2020SL Plus Starting the Battery Nightmare - Plunging Range and Bad Modules

[BatteryNightmareHasBegun]

Kind of sad I'm joining the Forum under these circumstances. Until about a month ago our 2020 SL Plus was a champ. Leased it new - paid off the residual and had been driving it happily and trouble-free for 4 years. A month ago, we had our first instance of the plunging range exercise while going up the hill on Highway 50 near our home. From about 110 miles of range to 6 and the turtle on the screen. Two more instances resulted in a trip to the dealership and a diagnosis of 4 bad modules. We're waiting on those modules while the local dealership prays we don't call to yell at them.

 

[Learjet]

I had a bad module replaced around 23,000 miles, car has been fine since at 43,000 miles

 

[BatteryNightmareHasBegun]

I had a bad module replaced around 23,000 miles, car has been fine since at 43,000 miles

That's a hopeful note, though there is also the additional annoyance of the barely detailed battery recall while waiting for the "solution." I had been considering an Ariya for myself, and our confidence in another Nissan purchase has faded faster than cheap jeans.

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

I do hope dealers start becoming proficient with battery cell replacements.

 

[BatteryNightmareHasBegun]

As an update, the car was dropped off at our local dealer a week ago. Since we're now getting into the "meat" of the situation and a timeline is starting to develop, here we are thus far:

11-14 Dropped off the car that morning. Dealer had no loaner cars and offered an Uber ride home with a shrug. Two working parents - child goes to school about 10 miles from the house - I of course ended up at Hertz, with a rental car on my dime.

11-15 Call in the afternoon with an initial comment that the "battery is bad," which seemed to indicate we're talking battery replacement. Service department says they are submitting the order to Nissan corporate for warranty repair approval. I start to read about extended timelines and suggested prayers in terms of getting a new battery before game 1 of the 2025 World Series.

11-18 Call from the service department telling us the warranty repair was approved with modifications. We're told Nissan will be replacing Modules 7,8,9,10, but the situation will not require a battery replacement. We're also told the modules will be delivered to the dealership the next day. I am in utter disbelief - based on everything I have read - that modules are available and will be on site the next day. But who am I to complain? Service also notes Nissan has approved 3 days of loaner car for the repair. I'm invited to come to the dealership for a loaner.

11-19 I make arrangements to return the rental to Hertz (I had rented a Kia Niro EV by the way. Great car. Totally blows the Leaf out of the water). When I get to the dealership, they walk me over to a filthy Nissan Kicks. The service guy, with a straight face, reminds me to not smoke in the car and no pets, please. "We like to keep our loaners clean for the next customer." After I get home, it takes a half-hour to vacuum up all the mud, hair, crumbs, and debris. Another half-hour to wipe the insides and clean the haze so I can see out the front window.

11-20 I'm informed there's been a delay with module delivery. Of course there is. My wife and I read in further detail about the R24B2 recall affecting our Leaf. Lovely - we can't charge the thing anywhere other than home without the warning it could conceivably burst into flames.

 

[OrientExpress]

It is getting to be colder up on Highway 50 (California). BEVs don't go as far in cold weather, even less if your LEAF has a resistance heater instead of a heat pump.

 

[Pepperoni]

We have a 2022 SL+ with 13,000 miles that was working fine (other than having to replace the 12v. on my own dime due to poor service at Jim Bone Nissan in Santa Rosa) until the other night when upon startup, the low power “Turtle” warning came up on the dash suggesting that get it get serviced right away. The e-pedal was disabled which is a real problem for me because I have MS and cannot safely drive a standard car without hand controls. I managed to get the car to a friends house where we disconnected the 12v. and reset things to get the e-pedal back. I recharged the 12v. at home overnight and then drove down to North Bay Nissan in Petaluma who were able to look at it right away. They determined that the traction battery has some bad cells, kept the car and will let us know in a day or two what the plan is. They seemed very competent and were familiar with the Leaf and it’s issues, head and shoulders above the folks in Santa Rosa. We were very well treated and I'm looking forward to getting this sorted out in a timely manner.

 

[Jim Bodacious]

As an update, the car was dropped off at our local dealer a week ago. Since we're now getting into the "meat" of the situation and a timeline is starting to develop, here we are thus far:

11-14 Dropped off the car that morning. Dealer had no loaner cars and offered an Uber ride home with a shrug. Two working parents - child goes to school about 10 miles from the house - I of course ended up at Hertz, with a rental car on my dime.

11-15 Call in the afternoon with an initial comment that the "battery is bad," which seemed to indicate we're talking battery replacement. Service department says they are submitting the order to Nissan corporate for warranty repair approval. I start to read about extended timelines and suggested prayers in terms of getting a new battery before game 1 of the 2025 World Series.

11-18 Call from the service department telling us the warranty repair was approved with modifications. We're told Nissan will be replacing Modules 7,8,9,10, but the situation will not require a battery replacement. We're also told the modules will be delivered to the dealership the next day. I am in utter disbelief - based on everything I have read - that modules are available and will be on site the next day. But who am I to complain? Service also notes Nissan has approved 3 days of loaner car for the repair. I'm invited to come to the dealership for a loaner.

11-19 I make arrangements to return the rental to Hertz (I had rented a Kia Niro EV by the way. Great car. Totally blows the Leaf out of the water). When I get to the dealership, they walk me over to a filthy Nissan Kicks. The service guy, with a straight face, reminds me to not smoke in the car and no pets, please. "We like to keep our loaners clean for the next customer." After I get home, it takes a half-hour to vacuum up all the mud, hair, crumbs, and debris. Another half-hour to wipe the insides and clean the haze so I can see out the front window.

11-20 I'm informed there's been a delay with module delivery. Of course there is. My wife and I read in further detail about the R24B2 recall affecting our Leaf. Lovely - we can't charge the thing anywhere other than home without the warning it could conceivably burst into flames.

Keep us informed as this develops, please.

 

[BatteryNightmareHasBegun]

Update as of 12/05/24: Many things to update regarding our travails, so here goes:

The dealer received and replaced 4 modules as part of its original repair attempt. The 4-module replacement attempt was a big zero. Such a big zero that the dealer (thankfully) tested the car themselves and called to say they were ringing Nissan's corporate bell for the next level of guidance. Nissan told them to replace 2 additional modules, and we've been waiting ever since for these additional modules to arrive. In the meantime, after trying to squeeze in to the clown car of a loaner, we at least got the dealer to provide us an Altima. Rather a shame we're having to burn all of that fossil fuel. And a shame too for Nissan as we're keeping all of these gas receipts for reimbursement.

What I find kind of egregious at this point is how both Nissan corporate and the dealership have managed to tip-toe around the R24B2 recall. We never got notice from the manufacturer (an e-mail, postcard in the mail etc.), and the dealer has still not managed to mention it, nor put it anywhere in our paperwork or invoice. They of course included and tended to the other recall items (HVAC programming, rear camera issue), but have skillfully avoided the elephant in the room.

 

[Learjet]

Sounds like they are trying to make it right.

 

[Jerther]

We never got notice from the manufacturer (an e-mail, postcard in the mail etc.), and the dealer has still not managed to mention it, nor put it anywhere in our paperwork or invoice. They of course included and tended to the other recall items (HVAC programming, rear camera issue), but have skillfully avoided the elephant in the room.

Have you checked on the MyNissan mobile app, or on Nissan's Owner Portal? If your car is registered at Nissan, recalls for your car should appear there.