Sudden acceleration

An NHTSA Engineering Analysis into Nissan vehicles. Closed 11 July 1989.

Investigation
EA85029
Type
Engineering Analysis
Opened
9 May 1985
Closed
11 July 1989

What NHTSA investigated

Summary: odi has sent four irs to nissan (11/29/84, 10/10/85, 4/9/86, &11/14/86).ETF has tested 6 nissan vehicles and was unable to duplicatesudden accel.odi inspected 9 vehicles and all operated NORMALLY.ALL15 vehicles were reported to have been involved in sudden accelerationincidents.analysis: there are three possible causes of sa. (1) the driver pushed onthe accelerator instead of the brake pedal, (2) the vehicle was unrespon-sive to the drivers initial application of accelerator pedal pressureso the driver presses harder and the vehicle suddenly and unexpectedlyaccelerates at a faster rate than anticipated and with the close proximityof other cars or buildings the driver is unable to recover in time toavoid an accident, (3) floor mat bunches up and interfereswith accelerator pedal.status:by letter dated 6/29/87, nissan announced the recall OF183,519 vehicles (87V-098) to install a shift interlock kit.an auditsurvey of the recall will be initiated by NHTSA in the fall of 1988.NHTSA wrote to nissan on may 24, 1988 concerning the effectiveness of theshift-lock device installed during recall campaign 87V-098.A responseis due on august 16, 1988.===

The recall that followed

  1. Nissan — Power Train: Floor Shift87V0980006 July 1987183,519 vehicles

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
Datsun280Z1980–1985
Nissan280Z1979
Nissan300ZX1980–1985

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.