An Xterra From Hell - Nissan’s Menace To American Society Poem by James B. Earley

Author's Note:
'What is Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA) ?
Sudden Unintended Acceleration (SUA) is one of the most deadly automotive defects in history. It occurs when a car’s electronics cause the throttle to go wide open, making it impossible for the driver to return the car to idle if it remains in gear. It also severely limits the ability of the brakes to bring the vehicle under control - leaving the unsuspecting driver at the mercy of a runaway car. Thousands of people, including drivers, passengers, and innocent bystanders, have been killed or seriously injured in sudden acceleration accidents.'
~Sudden Acceleration Information Group

Picture…if you will….an SUV…
Xterra in your rear view mirror
…..Deception’s façade...
Concealing an history of terror
*
*
Bizarre....at the wheel
RPMs……..running amok….
Somewhere in my future
..NISSAN'S passing...the buck

Never have I witnessed
Such vehicular belligerence.....
In forty years...commercial
….Driving experience

Engine…..surging
A mind of its own
One of the most troubling
...Moments I’ve known

Spectacular conflict
Right there...and then
That’s when my true
….Aggravations began

With the manufacturer
...Though duly advised
Aloof…..the response
…Arrogantly denies

Further responsibility
Assuming no blame...
Till someone’s killed
Just...pay the claim

It’s cheaper that way
Economics we know
Public be damned
Bank accounts grow
*
*
Whenever I see…..
In my rear view mirror
Any hints of a Nissan Xterra
I remember the moment
Ain’t a damn thing scarer
Than accelerating...out of control
At the wheel of that Nissan Xterra


Author’s Note: Among my letters to Nissan North America

“In previous correspondence I expounded on an acceleration issue specific to our family’s 2007 Xterra, and conceivably extending to other Nissan vehicles as well. The letters explained, some reiterating in detail the horrifying experience of having suddenly found myself behind the wheel of a lurching runaway Nissan SUV. While determinedly applying the brake pedal, the vehicle still continued forward in a violent bucking fashion some 50 – 60 ft, until I was able to shift transmission to neutral position, and turn off engine. Fortunately, nothing was in my path, and other than frayed nerves, the moment uneventful.

As directed by Nissan Consumer Affairs, I sought diagnostic information from your local dealer. As we were both informed, the computer inquiry found nothing mechanically amiss. Nissan’s computer diagnosis suggests to the world that this entire incident is all “my” imagination. Thus it’s quite clear to me, that had there been that morning, God forbid, in the vehicle’s path, perhaps a mother and babe, any other creature, or object, your computer would have claimed by inference, to that very same world – “Doddering old fool at the wheel, DRIVER ERROR, there’s absolutely nothing amiss with the vehicle.”

I’d like to share a bit of personal history, in some degree establishing the fact that I’m no mere novice at the wheel of an automotive vehicle. Having some forty years plus commercial driving experience; the last 21 of those years in the employ of Robert Mondavi Winery, permanently assigned to Mr. Mondavi as his personal driver. My duties included ferrying Mr. Mondavi’s immediate family members, his corporate guests, most of the principal artists of the Robert Mondavi Summer Concert series, logging well over a million, accident-free miles, during my tenure. All the while, maintaining an exemplary DMV record throughout, admittedly with a bit of good luck, and more importantly, immaculate driving, and associated analytical skills. Skills, that indeed served me well the morning of April 18,2015.

During my 21 year association with Robert Mondavi Winery, I witnessed firsthand, integrity’s noble art, initiated and practiced by Mr. Mondavi himself, and demanded of every single employee throughout the organizational structure. Appalling is the degree Nissan fails in comparison. There seems a corporate culture toward an acute intent to subject America’s streets and highways to the insidious threat inherent within our Xterra. Nissan absolves itself of any willingness to further mechanically explore and evaluate our SUV. Nissan Consumer Affairs’ representative flatly refuses to put in writing, his statement that Nissan will offer us no further assistance in this matter, and in response to our request that Nissan repurchase our tainted vehicle, Nissan sends a letter of refusal…..UNSIGNED. A far cry, I insist from the acute level of integrity I experienced at Mondavi.

In view of Nissan’s denial of responsibility going forward, our request is thus: 1. Nissan exchange the tainted vehicle with one of similar stock and value. Or; 2. Purchase the Xterra outright, that we may, on our own, find a suitable replacement.”

Nissan's adamant response to the last paragraph, dated June 10,2015 was thus: 'Nissan carefully considered your request during a review of all available facts pertaining to your situation. Unfortunately, Nissan is not in a position to repurchase your vehicle at this time.' JBE