Is the 2016 Nissan LEAF reliable?

The 2016 Nissan LEAF has 49 complaints filed with NHTSA (0.6x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: above-average. Most common issue: BRAKES problems.

What are common problems with the 2016 Nissan LEAF?

Top problems: BRAKES (15 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (13 complaints, avg repair $500); FUEL SYSTEM (8 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2016 Nissan LEAF?

Yes, there are 4 recall(s): AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, 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 2016 Nissan LEAF?

The 2016 Nissan LEAF has an EPA rating of 114 MPGe. At the current US average residential electricity rate, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $674. State rates vary significantly — see the interactive calculator on this page.

How much does it cost to insure a 2016 Nissan LEAF?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2016 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 2016 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 2016 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.

2016 Nissan LEAF

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Above Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Nissan LEAF has 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.6x the segment average of 76. 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. There are 4 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 1 crash report

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

0.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

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

When Problems Appear on the 2016 Nissan LEAF

Based on 22 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 17K 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+

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 20K mi · 11 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 18K mi · 6 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 (4)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE15/06/2016

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.

Risk: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Charging Cost Calculator for 2016 Nissan LEAF

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local electricity price)

Per year

$668

Per month

$56

Per mile

5.6¢

kWh/mi

0.30

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 2016 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 2016 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 2016 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

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
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Nissan dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)