2016 Nissan LEAF

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Nissan LEAF has 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: while approaching an intersection in a busy area of san diego county, the brakes failed on my nissan leaf. the brake shuddered under my foot, much like anti-lock brakes do when they're engaged. after i felt the shuddering, the brake pedal went down but the vehicle did not decelerate as it normally. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

15 complaints

31%

• WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION IN A BUSY AREA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY, THE BRAKES FAILED ON MY NISSAN LEAF. THE BRAKE SHUDDERED UNDER MY FOOT, MUCH LIKE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGED. AFTER I FELT THE SHUDDERING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE AS IT NORMALLY
• ON 6 OCCASIONS THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK ON FIRST CONTACT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A FULL STOP AT EITHER A STOP LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN ON CITY STREETS. RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLYING THE BRAKES FINALLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED TO BOTH MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF AND HAPPENED ON
• CAR LOST ALL BREAK CAPABILITIES AS I APPROACHED A TRAFFIC LIGHT. BRAKE PEDAL WAS LOOSE AND CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE BREAKS, LOUD CRACK SOUND ON FIRST PUMP BEFORE BREAK WAS LOST. SINCE I WAS GOING AT LOW SPEED (30MPH) I COULD EMPLOY MANUAL BREAK TO STOP VEHICLE. BREAK REMAIN IN FAILURE STATE TILL ON HOUR

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

“WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION IN A BUSY AREA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY, THE BRAKES FAILED ON MY NISSAN LEAF. THE BRAKE SHUDDERED UNDER MY FOOT, MUCH LIKE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGED. AFTER I FELT THE SHUDDERING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE AS IT NORMALLY”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

13 complaints

27%

• DECEMBER 07, 2016 I BOUGHT NISSAN LEAF 2016 IN JUNE 30, 2016. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2016, IT JUST STOPPED AND NOT GOING IN REVERSE OR FORWARD, JUST STAY ON NEUTRAL AND PARK. IT HAS TWO RECALLS ISSUED BY TRANSPORT CANADA (# 2016179 AN # 2016302). NISSAN CANADA NEVER SEND MY ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT RECALLS.
• TRACTION MOTOR INVERTER FAILURE ON 2016 NISSAN LEAF. WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS NOT ABLE TO CHARGE OR START THE CAR.
• MY BATTERY LOST 2 OF MY 12 RANGE BARS AND NISSAN DOES NOT SEE ANY OF THIS AS AN ISSUE, OCTOBER 06, 2016 - 110 MILE RANGE MARCH 04, 2017 - AUGUST 28, 2017 - 76 MILE RANGE ' 1 BAR LOSS OCTOBER 23, 2017 - 65 - 72 MILE RANGE ' 2 BAR LOSS I CAN NO LONGER MAKE MY COMMUTE AFTER 1 YEAR OF

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

“DECEMBER 07, 2016 I BOUGHT NISSAN LEAF 2016 IN JUNE 30, 2016. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2016, IT JUST STOPPED AND NOT GOING IN REVERSE OR FORWARD, JUST STAY ON NEUTRAL AND PARK. IT HAS TWO RECALLS ISSUED BY TRANSPORT CANADA (# 2016179 AN # 2016302). NISSAN CANADA NEVER SEND MY ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT RECALLS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

8 complaints

16%

• MY BATTERY LOST 2 OF MY 12 RANGE BARS AND NISSAN DOES NOT SEE ANY OF THIS AS AN ISSUE, OCTOBER 06, 2016 - 110 MILE RANGE MARCH 04, 2017 - AUGUST 28, 2017 - 76 MILE RANGE ' 1 BAR LOSS OCTOBER 23, 2017 - 65 - 72 MILE RANGE ' 2 BAR LOSS I CAN NO LONGER MAKE MY COMMUTE AFTER 1 YEAR OF
• BATTERY DEGRADATION OCCURRING MUCH QUICKER THAN REASONABLY EXPECTED. DETAILS FOLLOW. CAR PURCHASED IN JUNE 2016. AFTER DRIVING A TOTAL OF 6,150 MILES UNDER CONDITIONS OF MODERATE TEMPERATURE, CONSERVATIVE DRIVING (NOT EXCEEDING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, USING ECO MODE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE MANUFAC
• USING THE J-1772 CHARGE PORT AT A SHOPPING MALL WHILE GOING FOR A WALK; ON SUN 5/19 AS WE APPROACHED THE CAR TO LEAVE, WE NOTICED A STRONG ELECTRICAL SMELL. I DISENGAGED THE CHARGER, INSPECTED IT AND SAW NO ISSUES. OUR CAR, HOWEVER SHOWED DISTORTION IN THE PORT AT THE UPPER RIGHT. THE NEXT MORNIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY BATTERY LOST 2 OF MY 12 RANGE BARS AND NISSAN DOES NOT SEE ANY OF THIS AS AN ISSUE, OCTOBER 06, 2016 - 110 MILE RANGE MARCH 04, 2017 - AUGUST 28, 2017 - 76 MILE RANGE ' 1 BAR LOSS OCTOBER 23, 2017 - 65 - 72 MILE RANGE ' 2 BAR LOSS I CAN NO LONGER MAKE MY COMMUTE AFTER 1 YEAR OF”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

3 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MA
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MAD
• DECEMBER 07, 2016 I BOUGHT NISSAN LEAF 2016 IN JUNE 30, 2016. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2016, IT JUST STOPPED AND NOT GOING IN REVERSE OR FORWARD, JUST STAY ON NEUTRAL AND PARK. IT HAS TWO RECALLS ISSUED BY TRANSPORT CANADA (# 2016179 AN # 2016302). NISSAN CANADA NEVER SEND MY ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT RECALLS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

3 complaints

• TRACTION MOTOR INVERTER FAILURE ON 2016 NISSAN LEAF. WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS NOT ABLE TO CHARGE OR START THE CAR.
• We were driving the car on a highway (the 405 in Los Angeles) in the midafternoon on December 21. We were going uphill and in the flow of traffic. I'd say the speed was about 60-65. The car was functioning well. Then, the driver accelerated to pass a car and suddenly the car lost all power and w
• Goes into neutral in a matter of seconds while driving at highway speeds and goes into turtle mode while on highway. A scan of the vehicle showed a number of low battery voltage codes (P0AA0, P3180, P3182, P08AF) stored when the battery was disconnected. Nissan gave no ETA on battery replacement.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TRACTION MOTOR INVERTER FAILURE ON 2016 NISSAN LEAF. WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS NOT ABLE TO CHARGE OR START THE CAR.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 49 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION IN A BUSY AREA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY, THE BRAKES FAILED ON MY NISSAN LEAF. THE BRAKE SHUDDERED UNDER MY FOOT, MUCH LIKE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGED. AFTER I FELT THE SHUDDERING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE AS IT NORMALLY
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: DECEMBER 07, 2016 I BOUGHT NISSAN LEAF 2016 IN JUNE 30, 2016. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2016, IT JUST STOPPED AND NOT GOING IN REVERSE OR FORWARD, JUST STAY ON NEUTRAL AND PARK. IT HAS TWO RECALLS ISSUED BY TRANSPORT CANADA (# 2016179 AN # 2016302). NISSAN CANADA NEVER SEND MY ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT RECALLS.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: MY BATTERY LOST 2 OF MY 12 RANGE BARS AND NISSAN DOES NOT SEE ANY OF THIS AS AN ISSUE, OCTOBER 06, 2016 - 110 MILE RANGE MARCH 04, 2017 - AUGUST 28, 2017 - 76 MILE RANGE ' 1 BAR LOSS OCTOBER 23, 2017 - 65 - 72 MILE RANGE ' 2 BAR LOSS I CAN NO LONGER MAKE MY COMMUTE AFTER 1 YEAR OF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)