Is the 2013 Nissan LEAF reliable?

The 2013 Nissan LEAF has 120 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.6x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: BRAKES problems.

What are common problems with the 2013 Nissan LEAF?

Top problems: BRAKES (32 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (18 complaints, avg repair $500); AIR BAGS (17 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2013 Nissan LEAF?

Yes, there are 5 recall(s): SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. Contact any Nissan dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to charge a 2013 Nissan LEAF?

The 2013 Nissan LEAF has an EPA rating of 115 MPGe. At the current US average residential electricity rate, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $668. State rates vary significantly — see the interactive calculator on this page.

How much does it cost to insure a 2013 Nissan LEAF?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2013 Nissan LEAF is approximately $1,781/year (ev-mainstream class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

Does the 2013 Nissan LEAF qualify for tax credits?

The federal EV tax credit (Section 30D) expired for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. If purchased before that date, the 2013 Nissan LEAF may still qualify on the 2025 tax return. State-level incentives remain active in 13+ states — see the incentives section on this page for details.

2013 Nissan LEAF

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Nissan LEAF has 120 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 76. The most common issue is brakes problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: when starting the car, all lights on the dashboard illuminated and car would do nothing. shut down and restarted the car and everything was clear. put the car into reverse and had nominal braking. it took 10 feet of slamming the brake pedal to bring the car to a stop at 2 mph in reverse. it lite. There are 5 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 14 crash reports 5 injuries

120

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

BRAKES

32 complaints

27%

• WHEN STARTING THE CAR, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND CAR WOULD DO NOTHING. SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS CLEAR. PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND HAD NOMINAL BRAKING. IT TOOK 10 FEET OF SLAMMING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP AT 2 MPH IN REVERSE. IT LITE
• I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, SO I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH. I WAS SWITCHING LANES WHEN THE CAR I WAS MOVING BEHIND SUDDEN SLOWED (IT DID NOT STOP). I QUICKLY HIT MY BRAKES SO I COULD SLOW DOWN AS WELL, BUT MY CAR'S BRAKES LOCKED-UP AND THE CAR STARTED TO SKID.
• I NEEDED TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR. THE ABS LIGHT AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 7 crashes

“WHEN STARTING THE CAR, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND CAR WOULD DO NOTHING. SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS CLEAR. PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND HAD NOMINAL BRAKING. IT TOOK 10 FEET OF SLAMMING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP AT 2 MPH IN REVERSE. IT LITE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2013 Nissan LEAF

Based on 89 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 29K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 8K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

VISIBILITY

In line with typicalmedian 23K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

Later than typicalmedian 36K mi · 28 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

Later than typicalmedian 40K mi · 9 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

AIR BAGS

Later than typicalmedian 30K mi · 7 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (5)

SERVICE BRAKES29/02/2016

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.

Risk: If the brake relay fails, longer distances or additional brake effort would be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Charging Cost Calculator for 2013 Nissan LEAF

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local electricity price)

Per year

$662

Per month

$55

Per mile

5.5¢

kWh/mi

0.29

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2013 Nissan LEAF

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,781

Full coverage / month

$148

Liability only / year

$665

vs US avg

+6%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (ev-mainstream)1.18x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.98x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1781

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Nissan LEAF Service Intervals

Oil change

5K mi / 6 mo

Tire rotation

5K mi

Brake fluid

24 months

Transmission fluid

60K mi

Engine coolant

105K mi

Spark plugs

105K mi

Cabin air filter

15K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

60K mi

CVT-equipped models (Altima, Sentra, Rogue, Pathfinder) MUST use Nissan NS-3 CVT fluid, not conventional ATF. Frequent CVT service extends life significantly.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Nissan New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

3 yr / 36K mi

These are the terms for a new Nissan. If you're buying a used 2013 LEAF, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Nissan dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

EV Incentives for 2013 Nissan LEAF

Updated 2026-07

Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30

Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.

State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)

CaliforniaUp to $12,000

Clean Cars 4 All

ColoradoUp to $5,000

Innovative Motor Vehicle Credit

ConnecticutUp to $4,250

CHEAPR (Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate)

DelawareUp to $2,500

Clean Vehicle Rebate

IllinoisUp to $4,000

Illinois EV Rebate Program

MarylandUp to $3,000

Excise Tax Credit for Plug-in Electric Vehicles

MassachusettsUp to $3,500

MOR-EV

New JerseyUp to $4,000

Charge Up New Jersey

New YorkUp to $2,000

Drive Clean Rebate

OregonUp to $7,500

Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate

PennsylvaniaUp to $3,000

Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate Program

Rhode IslandUp to $2,500

DRIVEEV

TexasUp to $2,500

Light-Duty Motor Vehicle Purchase or Lease Incentive

VermontUp to $5,000

Incentive Program for New Electric Vehicles

See full state-by-state EV incentive details

Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 120 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: WHEN STARTING THE CAR, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND CAR WOULD DO NOTHING. SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS CLEAR. PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND HAD NOMINAL BRAKING. IT TOOK 10 FEET OF SLAMMING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP AT 2 MPH IN REVERSE. IT LITE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE 101 FREEWAY IN CAMARILLO, CA ON THE WAY TO WORK. CAR SUDDENLY FLASHED MULTIPLE CONFLICTING DIAGNOSTIC CODES (TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND REDUCED POWER TO THE CAR AND PUT IT IN TURTLE MODE. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE FROM THE MIDDLE LANE (OF TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: PASSENGER AIRBAG SHOWS OFF WHEN PASSENGER IN THE SEAT IS A TYPICAL ADULT, ~130 POUNDS. THE UNDERSEAT SENSOR (ODS OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM) IS NOT CALIBRATED - NEEDS ABOUT 160 POUNDS TO SENSE A PERSON IN THE SEAT. NISSAN HAD A RECALL (MARCH 2013) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM THAT THIS VEHIC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: MY NISSAN LEAF WAS PLUGGED INTO 220V CHARGING STATION AT MY HOME. IT WAS CHARGING FOR OVER AN HOUR. MY SPOUSE WENT TO LEAVE AND WHEN ENTERING THE GARAGE SHE SMELLED A STRONG BURNING SMELL. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CHARGING STATION PLUG WHERE IT PLUGS INTO THE CAR. SHE TURNED OFF THE POWER AT TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 5 recalls have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)