2020 Nissan Armada

Component/System: Ignition system (brake switch/start button malfunction) and power door locks Available for inspection: Yes, both issues are ongoing and can be demonstrated at any time. Description of the Problem: My 2020 Nissan Armada Platinum is experiencing two serious and well-documented issues that I believe pose a clear safety threat, especially to families like mine. First, the push-button start system regularly fails. Despite pressing the brake, the vehicle won’t start unless I exit the car, lock it, and use remote start. This is a ridiculous, repeated workaround that I’ve had to normalize—sometimes in public places or when I’m in a rush with my children in the car. After doing research, I discovered this is directly tied to a faulty brake switch—a widely reported issue among Armada owners. The problem began sporadically in late 2023 and has become more frequent since. There are no warning lights, no diagnostic codes, no notice. Dealers acknowledge the issue but Nissan has refused to issue a recall. The second—and far more terrifying—issue is with the power door locks. In early 2024, both of my rear doors stopped locking and unlocking automatically at the exact same time. That is not normal wear and tear—that is a simultaneous systems failure. And these aren’t just any doors—these are the doors my children use every single day. This means that unless I manually check and lock them every time (which doesn’t always work), my children are sitting in unlocked back seats. Heaven forbid someone walks up to my car while I’m stopped at a red light and opens the door to snatch my child—because the door isn’t locked and the vehicle didn’t secure it like it should. This is completely avoidable one—if Nissan would take responsibility. The repair cost is $900 per door. It is clearly a manufacturer defect. The dealership confirmed both rear actuators have failed. What terrible tragedy has to happen before something is done?

Vehicle no start - What component or system failed or malfunctioned and is it available for inspection upon request? brake switch not operating properly. old part not available, had to have replaced. - How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? personal safety, not knowing if the vehicle was going to start and where you would be at the time it happens. - Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes, vehicle was taken to Nissan dealership for issue and repair. - Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No - Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No

The 2020 Nissan Armada Platinum began with a BCI Malfunction notification on the dash, as well as multiple other warning lights illuminating on the same time on the dash. As well the low windshield washer fluid light came on after just changing the oil and checking fluids in mid-June. Reservoir was filled with additional washer fluid, the notification went off, but returned 30 minutes later despite the reservoir being full. Later in the day, the gear shift would not immediately engage to allow me to put the car into drive. While sitting at a stop light in a turn lane the car was put into Park to adjust the Navigation settings. From that point, the car would not shift into any other gear to make the car operational. Panicked and blocking traffic in the road, the car was turned off in the hopes it could be turned back on and it would engage the gear shift. The Armada would not start after that point at all. I sat for ten minutes attempting to restart the car, constantly having to get out of my car to waive traffic around me, putting myself at risk of being hit. Thankfully, a local Fire Dept was coming back from a call, and stopped to assist me. They blocked traffic to my right with their fire engine, and a family member came and blocked traffic from behind me with their vehicle to keep me safer than I had been. The Firemen tried everything they could to get the car to start to get the car to safety as we contacted a tow truck. With no success after another 20 minutes, they had to get a long screwdriver from the fire engine to release the shift lock to be able to put the Armada in Neutral. It took three firemen, and a family member to be able to push the car across three lanes of traffic, with the fire engine driving alongside my right to block traffic, pushing me into a busy intersection (at one point with an 18-wheel coming at us) to make a right onto the connecting street to a gas station parking lot to await a tow to the dealership. So scary!

My car had the recall work completed about a month ago, just for your information. Yesterday, while out with a friend ,I noticed, and made comments aloud about “ is my car in drive?”…”my car feels like it’s ‘pulling’ or something, almost like the emergency brake engaged …(but it was NOT) periodically I continued to mutter these same types of statements intermittently. I had decided, if the vehicle continued, I would call dealership for appt. It is still under complete warranty and just turned 16,000 miles. Later that afternoon, at about 5:30 pm My friend and I were driving out of a restaurant parking lot, preparing to pull onto a (somewhat) main rd, when suddenly, and without any warning the car UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED, totally,lunging us forward up a curb, up onto a berm/median, that divides north and southbound traffic, and OVER a Boulder/huge decorative rock, app. Three feet high, slammed us back down, both very frightened , I yelled “I can’t make it stop!!” I thought to turn off engine or put into neutral ,as we were then on the wrong side of the road ,facing oncoming traffic….My friend yelled for me to turn into another parking lot. At that juncture I was able to do so, successfully, then turned the car off. I’m still unsure if I was able to place the out-of-control car in neutral. Even with seatbelts on, we were being tossed up and down like rag dolls.friend immediately tearful due to sternum pain & hand pain. My hand was hurting, as was my rib cage area in front right and right side of spine & knee. These “injuries” were noticeable within a few minutes of exiting the car, calming down a bit & looking to see damage.We were beyond stunned, and were attempting to figure out what had just happened to us!The undercarriage of the vehicle appeared bent,hood buckled ,pieces of under car were left in oncoming lane,paint cracks from force jamming car into curbs, median/berm & Boulder.Followed Nissan protocol.Car towed to nearest dealer,they will call w/I days.