NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
110 reports37,300 miles · Sep 18, 2020
Service Brakes
FIRST SIGNS OF A PROBLEM WAS A YELLOW TRIANGULAR WARNING SIGN ON THE DASH WHEN I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, BUT NO DRIVING PROBLEMS. NEXT TIME STARTING THE VEHICLE AT HOME (ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLE) MANY LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR AS IT JERKED AND JUDDERED DOWN, AND A LOUD WARNING SOUND WAS EMITT…
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FIRST SIGNS OF A PROBLEM WAS A YELLOW TRIANGULAR WARNING SIGN ON THE DASH WHEN I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, BUT NO DRIVING PROBLEMS. NEXT TIME STARTING THE VEHICLE AT HOME (ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLE) MANY LIGHTS LIT UP ON THE DASH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR AS IT JERKED AND JUDDERED DOWN, AND A LOUD WARNING SOUND WAS EMITTED WHICH CONTINUED FOR QUITE AFTER A WHILE AFTER VEHICLE WAS SWITCHED OFF. THE CAR HAS BEEN FLAKY EVER SINCE, WITH EITHER A RED OR YELLOW WARNING SIGN LIGHTING ON THE DASH- OR NOTHING AT ALL. THE MOST SERIOUS EXPERIENCE, HOWEVER, WAS ON SEPTEMBER 15 (2020) WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT (WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE - YOU CAN'T START WITHOUT THAT) - I PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE CAR STARTED MOVING BACK EVEN THOUGH I STILL HAD MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE. I HAD TO USE A LOT OF EXTRA FORCE BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED. THANKFULLY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES OF PEDESTRIANS BEHIND ME. IN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND DOZENS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS - WHICH IS QUITE AMAZING CONSIDERING SO RELATIVELY FEW NISSAN LEAFS ARE ON US ROADS.
NHTSA ODI #11359852
31,000 miles · Aug 3, 2020
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING TO 60MPH FROM A STOP LIGHT ON US 287 AND ISABELLE ROAD IN BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLED TO OVER 70. ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEEMED TO NOT WORK AT ALL. I BRAKED AND SLOWED DOWN BUT IT WAS FIGHTING THE MAXIMUM ACCELERATION. I TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKES AND KEPT SLOWING D…
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WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING TO 60MPH FROM A STOP LIGHT ON US 287 AND ISABELLE ROAD IN BOULDER COUNTY, COLORADO, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLED TO OVER 70. ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEEMED TO NOT WORK AT ALL. I BRAKED AND SLOWED DOWN BUT IT WAS FIGHTING THE MAXIMUM ACCELERATION. I TRIED PUMPING THE BRAKES AND KEPT SLOWING DOWN AND THE CAR LOST ALL ENGINE POWER AND SEEMED TO BRAKE ITSELF. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. TURNED IT BACK ON AND ALL SEEMED NORMAL. I AM CONCERNED THAT OTHERS MAY PANIC IN THIS SITUATION AND NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR. THE 2015 NISSAN LEAF I DRIVE HAS 31,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND HAS HAD ALL UPDATES AND SERVICES.
NHTSA ODI #11343036
118,521 miles · Apr 14, 2020
Power Train
CAR GOES INTO TURTLE MODE, LOSING ALL POWER. HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, EACH TIME HAS BEEN COMING OFF A HIGHWAY OR HEADING UP A STEEP HILL AND THEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ON, CODES RESET. I HAVE A READER FOR THE OBD, IT IS SHOWING FAULT P2138 000A EV/ HEC ACC PEDAL POS SENS 1,2, ERR EVC-196. A…
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CAR GOES INTO TURTLE MODE, LOSING ALL POWER. HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES, EACH TIME HAS BEEN COMING OFF A HIGHWAY OR HEADING UP A STEEP HILL AND THEN TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS. WHEN CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ON, CODES RESET. I HAVE A READER FOR THE OBD, IT IS SHOWING FAULT P2138 000A EV/ HEC ACC PEDAL POS SENS 1,2, ERR EVC-196. AS POWER IS COMPLETELY LOST, THIS COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. ONCE RESET THE CAR ACTS LIKE NORMAL. EVERY INSTANCE HAS HAPPENED WITH A BATTERY STATE OF CHARGE OF OVER 30%. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11321156
52,000 miles · Jan 8, 2020
Service Brakes
ON 20 DEC. 2019 DRIVING ~25MPH ON CITY STREET, WARNING LIGHTS ON DASH LIT UP, REGENERATIVE BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND, BRAKE PEDAL DROPPED TO FLOOR. SAFELY COASTED TO STOP, HYDRAULIC BRAKES WORKED AT LOW SPEEDS. AFTER STOP, BRAKES STILL DID NOT WORK AFTER VEHICLE RESTART. SEE ATTACHED DEALER REPAIR REPORT.
NHTSA ODI #11298022
35,000 miles · Jan 3, 2020
Service Brakes
WHEN THE CAR IS POWERED ON, THE BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE; THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD AS IF IN GEAR, DESPITE CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SUDDEN MOVEMENT IS BY THROWING THE CAR INTO PARK AGAIN. IT FIRST HAPPENED IN 2017, WAS SERVICED BY A LOCAL DEALER, BUT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN IN 2019. CONTACTE…
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WHEN THE CAR IS POWERED ON, THE BRAKES DO NOT ENGAGE; THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD OR BACKWARD AS IF IN GEAR, DESPITE CONSTANT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE SUDDEN MOVEMENT IS BY THROWING THE CAR INTO PARK AGAIN. IT FIRST HAPPENED IN 2017, WAS SERVICED BY A LOCAL DEALER, BUT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN IN 2019. CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY SAY THERE IS NO RECORD OF THIS BEING A PROBLEM AND SUGGESTED I GO TO A DIFFERENT DEALER - I WILL NEED TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
NHTSA ODI #11296868
25,000 miles · Nov 14, 2019
Service Brakes
STARTED THE CAR TO GO TO WORK AND THE BRAKES FAULTED. ABS, BRAKE, TCS LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR AND MAKES STRANGE ABS NOISES ON DRY PAVEMENT. TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED. DEALER WANTS $4600 TO REPLACE BRAKE CONTROL UNIT AND ABS CONTROL UNIT. CAR HAS 25K MILES.
NHTSA ODI #11279973
36,969 miles · Sep 26, 2019
Service Brakes
I HAVE A NISSAN LEAF 2015 S. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND MY FOOT IS STILL ON THE BAKE AND THE CAR MOVES BACKWARD ANYWAY AND THERE IS NO WAY TO STOP THE CAR IF SOMEONE IS BEHIND THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN SIX TIMES NOW THE LAST TIME WAS AT PUBLIX AND IF SOMEONE WAS WALKING BEHIND THE CAR TH…
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I HAVE A NISSAN LEAF 2015 S. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND MY FOOT IS STILL ON THE BAKE AND THE CAR MOVES BACKWARD ANYWAY AND THERE IS NO WAY TO STOP THE CAR IF SOMEONE IS BEHIND THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN SIX TIMES NOW THE LAST TIME WAS AT PUBLIX AND IF SOMEONE WAS WALKING BEHIND THE CAR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY BAD. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPEN BEFORE OPENING THE GARAGE DOOR I WOULD HAVE RAN INTO THE DOOR. THE CAR WAS PARKED EACH TIME THIS HAPPEN.
NHTSA ODI #11258454
40,000 miles · Aug 16, 2019
Service Brakes
BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. FOOT WAS FULLY ON BRAKE WHEN CHANGING TO REVERSE. CAR LUNGED BACKWARDS ALMOST HITTING SOMEONE IN PARKING LOT. NO INDICATORS APPEARED BEFORE DRIVING VEHICLE. INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN LATER THE SAME DAY BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. ISSUE APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO SECONDARY B…
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BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE WHEN CHANGING FROM PARK TO REVERSE. FOOT WAS FULLY ON BRAKE WHEN CHANGING TO REVERSE. CAR LUNGED BACKWARDS ALMOST HITTING SOMEONE IN PARKING LOT. NO INDICATORS APPEARED BEFORE DRIVING VEHICLE. INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN LATER THE SAME DAY BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. ISSUE APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO SECONDARY BATTERY FAILING BUT THE BRAKE BOOSTER SHOULD BE ON PRIMARY POWER SYSTEM AND NOT ON SECONDARY.
NHTSA ODI #11244344
37,000 miles · Aug 4, 2019
Service Brakes
OCCASIONALLY, BRAKES FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN APPLIED AT NORMAL (NOT ABRUPT) PRESSURE. THEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE. THIS ISSUES IS ALL OVER THE FORUMS, AND MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN, NISSAN SAYS THERE IS NO ISSUE. THEY RESET ALL THE LIGHTS AND RETURN THE CAR. WE HAVE PICTURES OF OF WARNING…
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OCCASIONALLY, BRAKES FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY WHEN APPLIED AT NORMAL (NOT ABRUPT) PRESSURE. THEN ANTI-LOCK BRAKES ACTIVATE. THIS ISSUES IS ALL OVER THE FORUMS, AND MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS. EACH TIME THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN, NISSAN SAYS THERE IS NO ISSUE. THEY RESET ALL THE LIGHTS AND RETURN THE CAR. WE HAVE PICTURES OF OF WARNING AND MAINTENANCE LIGHTS ON THE DASH INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WHEN THIS OCCURS.THEN IT COMES BACK A FEW DAYS, OR SOMETIMES A MONTH LATER.
NHTSA ODI #11241639
25,000 miles · Jul 23, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND SEIZED IN POSITION AS THE RPMS INCREASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS. FINALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INDEPENDENTL…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND SEIZED IN POSITION AS THE RPMS INCREASED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IN AN ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY THREE BLOCKS. FINALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL INDEPENDENTLY RELEASED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE MORE THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. LUTHER NISSAN OF INVER GROVE (LOCATED AT 1470 50TH ST E, INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN 55077, (952) 479-4974) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED, WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000. PIIR=Y. *DT*JB
NHTSA ODI #11234129
Official recalls
4Apr 26, 2023
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A1.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Consequence: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A1.
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Consequence: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A1.
Apr 13, 2017
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Apr 26, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Feb 29, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 LEAF vehicles manufactured November 19, 2012, to July 31, 2015. During very cold temperatures, the relay inside the electronic brake booster may freeze, requiring the driver to exert more effort to slow the vehicle down.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the brake relay fails, longer distances or additional brake effort would be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Intelligent Brake Control Unit software, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗