NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Engineering Analysis EA15-003: Pedal Operation Interference
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA15-003 on April 1, 2015 and closed it on September 1, 2015. NHTSA's investigations file lists the Nissan Versa and Versa Note for it and links recall 15V-507 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- EA15-003 (also written EA15003)
- Investigation type
- Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
- Status
- Closed September 1, 2015
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Nissan North America, Inc.
- Components
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Pedals and Linkages; Vehicle Speed Control — Accelerator Pedal
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 15V-507: Lower Trim Panel may Impede Pedal Operation, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- Nissan Versa and Versa Note
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA15-003.
On August 11, 2015, Nissan North America, Inc., submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR) describing a condition that may impede the driver's ability to transition quickly and smoothly from the accelerator pedal to the brake pedal in certain model year (MY) 2012 through 2015 Nissan Versa Sedans and MY 2014 through 2015 Nissan Versa Note vehicles (NHTSA Recall No. 15V-507).
According to Nissan's DIR, in certain circumstances related to driver foot position and shoe type, the right edge of the driver?s shoe may catch the edge of the center console lower trim panel.
Nissan indicated that this condition could cause a slight delay in the smooth transition between the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal which may increase the braking distance; therefore increasing the risk of a crash.
Nissan's recall instructs dealers to trim the console panel so that the leading edge is at a greater distance from the driver?s foot.
Nissan had previously issued a service campaign (Nissan Campaign ID #P5308; TSB #NTB15-033) on April 16, 2015, to provide the remedy for the same set of vehicles before deciding to change the program to a safety recall.
Of the approximately 421,305 vehicles covered by recall 15V-507, approximately 122,558 have already been repaired under the service campaign. ODI's investigation also examined allegations that an HVAC duct in the driver's footwell area may interfere with the driver's right foot in certain circumstances.
ODI's analysis of all complaints related to foot obstructions in the subject vehicles identified 45 complaints, 7 crashes and 1 minor soft tissue injury.
Thirty-five (35) of the complaints, all 7 crashes and the only injury were caused by the trim panel condition which is the subject of the recall.
ODI will continue to monitor complaints related to the HVAC duct condition.
This investigation is closed based on Nissan's recall.
The VOQs associated with the closing of this investigation are: 10725339, 10723544, 10711794, 10691631, 10649259, 10640644, 10629161, 10614957, 10610356, 10606832, 10606766, 10606670, 10597004, 10573057, 10503811, and 10498000.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA15-003. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Nissan VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for EA15-003
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.