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: 24 of 254 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.
Electrical System. Review the 172 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
254 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2024
Service BrakesCrash
I am writing to report a serious safety issue with my Nissan Leaf that needs immediate attention. On two separate occasions, the brakes have failed completely without any warning while driving. A warning light appeared, stating "T/M System Malfunction Warning - See Dealer," but by that time, the brakes had already stopped workin…
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I am writing to report a serious safety issue with my Nissan Leaf that needs immediate attention. On two separate occasions, the brakes have failed completely without any warning while driving. A warning light appeared, stating "T/M System Malfunction Warning - See Dealer," but by that time, the brakes had already stopped working. The only way to stop the vehicle was by using the emergency brake, which is extremely dangerous and could easily lead to a fatal accident. The first incident occurred when I was able to quickly pull into a Walmart parking lot, luckily avoiding other vehicles. The second time, the car crashed into the side of my garage and hit a tree stump in my driveway, causing damage to the rear of the car and breaking the side mirror. I was fortunate enough to engage the emergency brake before the car entered the road, but it was a terrifying experience that could have ended much worse. Fortunately, did not happen while my teenage children and their friends were driving the car. After researching this issue, I was shocked to discover that many other Nissan Leaf owners have experienced similar brake failures dating back to 2012. This is not an isolated incident, and I am deeply concerned that it continues to happen without resolution. When I brought my car to the dealership, they informed me that the issue is related to the Intelligent Brake Unit Controller, and the repairs would cost $5,000. However, my vehicle is only five years old with 62,000 miles, and I believe this defect should be addressed by Nissan, not at the owner's expense. I urge you to take immediate action to investigate this dangerous defect. There is no warning before the brakes fail, and this puts drivers and others on the road at extreme risk. Does it really take a fatal accident for Nissan to address this issue? This problem has been ongoing for years, and it’s unacceptable that it has not been resolved. I hope that you will take this matter seriously and provide a solution befo
NHTSA ODI #11617533
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2024
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherFireInjury
On 7/19/2024 while charging the car at Chargepoint Johns Creek, I heard a "clunk" sound as if something had popped off from beneath the body of the Leaf. At the same time, the charging emergency stopped. Smoke started to come out from under the Leaf. There was a smell as if something was melting, making me feel dizzy and nauseo…
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On 7/19/2024 while charging the car at Chargepoint Johns Creek, I heard a "clunk" sound as if something had popped off from beneath the body of the Leaf. At the same time, the charging emergency stopped. Smoke started to come out from under the Leaf. There was a smell as if something was melting, making me feel dizzy and nauseous. I felt a sense of confusion from inhaling the smoke. Since both my son and I were outside the car, we were able to quickly pull away and escape as soon as the smoke started. If we had been inside the car, or if this had happened while driving, we might have been unable to escape in time, lost consciousness from the smoke, and possibly died in the fire. The smoke continued for about 15 minutes, followed by a fire. At the same time, there was a sound of something exploding. The police arrived, followed by the fire truck. It took a long time to extinguish the fire, possibly because the lithium battery caught fire. Please refer to the video. ⚪︎Mental and Physical Condition After the Accident Both my son and I are experiencing symptoms similar to PTSD. When we smell smoke or drive a car, we feel chills, nausea, and dizziness, which negatively affect our daily lives. This incident left burn scur to my son and has started having nightmares and crying at night. Seeing an electric vehicle scares us to the point that our bodies freeze and we can't move. Also, seeing fire or hearing car sounds suddenly makes us tremble, our hearts race, and we have difficulty breathing. We start crying uncontrollably in a panic, and it takes time to calm down. It is difficult to control our emotions. We are experiencing insomnia, likely due to the excitement of our nerves from the accident. We probably need mental treatment such as therapy and physical treatment to alleviate insomnia and tension.
NHTSA ODI #11608237
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2024
Back Over PreventionElectrical SystemLane Departure
The rear view camera, activated when the vehicle is in reverse, works on and off. The inconsistent nature of the rear cameras view presents a danger everytime I backup.
NHTSA ODI #11607976
10,000 miles · May 31, 2024
Back Over Prevention
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V071000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while…
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The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V071000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while reversing the vehicle, the display screen was blank. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
During the last 3 winters I have noticed the car do something strange when going up an extended highway inclines. The battery % along with the estimated miles left will drop suddenly (~40% in a minute) and when I would go over the top of the hill most of the battery % and miles would return. During the 2021-2022 winter, I notice…
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During the last 3 winters I have noticed the car do something strange when going up an extended highway inclines. The battery % along with the estimated miles left will drop suddenly (~40% in a minute) and when I would go over the top of the hill most of the battery % and miles would return. During the 2021-2022 winter, I noticed this happen only once or twice. During 2022-2023 winter, I noticed this happen more often but I did not know what was causing it except it seemed to only happen on very cold days and also when the battery % prior to the drop was around 50% or less. During the current 2023-2024 winter, this issue became common. It no longer had to be very cold but just an extended incline and battery at 50% or less. It usually happened between exit [XXX] and exit [XXX] on [XXX] in New Jersey. It has become so common that I was able to record it. The videos show the car will lose over 40% of battery in about a minute. However, once I would go over the hill most of the battery % would come right back. In one video the “Battery charge is low Charge now” warning is triggered. On a few occasions, when I had around 30% of battery prior to going up this hill and the battery started to drop suddenly, I had to make a rapid emergency stop on the right shoulder midway up the hill. When stopped the battery would recover back to around 30% and I was able to get over the hill. This obviously created a safety concern. My car battery is still covered under Nissan’s EV battery warranty. I have taken the car to two 2 Nissan dealerships. One of the dealership was able to replicate the issue, but stated the only way they will approve the warranty repair is if they disassembles the battery. They stated once they approve the warranty repair they can order the battery but that it might take up to 8-9 months to get the battery. They stated that during this whole time my car will be inoperable and Nissan will not provide or reimburse for a loaner car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.
NHTSA ODI #11590153
Mileage unknown · May 3, 2024
Electrical System
Total Battery Failure at 130,000 miles - Electric Vehicle will not operate
NHTSA ODI #11586771
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 2024
Unknown Or Other
In January 2024, The rear camera on my 2019 LEAF SL PLUS failed to work. I took it to local Nissan dealer and they indicated that could be a loose connection. They accidentally tap on the camera and it return to function for a while. I reported this to [XXX] in January. An agent called me and after a month of evaluation he told…
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In January 2024, The rear camera on my 2019 LEAF SL PLUS failed to work. I took it to local Nissan dealer and they indicated that could be a loose connection. They accidentally tap on the camera and it return to function for a while. I reported this to [XXX] in January. An agent called me and after a month of evaluation he told me Nissan Consumer Affairs could not repair for me on this item. Their previous recall on the rear camera on other Leafs does not cover the this vehicle with this VIN number. My rear camera currently does not work. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #11575322
Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2024
Electrical SystemService Brakes
Brake warning sign came off and the car won't shift out of parking brake, causing the passenger to get stranded. Upon dealer inspection, there's defective wire hardness which has been noted in Nissan service bulletin Ref: NTB19-054a. Dealer confirmed that it is bulk wire harness issue and will require replacement (~$3.2K for par…
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Brake warning sign came off and the car won't shift out of parking brake, causing the passenger to get stranded. Upon dealer inspection, there's defective wire hardness which has been noted in Nissan service bulletin Ref: NTB19-054a. Dealer confirmed that it is bulk wire harness issue and will require replacement (~$3.2K for part and labor). i have reported to Nissan since the leaf has 22k mileage only, but rejected by Nissan that it is a manufacturer issues. Please investigate this as i have seen many similar issues with other Leaf owners and it will be un-safe to have parking brake issue suddenly pops up, where it will brick and unable to move the vehicle. Thank you.
NHTSA ODI #11572468
Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2023
Unknown Or Other
The backup camera does not work correctly. It shows blank in stead of surrounding video. Sometimes closing the back cover again can fix the issue but most of time no video is displayed.
NHTSA ODI #11562858
Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2023
Unknown Or Other
Infotainment system frequently resets. This occurs rarely at times while driving (inconvenient, not a significant problem) but it frequently occurs within 10 seconds of starting car at which time the backup camera cannot display. This is a safety concern because it means backing up without safety backup camera working.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 3, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R24B2, P4A38, and P5A22.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
Consequence: A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 3, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R24B2, P4A38, and P5A22.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
Consequence: A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 3, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R24B2, P4A38, and P5A22.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2022 LEAF vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23D7.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A6.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 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 April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 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 April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.
Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 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 April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
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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