Nissan instructs dealers to reprogram GT-R launch control
Few topics have set the Autoblog commenting system on fire more than the Nissan GT-R. And once stories began to surface about Godzilla's gearbox grenading when customers invoked the power of launch control, it was like a Hateraid atom bomb had gone off below the fold. Well folks, strap on your riot gear and grab a stick of C4. Nissan's in the news again, officially addressing the GT-R's gearbox failure and rolling out a new software program to mitigate the problem.
Make the jump for all the details.
Gallery: Review: 2009 Nissan GT-R
Gallery: 2008 Nissan GT-R Details
[Source: InsideLine, StraightLine]
According to the dealer directive (below) and a subsequent report by InsideLine, Nissan has begun implementing a software change on around 50 GT-Rs awaiting dealer delivery, along with "vigorous encouragement" for current owners to bring their vehicles in for reprogramming. The onboard computer modification will supposedly offer "acceleration similar to that with the current launch control," but will do so without disabling the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC). At launch, revs will be reduced from 4,500 rpm to somewhere between 3,000 and 3,500 rpm and the clutch engagement has been reprogrammed to limit driveline stress. And this isn't just for Stateside GT-Rs. All the vehicles sold from here on out, no matter the country, will use the revised programming.
Nissan North America's chief of product public relations, Scott Vazin, told IL that the situation, "...has been blown way out of proportion." And according to Nissan, less than 1% of the vehicles – between 16 and 19 cars out of the 1,750-1,800 GT-Rs delivered to customers in the U.S. – have been affected. Furthermore, Nissan is sticking to its guns about disabling VDC, making it clear that the only time the system should be turned off is when the vehicle is stuck in the mud or snow. To make sure that point is driven home, a revised customer disclosure form will be required for all new GT-R sales from this point forward.
The dealer bulletin is below and... well... you know what to do in the comments.
DEALER DIRECTIVE
Nissan has enhanced the Model Year (MY) 2009 GT-R by incorporating new MY 2010 programming that will optimize clutch engagement control for improved drivability. This upgrade also improves vehicle acceleration with the Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) ON/activated.
Nissan will provide this MY 2010 specification upgrade to MY 2009 GT-R owners at no additional cost. Nissan has already incorporated this programming into the GT-R vehicles in its U.S. inventory and will resume shipping of those vehicles to dealers. We will advise you soon on how to install this new program into all MY 2009 GT-Rs (see below).
The GT-R will continue to offer supercar characteristics of exceptional handling, maneuvering and overall driving experience. This upgrade provides the consumer improved drivability and enhanced acceleration performance with VDC ON (as required by the warranty). Standing acceleration capability with VDC ON (VDC-R mode) will improve compared to the original model year 2009 performance while such acceleration with VDC OFF will be moderated. Customers should be reminded to drive safely and obey all traffic laws. [Please note independent media reports of 0-60 drive times with VDC OFF (or what the media call "Launch Control") on closed courses with professional drivers will likely increase after this change.]
The GT-R Owner's Manual expressly warns against driving with the VDC OFF (except to free the vehicle when stuck in mud or snow) to avoid damage. Repeated acceleration launches with VDC OFF have resulted in some reported instances of damage to the transaxle. Repairs for damage caused by driving with VDC OFF are expressly excluded under the terms of the Nissan GT-R New Car Limited Warranty. Except when stuck, there is no reason to drive with VDC OFF.
This change was initially implemented with the start of MY 2010 GT-R production and has been completed for all 2009 GT-Rs still in NNA inventory... In a few weeks, you will receive the Technical Service Bulletin explaining how to implement this specification change for all remaining 2009 GT-Rs...
Attached is a REVISED Customer Disclosure Form With Modification Notice, which must be used with all customers who buy or take delivery of a MY 2009 GT-R.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
chconline 8:00PM (1/29/2009)
I'll respond with a link to this video:
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Hitlers-R35-GTR_317079.htm
LOL
Reply
Patrick 8:16PM (1/29/2009)
OMG. That is the funniest thing I have seen in a LONG time!!!!!! ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Azael 8:21PM (1/29/2009)
I'm betting you had this link prepared and waited for a post about the Nissan GTR. Hahaha good work!!
Great video!
Jon 8:41PM (1/29/2009)
Oh my God.
Someone get this man a beer and a medal.
HotRodzNKustoms 10:32PM (1/29/2009)
Sir, I am not worthy of your greatness
hyundaifans.com 11:21PM (1/29/2009)
Man, i laughed so hard my sides hurt!
chconline 11:45PM (1/29/2009)
:P
Actually someone posted it on my forum (Which ironically is a technology forum) and that's the first thing that came to my mind.
Someone took the same scene and made it into Hitler's Xbox last year. It's relatively better in my opinion haha.
This is from the movie "Downfall". It's a really good movie.
Mobius_1 6:07AM (1/30/2009)
Hitler has never made more sense! Thanks soooooooo much for that link! 3 Stars isn't enough.
Kaptain75329 11:26AM (1/30/2009)
That video is gold. God bless the Internet.
why not the LS2LS7? 8:01PM (1/29/2009)
Well, on the one hand, I congratulate Nissan for FULLY owning up to it, even explicitly mentioning that 0-60 times by reported media outlets will likely rise.
On the other hand, it's kinda tough to say there wasn't a problem here now that Nissan agrees. Nissan's marketing department was writing checks that the cars couldn't cash without seemingly unacceptable levels of vehicle deterioration.
Yeah, I know there isn't a car >100HP in this world that you can do full bore standing starts on repeatedly without damaging it, but most companies don't respond by slowing their cars down to mitigate the problem.
One of the saddest parts for me is every time people talked about 0-60 times and computer chicanery, the defense was usually "but these tests were done with VDC off!. And now we see even when VDC is off, the computer is still determining your performance.
Reply
zamafir 8:18PM (1/29/2009)
It's really sad. Nissan spends all this time building a world beater, then fails to ensure durability over the long run. I've launched my launch control equipped car more than a dozen times, and it's fine. I'm totally with you on this one, nice that they're fessing up, but they never should have needed to in the first place. All the talk of all the research that went into this car and they couldn't insure LC would work past a dozen launches? This issue never creeped up during testing?
konatown 12:46AM (1/30/2009)
Really Zamafir? Really? You actually think that a Nissan GTR was launched just a dozen or so times and that broke the transmission? Yet C&D, MT, Auto. Mag, and countless other publications could perform their full lobby of tests and never once have this 'transmission failure'. Really?
All of you that are blaming Nissan for a parts failure are beyond ridiculous. I'd love for you all to drive putting you Toyota Corollas in neutral, raising RPM to 3,500 (let alone 4,500) and then dropping the car into gear. You let me know how many times in succession you can do that.
why not the LS2LS7? 3:56AM (1/30/2009)
konatown:
One thing I can't understand is apologists for companies that go beyond the companies themselves in trying to play something down.
Nissan admitted there is a problem. Why do you and others insist on continuing to say it isn't so?
Nissan is being very open about this. Let's not try to make it something other than what Nissan (who has the data) seems to say it is.
andre_deveau 8:02PM (1/29/2009)
so, they admit their programming was faulty, still don't authorize warranties, and are changing other peoples' going forward.
i'll take my GT-R in an R8. At least Audi will fix the problems, and the car doesn't kill itself.
Reply
Aki 8:07PM (1/29/2009)
Er, didn't Nissan just address the issue?
esoterica 8:16PM (1/29/2009)
Aki, it doesn't matter if Nissan has solved the self-destructing transmission issue if they're taking something away that was present in the car at the time of purchase and not providing any sort of compensation for it (and not providing a warranty if the owner doesn't let them take anything away).
kal326 11:37PM (1/29/2009)
Nope they just patched it. Its now R35 v1.1
Raz 8:06PM (1/30/2009)
The killing itself part is right, whats the point in going a second faster than the other car when it couldn't even last to take you to where you want to go. It takes years to develop a component, but they really should revise the design of the trans so it'll be able to deliver the power instead of limiting it.
Pokey 8:15PM (1/29/2009)
So, will this finally silence all the Nissan fanboys who say the gearbox issues and related "shenanigans" are myths and lies?
Reply
panoz racing 8:31PM (1/29/2009)
are there any fanboys left?