Serious safety issues relating to the electrical system, engine, and brakes are among the main causes of complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
While Nissan boasts about the 2023 Ariya as a pinnacle of their design, technology, and sustainability, NHTSA complaints paint a grim picture. Owners report terrifying safety glitches like sudden power loss and speed display flip-flops, turning their electric dreams into brake failure nightmares.
Caught in the web of production delays, Nissan’s highly anticipated 2023 Ariya electric SUV faced a turbulent launch due to supply chain woes. While the connection between these issues and complaints lodged with the NHTSA remains unclear, safety concerns loom large.
Within a tight timeframe, spanning just over a month from June to July 2023, a flurry of grievances targeted five critical components: the electrical system, engine, forward collision-avoidance, brakes, and vehicle speed control. As if that weren’t enough, a perplexing ordeal unfolded for one new owner attempting to claim a tax credit, only to be rebuffed by the U.S. Department of Energy. The crux of the matter? Despite media buzz locating production in Japan, the car’s label indicates a final assembly point in Los Angeles, sparking confusion and questions about transparency.
Seeking clarity, oneowner reached out to Nissan Ariya support, only to encounter a baffling standstill. With unresolved discrepancies between labeling and official information, the perplexing situation casts doubts on the accuracy of regulatory data versus manufacturer assurances.
More than 1,000 Vehicles Recalled for Steering Column Fault
Apart from complaints, there is a disturbing recall of 2023 Ariya vehicles due to the fact that the steering wheel may detach from the steering column. According to the recall, NHTSA Campaign Number 23V131000, the steering wheel bolts on as many as 1,063 vehicles may not have been tightened or installed correctly. And, of course, a steering wheel with a loose or missing bolt can detach from the steering column. This would likely cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
2023 Nissan Ariya Complaint Summary
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Power Train | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Exterior Lighting | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
Brake System Problems
After only about 1.5 hours after taking possession of a new 2023 Nissan Ariya Evolve+, an owner from California “experienced a catastrophic brake system failure.” After driving 40 miles home from the dealership, he backed into and parked inside the garage. Half an hour later, he tried to drive the vehicle.
“As soon as it was put in Drive, the vehicle started rolling forward even though the brake pedal was being depressed. Immediately it was clear that the brakes were not functioning. The vehicle continued heading towards the neighbor’s house across the street.” He put the car into Park and engaged the emergency brake to avoid a collision.
When this happened, there were two alerts displayed on the instrument panel. One showed “Warning, Malfunction See Owner’s Manual,” and the other, “Warning, e-Step system Failure. Press brake pedal to slow or stop.” The owner had the Ariya towed to the dealership the next day, but they were unable to replicate the fault. Nissan was to be notified so they could inspect the vehicle.
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Problems with the Engine
A reported engine problem was perceived by another Ariya owner to be a safety issue. The car had an 80% charge when traveling down a major highway at 75 mph. Suddenly, for the second time in five months, the Ariya “inexplicably shut off, (and) went into neutral.” The nearest exit was across three lanes, but before the driver could get there, the car “lost all power and decelerated from 75 mph to 25.”
“This is so unacceptable. I do not feel safe in this car.”
Electrical System and Other Problems
Filed as a combined electrical system, vehicle speed control, and forward collision avoidance issue, yet another 2023 Ariya owner describes how the vehicle changes abruptly from mph to kmh. At the same time, all safety elements stay in mph, including the speed limit and alert. So, while going down the highway at 65 mph, the speed dial changes to 116 km/h while the speed alert remains at 65 mph.
He discovered the only way to change it back to mph was to stop the car, “scroll to (the) menu on (the) steering wheel, click it, scroll to language, click that” and then click three more times! “These options are completely locked out while the car is moving.”
Afraid of this happening on the highway and possibly getting rear-ended, the owner took the car to the dealer. But they found nothing wrong. Nissan had the same reaction. In the meantime, he says, it keeps happening. Frustrated, he states: “The safety measures on the car do not discriminate units, only numbers, which makes this go from an annoyance to something that almost caused a high speed accident. Nissan has again been made aware, but lacks responsiveness.”
Take Action – Your 2023 Nissan Ariya Could Be a Lemon!
When vehicles have problems that recur and impact their value and its use, there is a possibility that they might be a lemon. To be sure, it’s advisable to consult with a lemon law firm of attorneys like Lemberg Law. Every year automakers, including Nissan, replace, buy back, or pay cash settlements to thousands of vehicle owners who find they have bought lemons.
We have considerable experience dealing with lemon law vehicle cases and have helped countless clients reach settlements with automakers. We are available to assess your 2023 Nissan Ariya problems free of charge and advise you on whether or not you have a lemon case. All you have to do is call our Helpline or fill out a contact form – and remember that the law says Nissan must pay the legal bills for lemon law cases.
My 2023 Ariya Evolve+ e4orce had the exact same brake problem as described above. I had the car 12 days, bought it on December 2, 2023. I commute between 75 and 100 miles a day. I was heading home and had the error message that the e-step malfunctioned and to use the brakes. Well the brake pedal would not compress either and I was just unable to stop, during rush hour. The steering locked up and it was almost impossible to move to side and get slow enough to pull the emergency brake and shut off the car. After turning the car back on to get out of the right lane of traffic, it wouldn’t shift out of park. I was stuck. Well, that happened on December 14, 2023 and it is now January 4, 2024, about to be the 5th. There was a part of the brake system that was completely toast and the part didn’t exist to even order. The nearest dealer I could tow it to had to go through corporate channels to even find the part. They have no estimate of when the car will even be fixed.
Now I am dealing with a Nissan arbitrator who thinks that carpeted floor mats and illuminated door sills are at all important and that finding a replacement as long as it has those two things are what makes the vehicle similar enough to be sufficient, and color or interior doesn’t matter at all. I bought a Northern Lights painted model with the light interior. For the tech features, range, AWD, color, and interior. Not because it has carpet and lights. But to purchase it back I would be responsible to pay Nissan what I rolled over in negative equity. So not only would I not have a car anymore, but I would be paying for one anyway.
These options are insulting. For Nissan to not only continue to not take accountability for letting clearly faulty brakes off the production line and then treat the victim like they should be lucky and just settle for less is infuriating. I work in apartments, it would be like me telling someone, “well this perfectly fine replacement that looks out to a wall and has brown carpet should work, after all it’s the same size and has blinds and a bathroom door. There is plenty of inventory, but we won’t give you the identical same or better.”
To wrap it up. This truly life-threatening, basic necessity, malfunction of the BRAKES… is not a one off problem it seems and Nissan needs to be held accountable and/or actually be reasonable when it comes to settlement with the people it has affected.