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'Charge lock' on Nissan Leaf doesn't actually prevent cable theft

Is it a feature or a bug? According to AutoblogGreen reader Francois Viau, the locking mechanism that holds the 110V trickle charge cable to his Nissan Leaf is too weak, and that's a problem. That's because while he thought the cable was locked to his car during a charge session at work, someone stole the cable, and it cost him $2,200 to replace it (in Canadian dollars, from the Nissan dealer). To see just how easy it is to unlock the mechanism, Viau had a "small assistant" jimmy it open with a plastic comb on video (watch it below). "The charge lock feature on Nissan Leaf is not intended to prevent theft of the charging cordset." – Brian Brockman We wondered if this was a common problem and, through the magic of Facebook, we had AutoblogGreen reader Phil Tipper try it out on his 2013 SL Leaf. He said he used an insulated handle flat screwdriver and was not able to defeat the lock. "I admit that I didn't want to force the mechanism for fear of breaking it, it didn't look like that kid used much force at all," he said. "Maybe this guy's mechanism was damaged in the theft and now it's very easy to trip the lock out of the way." Fifty percent of a sample size of two isn't a reliable metric, but if you're worried about locking your cable in place, you can see some of Viau's anti-theft solutions here (in French, with pictures). Turns out, though, that the white plastic bit that prevents the cable handle from working during a charge isn't really an anti-theft device. Brian Brockman, senior manager of corporate communications for Nissan North America, told AutoblogGreen that, "The charge lock feature on Nissan Leaf is not intended to prevent theft of the charging cordset. It is designed to discourage someone from unplugging the vehicle while a charging session is in progress. The trickle charge cable features a small hole in the release button to allow the owner to insert a lock to reduce the chance of theft." So, now you know. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Nissan Murano hybrid greens up Shanghai

Nothing says summertime like a muscle car with a ragtop. Or, in China's case, a hybrid crossover SUV, right? So it's a good thing Nissan plans on starting sales of a hybrid variant of its Murano in China for the upcoming warm weather season. Nissan showed off the Murano Hybrid at the Shanghai Motor Show with a supercharged engine that is paired with an electric motor. The company says the powertrain will deliver the fuel economy of a 2.0-liter engine and the power of a 3.5-liter V6 engine. Nissan didn't release actual specs of the engine nor any fuel-economy figures. Back in 2013, Nissan was working on expanding its hybrid choices, including hybrid variants for both the Murano and the Rogue. This powertrain choice makes some sense, since it could be difficult to wring a decent single-charge range out of those relatively heavier vehicles if they were all-electric. With that in mind, take a look at Nissan's press release below. NISSAN APPEALS TO CHINESE WITH TWO WORLD PREMIERES: LANNIA AND MURANO HYBRID AT AUTO SHANGHAI 2015 Lannia makes global debut to capture the hearts of young Chinese customers All-new Murano Hybrid offers excellent fuel economy and driving performance in the luxury SUV segment Customers in China can begin ordering GT-R Nismo and 370Z Nismo today SHANGHAI, China (April 20, 2015) – Nissan unveiled two all-new production models, Lannia and Murano Hybrid, along with two Nismo products, GT-R Nismo and 370Z Nismo, at Auto Shanghai 2015. "These innovative vehicles represent the start of an exciting new chapter in the story of Nissan's presence in, and commitment to, China," said Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. "Nissan's growth strategy in China will continue to reflect our commitment to use local engineering and manufacturing. And we will maintain our support for China's efforts to promote more efficient and sustainable transportation. On both of these fronts, Lannia and Murano Hybrid will lead the way forward." Highlights of the Nissan display: Building on Nissan's longstanding success in the sedan market, Lannia delivers a fresh, distinctive personality that China's young generations embody. As the first product developed and designed for the young Chinese generations, especially those in their 20s and 30s today who are seen as energetic trendsetters, Lannia is a tangible expression of the company's commitment to China.

Nissan expands Altima hood latch recall to 625k cars

Nissan is tacking on 2014 and 2015 models to its October recall of the 2013 Altima sedan. In that case, 220,000 vehicles were recalled due to a problem with the car's secondary hood latch. It's the same story this time around, as 625,000 vehicles, ranging from model years 2013 to 2015, are being recalled. As with the October recall, the secondary hood latch may not be secure, even if the hood appears closed. That increases the chances of the hood flying up while the vehicle is in motion. Of course, the primary release needs to be triggered for that to happen. Provided that doesn't happen, there's not a tremendous degree of danger. That said, the lack of the redundant safety feature is enough to warrant the recall. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration bulletin, Nissan hasn't released a plan for repairing the vehicles. Owners, though, can reach out to customer service for additional details. The number is available below. Report Receipt Date: FEB 27, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V116000 Component(s): LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES Potential Number of Units Affected: 625,000 Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc. SUMMARY: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Nissan Altima vehicles manufactured March 1, 2013, to December 31, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the secondary hood latch may bind and remain in the unlatched position when the hood is closed. CONSEQUENCE: If the primary latch is inadvertently released and the secondary latch is not engaged, the hood could unexpectedly open while driving, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. REMEDY: A remedy plan or a notification schedule has not yet been determined. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 14V-565. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.