Array ( [0] => Array ( [CMPLID] => 1039016 [ODINO] => 10563959 [MFR_NAME] => Nissan North America, Inc. [MAKETXT] => NISSAN [MODELTXT] => PATHFINDER HYBRID [YEARTXT] => 2014 [CRASH] => N [FAILDATE] => 20140127 [FIRE] => N [INJURED] => 0 [DEATHS] => 0 [COMPDESC] => FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM [CITY] => CLINTON [STATE] => CT [VIN] => 5N1CRMM9EC6 [DATEA] => 20140212 [LDATE] => 20140212 [MILES] => 0 [OCCURENCES] => 1 [CDESCR] => SLAMMED ON BRAKES (EMERGENCY STOP) CENTER LANE OF HIGHWAY DUE TO CAR IN FRONT BEING CUT OFF. LARGE TRUCK BEHIND ME SO I TRIED TO IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE TO AVOID BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. PRESSED GAS PEDAL TO FLOOR AND NOTHING HAPPENED! TOTALLY QUIET (ELECTRIC STILL ENGAGED) AND I WAS A SITTING DUCK! FORTUNATELY, TRUCK ABLE TO SWERVE INTO LEFT LANE, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC. IT TOOK SEVERAL SECONDS FOR ME TO MOVE FROM STOP AND ACCELERATION WAS AS IF I WAS CASUALLY PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN! NEVER SO SCARED IN MY LIFE. ACCORDING TO NISSAN, THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CVT IN THE HYBRID AND THEY INSIST THERE IS NO SAFETY ISSUE!!!!! SERVICE MGR AT DEALER VALIDATED MY CONCERN WHEN HE TEST DROVE IT TRYING TO REPLICATE A PANIC STOP AS CLOSELY AS HE COULD AND THE SMALL DELAY CHARACTERISTIC OF HYBRIDS GOT MORE AND MORE EXAGGERATED WITH MORE SUDDEN STOPS. SERVICE MGR SAID HANDS ARE TIED AND CORPORATE IS NOT SAYING ANYTHING. *TR [CMPL_TYPE] => IVOQ [POLICE_RPT_YN] => N [PURCH_DT] => [ORIG_OWNER_YN] => N [ANTI_BRAKES_YN] => N [CRUISE_CONT_YN] => N [NUM_CYLS] => [DRIVE_TRAIN] => [FUEL_SYS] => [FUEL_TYPE] => [TRANS_TYPE] => [VEH_SPEED] => 60 [DOT] => [TIRE_SIZE] => [LOC_OF_TIRE] => [TIRE_FAIL_TYPE] => [ORIG_EQUIP_YN] => [MANUF_DT] => [SEAT_TYPE] => [RESTRAINT_TYPE] => [DEALER_NAME] => [DEALER_TEL] => [DEALER_CITY] => [DEALER_STATE] => [DEALER_ZIP] => [PROD_TYPE] => V [REPAIRED_YN] => [NICAR_FAILDATE] => 0000-00-00 [NICAR_DATEA] => [NICAR_LDATE] => [NICAR_PURCH_DT] => [NICAR_MANUF_DT] => [nicarid] => 0 ) )
slammed on brakes (emergency stop) center lane of highway due to car in front being cut off. large truck behind me so i tried to immediately accelerate to avoid being hit from behind. pressed gas pedal to floor and nothing happened! totally quiet (electric still engaged) and i was a sitting duck! fortunately, truck able to swerve into left lane, but it could have been tragic. it took several seconds for me to move from stop and acceleration was as if i was casually pulling away from a stop sign! never so scared in my life. according to nissan, this is a characteristic of the cvt in the hybrid and they insist there is no safety issue!!!!! service mgr at dealer validated my concern when he test drove it trying to replicate a panic stop as closely as he could and the small delay characteristic of hybrids got more and more exaggerated with more sudden stops. service mgr said hands are tied and corporate is not saying anything.
Reported in: CLINTON CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 5N1CRMM9EC6