Nissan Leaf 2017 intermittent footbrake fault nightmare!

BOWFER

daveyjp said:

I'd certainly be fitting a dashcam to record journeys and have evidence should it happen again.

I'm interested as to how a dashcam could assist here.
I can't see anything helping other than some sort of device that measures brake pedal pressure and rate of deceleration.
Very difficult.

GunJack

BOWFER said:

daveyjp said:

I'd certainly be fitting a dashcam to record journeys and have evidence should it happen again.

I'm interested as to how a dashcam could assist here.
I can't see anything helping other than some sort of device that measures brake pedal pressure and rate of deceleration.
Very difficult.

I think the shouted "oh sh17, the bl00dy brakes have gone again" on the recording may give a clue.....

BOWFER

I am wondering if the OP is inadvertently using different driving modes, which do affect the braking regen force (the 'engine braking' effect when you come off the throttle)
And this will therefore make the force you have to apply to the brake pedal feel different for the same retardation.
If the car is close to 100% charge it also switches off the regen braking, making the car freewheel more off the throttle.
None of these are as dramatic as they sound, you simply get used to it.
I've certainly never experienced a "WOOOOAH BESSIE!!" moment in any Leaf I've driven, and I've driven heaps.

nothingsimple345

Thanks all, I think foot hard down on brake pedal and car still rolling on, then having to use parking brake to come to a stop, is a fault. No warning, intermittent, with no pattern. Only doing due to covid restrictions, short trips, with lots of mini roundabouts in our area, so handling this car is certainly challenging. Stop start should be a plus for EV.
Looking on line now I see lots of issues with Leaf breaking system's since 2011, not this version, in the UK. New Zealand, America have faults which match exactly what we are experiencing. Maybe other drivers in the UK have just got rid to save the hassle of dealing with Nissan. Why when we had the fault in Feb and all the work they did to try to correct fault, eventually replacing brake servo. Why do they not think that there could be another faulty servo? Instead Nissan just seem to be washing there hands of this car. We will probably never know if the servo was faulty, as they binned it. The main thing now is we have no confidence in this car, such a shame. I think that what ever is causing this fault was still in the car systems, just hidden. Design for this version, midway between 2016 and 2018 versions, the complications of mechanical, electrics, electronics, hydraulics, regeneration and  software, all need to function correctly every time. I just do not think that there is a fail safe in this model. At the very least if all else fails the hydraulics between pedal and each wheel should work, albeit pressing hard on pedal, but when your pedal is on the floor with very little response, that is serious. It did feel as if the electric motor wanted to keep going. Just as the test run, we had. Salesman could not sit in car, (due to Covid restrictions)  So he said switch on motor, with parking break on. Release parking brake car moves forward without foot on accelerator, wee salesman jogging along beside car. Foot on brake, car comes to a halt. Parking brake on. Regeneration was not something we were using in ECO mode, except occasional longer run. On the occasional longer run's the brakes just did not feel right. Ok that might be us getting used to this car. But as said before brakes should just work when required as required.
One other comment, our car and the Leaf courtesy car, both electric vehicle's, but the connector blocks throughout the engine compartment seem to be quite exposed. The old adage water and electrics just do not work.
Thanks again, sorry for the monologue, I hope Nissan start to see sense.

BOWFER

nothingsimple345 said:

One other comment, our car and the Leaf courtesy car, both electric vehicle's, but the connector blocks throughout the engine compartment seem to be quite exposed. 

All cars are like this, it's not peculiar to the Leaf at all.
Literally every car has a myriad of exposed connector blocks under the bonnet.

oldagetraveller1

If this is an issue with the brakes and, as you say, is ongoing since 2011, with others experiencing similar, should it be reported to the DVSA for investigation?

I don't own an EV so cannot comment on whether this "phenomenon" is normal.

BOWFER

oldagetraveller1 said:

If this is an issue with the brakes and, as you say, is ongoing since 2011, with others experiencing similar, should it be reported to the DVSA for investigation?

I don't own an EV so cannot comment on whether this "phenomenon" is normal.

I've owned a Leaf and intend to own one again soon.
I've also been a member of a Leaf owners club for a few years, also a member of the largest EV forum going.
I've never seen this particular issue mentioned in connection with the Leaf before.
I'm not doubting the OP has a problem, but it seems far from common, which perhaps goes a long way to explain why the dealer can't find a fix.

nothingsimple345

Thanks all,  We have a settlement for the return of the car, whilst not what we had hoped, it at least removes the anxiety caused by the whole experience. It is a shame, as everything else with the car was excellent, and driving was much more relaxed. Charging stations in our area did leave a lot to be desired, but we had just had a charging unit fitted at our home. Nissan GB were so slow to react. DVSA, report back that they are monitoring a potential issue with the brakes, but no call back is imminent. Whilst I am no mechanic, I would have thought there should have been an if all else failed a straight foot on pedal, whilst having to push harder, should at least bring the car to a halt, ours just kept on rolling, even with foot pedal on the floor. We learnt to push on the park break, (pedal/button on floor) in order for the car to finally stop. All very easy on paper, but try doing this on busy roads. Confidence is all, and these brakes when working normally were good, when in fault mode extremely dangerous. Never had such an experience before, even my 1962 Austen Metropolitan (first car) 49 years ago could be relied on to stop. 
I do hope that EV cars can become the norm, but my experience for now is to leave them to other pioneers.
Thanks

BOWFER

nothingsimple345 said:

I do hope that EV cars can become the norm, but my experience for now is to leave them to other pioneers.
Thanks

Again, your experience is NOT representative of all Leafs and certainly NOT representative of all EV cars.
Why on earth would you abandon electric cars based on this, I cannot get my head around it.

nothingsimple345

Last word.
Car brakes, either diesel, petrol, horse drawn or electric cars, must work when required as required, THIS car has a fault, which was found the first time it went into the garage for repair, confirmed by the technician's report. The dealership and I had hoped brakes would not go faulty again, less than two months later the exact same happened. No warning, intermittent, and possibly lethal.
Nothing to do with regen, nothing to do with keeping foot on accelerator whilst braking. Brakes just did not work.
 The law states, that a car must not be driven or allow anyone else to drive, knowing there is an issue with safety components, namely brakes or steering.
Obviously the issue here is safety, we, were not convinced THIS car is safe, nor could I have sold this car on to anyone else, knowing the faulty brakes.
Car is back with dealership, they say they will keep the car internally, and should not be sold on.
Thanks.