Answering your question Tim, the car has at least one sensor for each of all three axes, Yaw, Pitch, and Roll. Generically, they are called G sensors, and some might be specifically called that in the scan tool data. It is a feature of most VSC systems and they need all this information in order to process what is happening to the car. If your car starts rotating, like in a skid, it is likely the brakes will apply to try to straighten it out (even if you are NOT braking). It is very hard to know how the manufacturers implement this technology without going to test track. I read at least one report here of a Leaf going to a skidding stop with NO driver input, because a G sensor failed.
This thread is getting a bit random, I wish there was a way to separate the known brake issues into separate topics.
2011 and 2012 Leafs (Japanese built) have the same brakes and the same issues. 2013 and newer (American built) Leafs are completely different. I don't know about other countries, just the USA.
FIRST PROBLEM: Japanese versions had issues with low speed erratic behavior that was solved by a software upgrade by mid 2012.
SECOND PROBLEM: Japanese built Leafs will come to a complete stop if you step on the brake abruptly.
It scared the ------ out of me when I discovered my 2012 would do it, so I started a thread, now old, discussing it.
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=14723
I feel this behavior is completely unacceptable and unsafe, but Nissan designed it that way and is sticking to it. I had it to the dealer several times, reported it to NHTSA and worked with Nissan to solve it. All to no avail
I had to train myself to get into the accelerator pedal after a "panic" stop. It is not natural or normal to do that in a 'wait and see where the cars are going to end up' situation, but YOU HAVE TO DO IT with a '11 or'12 Leaf. Otherwise you will get rear ended, as has happened to many Leaf owners.
THIRD PROBLEM: All Leafs are vulnerable to odd behaviour due to flaky 12 volt batteries. It would seem that it is more of an issue with the American built cars, but that is just my casual observation from reading this forum. 12 v batteries are very troublesome on hybrids and electrics because the driver/owners don't think they are bad because the car still "starts". Instead the car is booting up with software getting corrupted and learned data getting lost. This makes them very unpredictable and can cause lots of codes and other odd issues. Most 12 volt batteries are cheaper than a visit to the repair shop.
yaw sensor.
