Capacity Loss on 2011-2012 LEAFs

[dsh]

Really? But I use the Long Life Mode via the Charging Timer option, when I and push the (Zero Emission Menu) button on the dash conslole.
I turn 'ON' the '80% Charge(Improves Battery Longevity), NOT 100%(Maximizes Driving Range).

 

[keydiver]

80% is usually only 10 bars. 100% is 12 bars.
I normally charge to 80%, and I see 10 bars, and 83 miles typically in ECO mode.

 

[turbo2ltr]

If you press the button on the dash, it will always charge to 100% regardless of the timer. You could also possibly have conflicting timers? not sure if thats possible.

 

[leafwing]

New Question....For LEAF owners who charge to 80% regularly...how many miles does does your dashboard read when you first start out driving the car after the charge... 80 miles, 75 miles available? Curious to find out.

GOM was 73 miles in D, 83 miles in Eco mode this morning (please remember that I lost one capacity bar one month ago; on 7-5-2012, a day after winning $1K in lottery on the fourth of July).

P.S. If you have lost any capacity bars without wining any lottery tickets, I suggest that you report it to the proper agency.

 

[SanDust]

If you have 12 battery bars, then you didn't charge to 80%.

Maybe they mean capacity bars. The two sets of bars can be confusing.

 

[EdmondLeaf]

New Question....For LEAF owners who charge to 80% regularly...how many miles does does your dashboard read when you first start out driving the car after the charge... 80 miles, 75 miles available? Curious to find out.

GOM was 73 miles in D, 83 miles in Eco mode this morning (please remember that I lost one capacity bar one month ago; on 7-5-2012, a day after winning $1K in lottery on the fourth of July).

P.S. If you have lost any capacity bars without wining any lottery tickets, I suggest that you report it to the proper agency.

Which lottery is giving money away, I want $1K?

 

[Gonewild]

New poster here (although I have followed site since inseption), so please be gentle. Lost a capacity bar on 8/3/12. Took it in for 1 year battery check up and told all O.K. (all 5 stars). Called Nissan (no-gas #) and was given a case # and told how to be more proactive about battery loss (very nice person but no idea about the fact how hot it gets in the Palm Springs area, hotter most days that Phoenix). I believe that Nissan has underestimated the impact of the temps on the batteries as do most of you. Info for wiki: vin#-6877, date of loss-8/3/12, mileage-9570, mfg date-6/11, purchase date-8/11, case #9137890, never quick charged or used L2-always L1 to 100%.

Decided to submit a complaint with NHTSA (no this isn't just a place for safety concerns, they also investigate defects in cars from power windows to heaters and such). I consider this issue to be a defect. If the cars in hot weather climates do not perform as well as the cars in other climates (and we were not told of this), that is a defect. As far as the comments of time left at high SOC, 100% vs 80% charge, QCs per week and all, Nissan has given me a report card (battery test) that shows 5 stars across the board. Their indications to me is that I am doing everything to spec and above (when I used to get all As in school, I usually passed the class). Complaint #10469729, submitted on 8/8/12, will be available to view in 72 hrs. I do think this a step everyone who has had capacity bar loss should take (https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false.


Also, submitted an inquiry to Consumer Reports on 8/8/12 with the same concerns. If this a car they are going to review, they should investigate it completely, and this is also a form I would suggest everyone fill out (http://custhelp.consumerreports.org/app/ask" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false. This can be a little confusing (in fourth line click on Non-Consumer Reports product or services, click again for Share an experience and then click again on Defective but non hazardous).

I asked many time to Mark Perry and was told the car was tested and tested IN AZ the HIGH temps would not be an issue.

 

[leafwing]

New Question....For LEAF owners who charge to 80% regularly...how many miles does does your dashboard read when you first start out driving the car after the charge... 80 miles, 75 miles available? Curious to find out.

GOM was 73 miles in D, 83 miles in Eco mode this morning (please remember that I lost one capacity bar one month ago; on 7-5-2012, a day after winning $1K in lottery on the fourth of July).

P.S. If you have lost any capacity bars without wining any lottery tickets, I suggest that you report it to the proper agency.

Which lottery is giving money away, I want $1K?

It is Texas Lottery; I bet you have a different one in OK.

 

[ztanos]

Let's see, if I drive my Nissan gasoline car to empty, is there damage? Are there warnings in the owner's manual? Are there warranty disclaimers for such activity?

Should somebody buy serial number 2244, it's a great car that will no doubt work just fine for most folks driving within its range limits.

Actually, if you drive the ICE car to empty regularly there is a very likely chance that you will burn up the fuel pump. The fuel pump sits inside the gas tank on the newer cars and is cooled by the fluid inside the tank. No gas equals no coolant equals overheating fuel pump. Not in the manual and most people don't know this. Do it before 30,000 miles and it's covered, unlike capacity. Sorry for splitting hairs.

Thanks for letting us know the last four of the vin, as long as people pay attention to this site they should be safe.

 

[dsh]

Ok, Now I understand...You have to set the timer to use the 80% feature. Got it now.

 

[derkraut]

80% is usually only 10 bars. 100% is 12 bars.
I normally charge to 80%, and I see 10 bars, and 83 miles typically in ECO mode.

Same here.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Called Nissan (no-gas #)

NHTSA Complaint #10469729 (https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false.

Consumer Reports on 8/8/12 (http://custhelp.consumerreports.org/app/ask" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false

Fantastic post. Thanks!

 

[ALLWATZ]

Decided to submit a complaint with NHTSA (no this isn't just a place for safety concerns, they also investigate defects in cars from power windows to heaters and such). I consider this issue to be a defect.
...
I do think this a step everyone who has had capacity bar loss should take (https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false.

As much as I think complaints should be submitted (to the proper place), I don't think NHTSA is the right place to submit capacity loss complaints. When you click on "Begin online form", you're taken to https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/index.xhtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; which has a title "File a Vehicle Safety Complaint".

If you have something to the contrary on safercar.gov or NHTSA's site that says something to the contrary, please post the URL.

Yes they investigate all kinds of issues relating to defects. The previous page on the site, under File a Complaint, (https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false shows that this is the Office of Defects Investigation. If you were to look at some of the inquiries, they are of all types not just safety related.

 

[Gonewild]

I reported my car :twisted:

 

[ALLWATZ]

Called Nissan (no-gas #)

NHTSA Complaint #10469729 (https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false.

Consumer Reports on 8/8/12 (http://custhelp.consumerreports.org/app/ask" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false

Fantastic post. Thanks!

Thank you, and by the way, I don't want to come off as someone who is sorry they bought a Leaf. I really like the car and want it to be a viable mode of transportaton. Not paying for any gasoline is just a perk. Also, I did attach the link http://mynissanleaf.com/wiki/index.php?title=Real_World_Battery_Capacity_Loss" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; on my complaints to Consumer Reports and NHTSA but not sure they will take them into account as I believe they only take into consideration direct complaints.

 

[TonyWilliams]

Thank you, and by the way, I don't want to come off as someone who is sorry they bought a Leaf. I really like the car and want it to be a viable mode of transportaton. .

I'm with ya. I've been pessimistic that Nissan would do much, and unfortunately they seem to be proving me right. With the correct focus on the problem, in an open court of information (instead of Nissan feeding us the party line) will only come from a strong third party. In this case, the US government.

 

[cwerdna]

Decided to submit a complaint with NHTSA (no this isn't just a place for safety concerns, they also investigate defects in cars from power windows to heaters and such). I consider this issue to be a defect.
...
I do think this a step everyone who has had capacity bar loss should take (https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false.

As much as I think complaints should be submitted (to the proper place), I don't think NHTSA is the right place to submit capacity loss complaints. When you click on "Begin online form", you're taken to https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/index.xhtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; which has a title "File a Vehicle Safety Complaint".

If you have something to the contrary on safercar.gov or NHTSA's site that says something to the contrary, please post the URL.

Yes they investigate all kinds of issues relating to defects. The previous page on the site, under File a Complaint, (https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false shows that this is the Office of Defects Investigation. If you were to look at some of the inquiries, they are of all types not just safety related.

URLs to some of the inquiries? Again per https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;,

Why your complaint is important

Your complaint information will be entered into NHTSA-ODI's vehicle owner's complaint database and used with other complaints to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists. More...

If a safety-related defect exists in a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment, the manufacturer must provide a remedy at no cost to the owner. Your complaint is the first step in the process.
...

When you get to the form at https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/index.xhtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, again, it says SAFETY at the top. If you click on the Help link, it also says "Filing a Vehicle Safety Complaint... You can use the Vehicle Safety Complaint form to register a safety complaint about your vehicle."

There can be and have been SAFETY-related defects in power windows (e.g. door fires due to faulty power window switches).

Per http://www.nhtsa.gov/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;, NHTSA stands for National Highway Traffic SAFETY Administration.

 

[jspearman]

Hadn't thought of Consumer Reports. I just filed a report, too. I would like to see them pull the battery from Opossum's car, since it was just tested by Nissan and we have Nissan's official tested capacity. It would be nice to get some real independent testing done on the worst batteries.

 

[smkettner]

My car test at 85% capacity remaining.

I still have 3 bars missing, 48 miles on the Mileage Guess-O-Meter,
with AC @ 100% charge. The car said it was 88 degrees when I picked it up, 93 when I got home.

85% I thought was just one bar missing. Could the rest be from heat?

Dang 15% down but the GOM is cut in half :shock: Did you ever see 100-110? Do live up a hill?

Mine still shows 88-91 miles same conditions.

 

[dsh]

Just submitted my complaint to NHTSA: Your Confirmation Number (ODI Number) is: 10469923.