have you spoken to your Trading Standards officer?

If they can't help, I would be contacting a no fee type of claims Lawyer.

Reactions: 1

dk6780

· #160 · May 2, 2020

Mark Short said:
Hi all,
I have also been having this severe braking issue. Checked my car last night and also have the version A firmware installed. I'm going to push for the dealer to update it to version C but they have been completely useless so far. It feels like they have been told on high to act completely dumb on this issue. If they don't do anything this time I'll have to part exchange for an ICE car and probably get a terrible deal...
Did anyone manage to get the dealer to fix the problem?

Interestingly when I bought my car I contacted Nissan to see if it was subject to any outstanding recalls and one relating to the brake controller was reported. I booked the car in with the local stealer to rectify it and they denied anything was applicable to my car. Eventually Nissan Customer service changed their original advice to be in line with the stealer. I wonder if they were aware of an issue but are trying to deny it?

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