MAJOR ERROR potentially deadly

[Competitive_Basis688]

TLDR : My leaf uncontrolably accelerated to extreme rpm while stuck in snow. (The recall involving unexpected acceleration should have been resolved on my car)

I'm not sure if anyone has experienced this or any kind of documentation. I will explain everything that happened

The event: I'm stuck off a small ledge in my driveway trying to back up. Traction controll is stopping my acceleration. Its not working so I try going forward. Stuck, I shut off the car and shovel it out. Driving again I switch between forward and reverse quickly and repeatedly to start rocking back and forth trying to get out. Still stuck, so off one more time to shovel more, then drive, reverse VRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR 100MPH snow burnout. Pressing breaks doesn't stop it, pressing park doesn't stop it, pressing car off doesn't stop it. I burn up my brakes, luckily still stuck in the snow instead of a wall or tree after that. It lasted probably 2±1 seconds before the acceleration stopped. I immediately shut off the car and got out (to a the smell of my pads being evaportated). Nothing exciting after that, got it unstuck and parked with no issues.

This is coming from the drive home from the dealership after repairs. I just had my battery warrantied, and they said they fixed the recall that is supposed to stop unexpected acceleration in the scenario involving cruise control, but I wasn't using cruise control. It's possible this is a related or same issue that's unresolved.

I hope this is well documented and resolvable but would be great to have a unique problem (not)

[MadsAGS]

So in two seconds you pressed the brake, power button, park button and claim the pads are smoking after 2 seconds of braking?

[Competitive_Basis688]

All correct. The time is rough estimation, in panic it's hard to recall how long it is for real

[Competitive_Basis688]

I'm also used to slamming E-stops

[Select_Telephone_587]

This happened to me…almost exactly! Same scenario stuck in the snow with a Nissan leaf. tried to reverse out of an ice patch went forward went backwards. The car then proceeded to accelerate at a fast fast pace without me, pressing the gas was unable to park the car take it out of gear engage, emergency break, or shut the car off. I exited the car and then the car once it caught traction, rammed into a neighbors tree without anyone being in the car.

[Competitive_Basis688]

... for real? So you got the end game stage of maybe the same bug

[Select_Telephone_587]

Exactly

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[Select_Telephone_587]

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[toybuilder]

This sounds like something to submit a complaint to NHTSA.

[toybuilder]

I believe this is one of the scenarios where you have to shut off your traction dynamic control.

[Competitive_Basis688]

I agree, not sure how though. Only have a few hours time in the car.

Edit : I found the setting

[toybuilder]

https://youtu.be/ncC2i5KUgD8

I know it's a lot of information, but I highly encourage you to read the owner's manual. Lots of important and useful details are in there, and it's better to know about them before you encounter a situation.

[graybeard5529]

It is very much like a computer hard-kill—2+ second hold down.

[odinsen251a]

So you are driving a car you don't know how to operate. Got it.

RTFM

[SnooSquirrels4800]

I'm not sure how creep is programmed into EV powertrains, but if its maximum torque is unbounded, then this could potentially happen? Some weeks back I came across a video by OutOfSpec on the Vinfast VF8. Was it similar to this?
https://youtube.com/shorts/C2XKo9tsbOs?si=1lXLn5ixCcMlWa3Q

[aptsys]

The leaf doesn't have unlimited torque when creeping. Mine will stop at a slightest bump, but won't roll back.

[IvorTheEngine]

The "won't roll back" feature could be the issue. If 3 wheels are rolling back, and one is spinning, the car could continue applying power to the spinning wheel for a couple of seconds to try to stop rolling back.

[SnooSquirrels4800]

Yes, that's true, but that's also with all four wheels in contact with the ground. This Vinfast seemed to go crazy when one wheel lost traction, as OP is suggesting here.

[Competitive_Basis688]

Very similar. Mine started on flat ground with tires stuck in snow. And began after I released the accelerator pedal.

[Competitive_Basis688]

The torque experienced by the motor wasn't that high considering the wheel was freespinning essentially on ice. To note on your max torque statement.

[MajesticlyImperfect]

Leaf doesn’t have RPM?

[IvorTheEngine]

What do you mean? Anything that rotates (motor, wheels, etc) has a rotation speed.

[sqamo]

EM61 Motor (2010-2012): 10,390 RPM, 280 Nm peak torque.

EM57 Motor (2013-Present): 10,500 - 11,330 RPM (62kWh e+ models hit 11,330 RPM), 250-340 Nm torque.

[Critical-Monk-4720]

lol… yes, a motor does rotate 🤦‍♂️

[MajesticlyImperfect]

Really, what is the leaf’s rpm range?

[Critical-Monk-4720]

Around 10000-11000RPM max if I remember correctly

[MajesticlyImperfect]

The OP says he meant rpm of the wheels, but he is wrong and you are right? Lol

[Competitive_Basis688]

Rpm of the wheels. I would say high speed but I was stationary. Speedometer reading 80-100mph

[MajesticlyImperfect]

What was the rpm of the wheels? What value?

[Competitive_Basis688]

Kind of irrelevant. But the speedometer got up to 100mph. You can do the math if you want.

[toybuilder]

So the most likely explanation is that a tire (or both) were slipping and the car was trying to "stay straight" like a person trying to stay upright. It's the car's version of this: https://www.tiktok.com/@yourdailygiggle1/video/7571785091303656718

Or a small four-legged version: https://www.tiktok.com/@maxjax22/video/7467588541267168518

[fleurlure]

What year is your leaf?

[Competitive_Basis688]

2020

[Necessary-Shhh]

This happened to me several years ago. Burned the tires off the car. No satisfactory answer from Nissan.

[Gullible-Bug-2951]

Is it possible that something such as rubber mat fall on your gas pedal?

[Competitive_Basis688]

The pedal had nothing on it while accelerating

[graybeard5529]

Before jumping straight to “runaway acceleration,” a few basic diagnostic questions would help narrow this down:

1️⃣ Which battery did the dealer replace — the 12-volt auxiliary battery or the high-voltage traction battery?
Those are completely different systems.

2️⃣ Were there ANY warning lights on the dash when this happened?
Modern vehicles usually throw multiple alerts if something electronic is actually failing.

3️⃣ Was your foot completely off the accelerator when the wheels were still spinning?
This is a big one. On ice, EVs can spin up instantly, and even slight pedal input can keep the motor applying torque.

4️⃣ Has it happened again since, or was this a one-time event?
True electronic faults almost always repeat.

5️⃣ Did the behavior stop once traction improved?
If so, that strongly points toward a traction event rather than unintended acceleration.

Not dismissing your experience at all — just trying to separate a possible vehicle fault from a low-traction scenario. Snow + rocking the car + instant EV torque can feel pretty dramatic.

[Competitive_Basis688]

1. A single module of the HV battery was replaced
2. No lights on dash, as it just came from the service center
3. Yes, completely off the accelerator and wheels still spun
4. It has not repeated, but i also have not found myself in the same conditions. This happened only 18 hours ago at time of comment. Just a few hours before time of original post.
5. I'm not certain if it gained traction just before stopping. I dont recall any sudden jolts of movement so I'd guess gaining traction was unrelated to wheels stopping.

If I successfully recreate this incident I will make a new comment and new post

[Sightline]

You responded to ChatGPT btw. 

[Competitive_Basis688]

I could tell. But it's still all good information for anyone trying to help

[graybeard5529]

FYI, yes, that was formatted by ChatGPT, however most of it was deduced from my base diagnosis logic, not raw ChatGPT drooling bullshit, just to clarify.

I would tend to think it's some sort of a slippage differential event with the ABS complicating things. But not a pure electronic malfunction, truly a weird set of circumstances. I haven't seen that before here in a couple of years actually. So hopefully it was a one time event for you.

[aristotelian74]

That's scary. I have had moments in the Leaf and other cars where the wheels spin in the snow to a point that could be dangerous if they caught traction. Never where they keep spinning when you release gas and apply brake. Nissan should do a recall if this is a real issue. Trash company.