Interesting events David,
Interesting events David, thank you for reporting on this. As a Phoenix leaf owner for 10 months now, I feel compelled to answer your questions at the end of your artical:
Nissan's explanation does not win my heart or mind. Originaly my heart was in love with Nissan and the leaf. Then once the battery bars started rapidly disappearing, Nissan was cold, unresponsive and i quickly found the original information to be grossly incomplete. My mind calculates what Nissan is now saying and equates it to consumer fraud - and I want nothing to do with this any more(I had enough after my 2nd bar loss). The leaf ownership relationship now is like a marriage that was entered into with a massive lack of disclosure to make an informed decision; the honey moon is long over, and I am praying for divorce paperwork or an FBI raid (like what happened so Solyndra).
I am observing that the shifting story from Nissan is exactly that, shifty. I want to note that I have documented my problems directly/regularly with Nissan for over 4 months and have had no good will from Nissan USA. I have to read updates about the issue online for goodness sakes. This was a damn expensive car, why can they not call me to tell me they are re-nigging on the original disclosed useability, care and performance of my car? It leaves me feeling no goodwill in return.
Nissan's latest claims only dig a bigger hole and prove to me that they are committing major fraud by selling these cars without disclosing these items. I do not have patience when pertinent buying information is being withheld from consumers trying to make a buying decision, and from reporters trying to accurately report on a product to its readers.
What will Nissan do? I am unsure. But I can tell you what charactoristics Nissan USA needs immediately: honesty, proactivness and integrity. Actions (words too) with these characteristics will get you much further than hiding behind lawyers and pr teams.
Thought - Now that i have read Nissan's latest comments, as a leaf owner i cannot drive on freeways and cannot drive 12500 miles in a year if i want the usability and life nissan already promised up front. What is next, will i not be able to use my headlights at night?!
Nissan's pre-sale lack of disclosure and post-sale re-nigging of vehicle useability is shameful. The desert region(Phoenix) leaf owners are the first affected, and are bearing a load of pain caused by Nissan. Please stand behind us.