2013 Nissan LEAF

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Nissan LEAF has 120 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.5x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 14 crash reports 5 injuries

120

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

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

ELECTRICAL

18 complaints

15%

• 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
• VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO HAVE CONTINUING CHARGE SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY LEAVING ME UNABLE TO DRIVE SOMETIMES DUE NOT BE FULLY CHARGED WHEN YOU EXPECT TO BE CHARGED AND HAVING PROBLEMS ON DIFFERENT CHARGING STATIONS CONTACT NISSAN 06/13/13 AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE TO THE DEALER AND 6/14/13 LEFT THE CAR AT DEAL
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

17 complaints

14%

• 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
• PASSENGER AIRBAG RANDOMLY TURNS OFF, WHILE SOMEONE IS SITTING IN IT. I'VE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES NOW AND STILL HAVE THE ISSUES. *TR
• VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN BETWEEN 25-30 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A "POP", VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING IT TO HIT CURB (CRASH) AND DEPLOY TOP CURTAIN AND RIGHT DOOR AIRBAG. VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP, INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP, AND RE-INSPECTED BY NISSAN NORTH AMERICA OVER THE PAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

11 complaints

• 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
• TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WAS DISTRACTING DURING DRIVING. UPON ACTIVATING THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM, HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE REVERSING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILUR
• STARTED CAR BY PRESSING BRAKE AND IGNITION. PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. CAR STARTED MOVING AT 2-5 MPH WITH THE BRAKE STILL PRESSED. BRAKE LOST RESISTANCE AND HAD TO PRESS HARD TO FLOOR TO STOP CAR. NO BRAKE PRESSURE. TOOK ATLEAST 10-15 FEET FOR THE CAR TO COMPLETE STOP. SAME THING HAPPENED WHEN MOVED TO

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

6 complaints

• 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
• I HAD AN ADULT PASSENGER SITTING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITH HER 8LB DOG. SHE WEIGHS 83 LBS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT SHOWED THAT THE AIRBAG WAS SHUT OFF. ANOTHER TIME I PLACE A GROCERY BAG WITH TWO BAGS OF FROZEN POTATOES AND A QUART OF ICE CREAM ON THE SEAT, THE "NO AIRBAG LIGHT" SHUT OFF. WHEN
• I WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA ON 12/26 WHEN SOMEONE REAR-ENDED ME GOING ABOUT 35-40MPH WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. MY SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UPON IMPACT AND I SUSTAINED A BAD WHIPLASH CAUSING NECK PAIN, BACK PAIN AND SEVERE HEADACHES. NOW I AM DIAGNOSED WITH SEIZURES CAUSED FROM THE MVA GIVING ME

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

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
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)