Static when getting out of the car

[sileung]

Everytime I get out of the car, I get a static shock when I touch the door to close it. I've driven many cars in the past and never have I had this happen as frequent as with the Rogue.

Is anyone experiencing this problem too?

Anything I can buy to neutralize the static?

[Pescakl1]

Did you get new shoes recently?

I know my question is weird, but that is because it is happening all the time to me when I wear certain pairs of shoes and air is dry.When the bottom of your shoes is rubber, it isolates you from the rest of the environment and, as rubber scratches the pavement, it builds static electricity.It creates a voltage differential to earth and when you touch something linked to earth potential, it discharges, usually through the tip of one of your finger (not pleasant).

It happens to me a lot, touching my wife, my toddler, my cat, and sometimes my car.It is definitively not fun and the only way to avoid that is to change shoes or to touch something with the palm of your hand before touching someone else.

[IdaCrue]

I had the same problem constantly with my Honda Civic. I sold the car and bought a Rogue. Haven't had that problem with the Rogue in a year of driving. I guess Nissan isn't the only car with this issue, even the much touted Honda has it too.

[sileung]

Did you get new shoes recently?

Actually, it doesn't matter what shoes I wear. I wear several different pairs and it's still happening. The same thing happens to my parents and sister.

What do you touch prior to exiting the car to stop the static from happening?

[takeshi]

It's not unusual -- especially when the air is dry.

Touch a metal part of the car and, without letting go, then step out of the car (applies to any car -- not just the Rogue).

[sileung]

I had the same problem constantly with my Honda Civic. I sold the car and bought a Rogue. Haven't had that problem with the Rogue in a year of driving. I guess Nissan isn't the only car with this issue, even the much touted Honda has it too.

I used to drive a Maxima (also with cloth seats like my Rogue) but it only happened once in a while. This happens on the Rogue EVERYTIME. I know it's not something that is particular to the Rogue, but this is just my experience. This doesn't seem to happen when I sit in other peoples cars

[Pescakl1]

Actually, it doesn't matter what shoes I wear. I wear several different pairs and it's still happening. The same thing happens to my parents and sister.

What do you touch prior to exiting the car to stop the static from happening?

Like Takeshi said, hold a metal part of the car before putting a feet on the ground. The difference of potential will go through your whole hand instead of the tip of your finger, so you won't even notice it.If you did not do that, the first time you touch something, grab it with your whole hand. Once again, more surface you use, less painful it is.

You are kind of lucky it is happening only with your car, it is happening to me a lot, and I noticed some type of shoes are prone to that (therefore my question).

I know I love my wife, I don't need to see sparkles every times I am close to her . Sometimes we play with it, but at the end, it is painful and not that funny for my daughter (you can actually see an electric arc forming sometimes).

[jmbones]

Put a grounding strap on your Rogue, it might help. Available here near the bottom: http://www.lessemf.com/personal.html

[RobbyUSMC01-06]

Actually, it doesn't matter what shoes I wear. I wear several different pairs and it's still happening. The same thing happens to my parents and sister.

What do you touch prior to exiting the car to stop the static from happening?

I have the same problem. I doesn't matter what shoes I'm wearing. Even when it is humid it happens even though it shouldn't. When it's cool and dry outside I can get a two inch ark from my finger to the door frame. I've owned about 10 different cars and never had anything like this. I just try to remember to hold onto the door frame as I get out of the car.

[philipa_240sx]

Static shocks when exiting a vehicle are pretty common. The tires insulate the vehicle from the ground. When you exit the vehicle, any static charge that has built up will discharge through you... and you get shocked. The shock itself is completely harmless.

Although there can be many sources, the most common appears to be seat fabrics (They build up static charges as you rub them) and possibly even the tires themselves (static charges build up when the tire is rolling). There are a few tricks you can try:

1) Use a ground strap attached to the vehicle frame that 'drags' on the ground as others have mentioned.

2) Periodically rub the seat surfaces with dryer sheets. They are designed to reduce the buildup of static electricity in the dryer... and will do the same for fabrics in your car.