2023 Nissan Ariya

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2023 Nissan Ariya involving an apparent failure of the 12-volt battery and/or electrical system. While parked overnight in my driveway, powered off, and not plugged in nor charging, the front battery/engine compartment began sizzling, overheating, and producing smoke. The heat caused internal damage and disabled the vehicle. This created a serious fire risk because the incident occurred at my home while the vehicle was unattended and inactive and it happened without any earlier signs or warning. My battery health was checked by the repair shop at the dealership within the last 5 months. The malfunction could have caused a vehicle or house fire and endangered nearby occupants and property. The vehicle is currently at King Windward Nissan in Hawai‘i for inspection and repairs, and a Nissan Consumer Affairs case has been opened. Anecdotally, I have heard from 4 other Nissan Ariya owners in Hawai'i who have experienced similar battery failures with their Nissan Ariyas within the first two-years of purchase.

While driving on the highway on Dec.2 2023, my car suddenly displayed "Service EV Error" and "Reduced Power" warnings, along with the battery level to plummet from 89% to 0%. Upon noticing the warnings, I promptly activated hazard lights and maneuvered to the emergency lane. However, my attempts to maintain control were met with a gradual deceleration of the vehicle. Despite repeatedly pressing the acceleration pedal, the car failed to respond as expected, creating a hazardous situation on the high-speed highway. The urgency of the situation heightened as the reduced power hindered my ability to keep pace with traffic flow on the highway. The potential for a high-speed collision or other safety hazards increased, given the car's limited control and responsiveness. This occurred in an environment where other motorists were navigating the highway at significant speeds. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to address the issue, I reached a ChargePoint at a speed of 25-35 mph, but the connection failed, leaving the battery completely depleted. Seeking assistance from the dealership proved challenging initially, as they couldn't pinpoint the problem. With unresolved safety risks, the dealership recommended a tow. Unexpectedly, after restarting the car, the issues disappeared, and the battery level returned back to 89%. During a 250-mile drive post-incident, no further problems occurred. Days later, I brought the car to the service department for further inspection. They identified it as a junction box problem, ordered a replacement, and I am currently awaiting updates from them. They did not mention that the problem was reproduced by them but did mention they have some other customers encountered similar issue on their Ariyas.

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to address a pressing issue concerning the car I purchased from your dealership on January 21st of this year. Upon further investigation, I have discovered a discrepancy related to the labeling and assembly information of the vehicle, which has led to concerns regarding its eligibility for tax credit. According to the label affixed to the car, it states that the "Final Assembly Point" is in Los Angeles. However, upon verifying this information with the Energy Department of the United States, it was revealed that the car was actually assembled in Japan. I was taken aback by this revelation, as it seems that the information provided on the label does not align with the assembly location specified by the Energy Department. It is my understanding that in order to include "Final Assembly" in Los Angeles on the label, the car must first meet the criteria outlined by the Energy Department. Only then should this information be accurately reflected on the label. To validate this claim, I cross-checked with other automobile manufacturers such as Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, and Volvo, who have diligently adhered to the car's component origins and appropriately labeled their vehicles. Notably, all manufacturers, except for Volkswagen, indicate "Final Assembly" in the respective countries where the car was assembled, such as Japan for Toyota and South Korea for Kia and Hyundai. Volkswagen, on the other hand, solely states "Final Assembly" in North America; however, when cross-referencing with the Energy Department, it appears that the actual assembly takes place elsewhere. I reached out to Nissan Ariya support seeking clarification on this matter, and they confirmed that the labeling on the car is indeed accurate. This situation has left me questioning whether the Energy Department's information is correct or if the manufacturer's response is valid. Given the false information provided and the apparent deception employed to bolster ma