Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
17 reports
36,500 miles · May 13, 2020
Unknown Or Other
WHEN DRIVING OUR NISSAN LEAF FROM 4000 FEET ALTITUDE UP TO ABOUT 7000 FEET ALTITUDE (ABOUT 2500 FEET ALTITUDE CHANGE), SOMETHING UNDER THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR (BEHIND THE DRIVER) MAKES A LOUD BANG AND CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE FOOT-WELL OR FLOOR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE SAME SECTION OF ROAD, WHICH IS U…
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WHEN DRIVING OUR NISSAN LEAF FROM 4000 FEET ALTITUDE UP TO ABOUT 7000 FEET ALTITUDE (ABOUT 2500 FEET ALTITUDE CHANGE), SOMETHING UNDER THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR (BEHIND THE DRIVER) MAKES A LOUD BANG AND CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE FOOT-WELL OR FLOOR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE SAME SECTION OF ROAD, WHICH IS USUALLY TWICE A WEEK. INTERNET RESEARCH SUGGESTS OTHER NISSAN LEAF OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND AT ALTITUDE, AND THAT IT MAY BE A ISSUE WITH COMPRESSION AND EXPANSION OF THE BATTERY CASE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS BEFORE, BUT AM REPORTING IT AGAIN AS IT CONTINUES TO OCCUR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11324479
4,000 miles · Feb 3, 2020
Visibility/wiperInjury
WHEN TURNING LEFT THE VISIBILITY IS VERY POOR FOR A 5' 1" DRIVER. THE DOUBLE "A" PILLAR AND LARGE SIDE VIEW MIRROR BLOCK THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VISIBILITY ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS ON A LEAF BLOG WEBSITE. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN TURNING LEFT AT A BUSY I…
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WHEN TURNING LEFT THE VISIBILITY IS VERY POOR FOR A 5' 1" DRIVER. THE DOUBLE "A" PILLAR AND LARGE SIDE VIEW MIRROR BLOCK THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VISIBILITY ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS ON A LEAF BLOG WEBSITE. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN TURNING LEFT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND AN OLD LADY FELL BECAUSE THE LEAF DRIVER DID NOT SEE THE PEDESTRIAN SOON ENOUGH DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY ON A CLEAR DAY AROUND NOON. THE LEAF HAD STOPPED WAITING FOR 3 VEHICLES TO PASS BEFORE MAKING THE LEFT TURN AT A SLOW SPEED BUT THE LARGE DOUBLE "A" PILLAR AND LARGE SIDE MIRROR BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VIEW.
NHTSA ODI #11306625
29,500 miles · Aug 20, 2019
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
WHEN DRIVING OUR 2017 NISSAN LEAF ELECTRIC VEHICLE AT ABOUT 65 MPH UP A STEEP HILL / STEEP INCLINE, WE ARE EXPERIENCING A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE BATTERY AREA WHEN THE VEHICLE CLIMBS OVER 2000FT ELEVATION WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE (16 MILES). THE CLUNK ALWAYS HAPPENS WITHIN THE SAME 1 MILE STRETCH OF ROAD AND HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE DR…
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WHEN DRIVING OUR 2017 NISSAN LEAF ELECTRIC VEHICLE AT ABOUT 65 MPH UP A STEEP HILL / STEEP INCLINE, WE ARE EXPERIENCING A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE BATTERY AREA WHEN THE VEHICLE CLIMBS OVER 2000FT ELEVATION WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE (16 MILES). THE CLUNK ALWAYS HAPPENS WITHIN THE SAME 1 MILE STRETCH OF ROAD AND HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR FROM SALT LAKE CITY, UT (4,226 FEET) TO SUMMIT PARK, UT (6,887 FEET). WE FIRST NOTICED IT THIS SUMMER 2019. THERE IS AN AUDIBLE CLUNK AND IT CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE PASSENGER FOOT-WELL BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THERE IS A THREAD ON THE MYNISSANLEAF.COM DISCUSSION FORUM THAT DESCRIBES THE SAME ISSUE (HTTP://WWW.MYNISSANLEAF.COM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=30&T=19883&P=565545#P565545). THE CONTRIBUTORS THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ELECTRIC BATTERY CASE EXPANDING OR CONTRACTING UNDER PRESSURE. I'M PLANNING ON LETTING THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP KNOW AND POINTING THEM TO THE DISCUSSION FORUM (THE DISCUSSION INFORMATION IS HERE: HTTP://WWW.MYNISSANLEAF.COM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=30&T=19883&P=565545#P565545)
NHTSA ODI #11245292
4,800 miles · May 2, 2018
Service BrakesUnknown Or Other
BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW SPEEDS. IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, TWICE THE CAR FAILED TO STOP WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES. I WAS GOING AT AROUND 20-25 MPH IN BOTH THE CASES.
NHTSA ODI #11091422
4,000 miles · Jan 22, 2018
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT, TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK. WHEN I WAS ON THE 4TH FLOOR I FOUND A SPOT, MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND AS I SLOWLY TURNED INTO THE SPOT I TOOK MY FOOT OF OF THE ACCELERATOR TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND CAUSED MORE THAN $16,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I HAVE …
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I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT, TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK. WHEN I WAS ON THE 4TH FLOOR I FOUND A SPOT, MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND AS I SLOWLY TURNED INTO THE SPOT I TOOK MY FOOT OF OF THE ACCELERATOR TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND CAUSED MORE THAN $16,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I HAVE LEASED THIS CAR SINCE AUG, 2017. BEFORE THAT I LEASED A 2015 NISSAN LEAF AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CARE.
NHTSA ODI #11064245
100 miles · Apr 5, 2017
Structure
THIS IS A NEW CAR LESS THAN 4 WEEKS OLD. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR HATCH NOT CLOSING PROPERLY DUE TO POOR ALIGNMENT DURING ASSEMBLY. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE HATCH TO CLOSE AND LATCH PROPERLY AND YOU HAVE TO REALLY SLAM IT. EVEN WHEN YOU THINK IT IS CLOSED, IT CAN POP OPEN WHEN DRIVING, PARTICULARLY ON A BUMPY OR P…
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THIS IS A NEW CAR LESS THAN 4 WEEKS OLD. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR HATCH NOT CLOSING PROPERLY DUE TO POOR ALIGNMENT DURING ASSEMBLY. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE HATCH TO CLOSE AND LATCH PROPERLY AND YOU HAVE TO REALLY SLAM IT. EVEN WHEN YOU THINK IT IS CLOSED, IT CAN POP OPEN WHEN DRIVING, PARTICULARLY ON A BUMPY OR POTHOLED ROAD. IT HAS YET TO OPEN FULLY, BUT IT IS VERY UNNERVING ON THE FREEWAY. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO GET FIXED, BUT THEY SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2017'S.
NHTSA ODI #10970804
12 miles · Jan 27, 2017
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT(BEHIND THE DRIVER) CAN NOT PULL OUT SMOOTHLY, IT IS EASY TO STUCK.
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.
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
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