2018 Nissan LEAF

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Nissan LEAF has 112 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.4x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (15% of all complaints), specifically: when the brakes are applied moderately at around 40mph to slow down, and if a wheel go on top of some bumps or pot holes, car seems to loose braking power, brake padel drop about 1 inch, have to pedal hard to get the brakes back. at one time i saw a message on dashboard "not available" which i was n. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 18 crash reports 4 injuries

112

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.4x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

17 complaints

15%

• WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED MODERATELY AT AROUND 40MPH TO SLOW DOWN, AND IF A WHEEL GO ON TOP OF SOME BUMPS OR POT HOLES, CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE BRAKING POWER, BRAKE PADEL DROP ABOUT 1 INCH, HAVE TO PEDAL HARD TO GET THE BRAKES BACK. AT ONE TIME I SAW A MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD "NOT AVAILABLE" WHICH I WAS N
• WHILE DRIVING FORWARD, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY AND VIOLENTLY APPLIES THE BRAKES WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT WHATSOEVER! THERE ARE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME. THIS SUDDEN BRAKING PROBLEM BEGAN ON OR ABOUT 5/15/18 AND HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AFTER THAT.
• ON THE STREET WE USE TO LEAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE IS ONE SECTION OF THE CEMENT THAT IS A LITTLE TALLER THAN THE ONE BEFORE IT.INTERMITTENTLY, THE AUTOMATIC BREAKING WILL BE SET OFF IN THIS SPOT FOR NO REASON. IT IS ALARMING! WE ARE ALSO WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN ON A BUSY STREET AND CAUSE AN ACCIDE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED MODERATELY AT AROUND 40MPH TO SLOW DOWN, AND IF A WHEEL GO ON TOP OF SOME BUMPS OR POT HOLES, CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE BRAKING POWER, BRAKE PADEL DROP ABOUT 1 INCH, HAVE TO PEDAL HARD TO GET THE BRAKES BACK. AT ONE TIME I SAW A MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD "NOT AVAILABLE" WHICH I WAS N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

17 complaints

15%

• WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED MODERATELY AT AROUND 40MPH TO SLOW DOWN, AND IF A WHEEL GO ON TOP OF SOME BUMPS OR POT HOLES, CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE BRAKING POWER, BRAKE PADEL DROP ABOUT 1 INCH, HAVE TO PEDAL HARD TO GET THE BRAKES BACK. AT ONE TIME I SAW A MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD "NOT AVAILABLE" WHICH I WAS N
• THIS NISSAN CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH FEATURES NAMED, PRO-PILOT ASSIST (PPA), INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL (ICC) AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSIST (EBA). WHEN ENGAGED, IT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP LANES AND FOLLOW DISTANCE IF THERE IS A CAR IN FRONT. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT IS STOPPED THIS CAR IS SUPPOSED TO STOP AS WELL
• WHILE DRIVING FORWARD, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY AND VIOLENTLY APPLIES THE BRAKES WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT WHATSOEVER! THERE ARE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME. THIS SUDDEN BRAKING PROBLEM BEGAN ON OR ABOUT 5/15/18 AND HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AFTER THAT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

16 complaints

14%

• WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR STOPPED ITSELF SIMULATING A "SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES" AFFECT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE CAR JUST STOPPED. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, AN ERROR APPEARED ON THE SCREEN SAYING "POWER SUPPLY FAILURE. TO AVOID ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH DO NOT DRIVE. CO
• THE CONTROL PANEL TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY IN THE NISSAN LEAF (2018) HAS A DENIAL OF SERVICE VULNERABILITY THAT CAN BE USED TO LOCK UP THE SCREEN. ONCE LOCKED, THE TOUCH SCREEN CAN NO LONGER BE USED EVEN IF THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND ON. THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE SCREEN IS BY REMOVING AND RE-INSERTING TH
• 2 incidents have occurred with this vehicle. The first earlier this year (2021) is that upon slowly accelerating to move closer to vehicle that moved up in a turn lane, the automatic emergency brake system engaged, abruptly stopped the vehicle and many lights lit up across the dashboard. The brake

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

“WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR STOPPED ITSELF SIMULATING A "SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES" AFFECT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE CAR JUST STOPPED. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, AN ERROR APPEARED ON THE SCREEN SAYING "POWER SUPPLY FAILURE. TO AVOID ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH DO NOT DRIVE. CO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

12 complaints

11%

• THIS NISSAN CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH FEATURES NAMED, PRO-PILOT ASSIST (PPA), INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL (ICC) AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSIST (EBA). WHEN ENGAGED, IT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP LANES AND FOLLOW DISTANCE IF THERE IS A CAR IN FRONT. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT IS STOPPED THIS CAR IS SUPPOSED TO STOP AS WELL
• THIS ISSUE OCCURS WITH THE NISSAN E-PEDAL ENGAGED/ENABLED. IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY AFTER DRIVING OFF. SYMPTOM REGENERATIVE BREAKING/E-BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE. VEHICLE COASTS. NO BLUE BARS LIGHT UP ON THE DASH TO INDICATE THAT REGENERATIVE BREAKING IS ACTIVE. BREAK PEDAL HAS BE BE ENGAGED FOR IT TO S
• NISSAN LEAF WITH PRO-PILOT ASSIST PACKAGE. INTERMITTENTLY THE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT FOR AUTOMATIC FORWARD EMERGENCY BRAKING AND/OR LANE KEEP ASSIST WILL FLASH INDICATING SYSTEM UNAVAILABLE. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OVASSIONS AND AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS. DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO ISOLATE CAUSE OR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“THIS NISSAN CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH FEATURES NAMED, PRO-PILOT ASSIST (PPA), INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL (ICC) AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSIST (EBA). WHEN ENGAGED, IT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP LANES AND FOLLOW DISTANCE IF THERE IS A CAR IN FRONT. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT IS STOPPED THIS CAR IS SUPPOSED TO STOP AS WELL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

11 complaints

10%

• While driving on the highway with a full battery charge, the vehicle battery was suddenly depleted, the car entered "turtle mode" (a reduced motor power at low charge feature), and then turned off completely moments later. This is a huge safety issue as it leaves you to coast to a stop without the
• The PTC Heater and A/C compressor failed on my 2018 Nissan Leaf, just as the winter of 2022 was getting started. The vehicle passed prior service inspections, with no mention of issues on either of these components. The failure of the PTC heater and A/C compressor results in a "Service EV System" e
• On may 12, I was in a long line of cars at a red light , stopped. all of a sudden my car started moving and accelerating toward the car in front of me. When I got over the initial shock, I started stamping on the brake (2-3x) and nothing happened. I clipped the other car as I yanked the car out of l

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

“While driving on the highway with a full battery charge, the vehicle battery was suddenly depleted, the car entered "turtle mode" (a reduced motor power at low charge feature), and then turned off completely moments later. This is a huge safety issue as it leaves you to coast to a stop without the ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 112 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED MODERATELY AT AROUND 40MPH TO SLOW DOWN, AND IF A WHEEL GO ON TOP OF SOME BUMPS OR POT HOLES, CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE BRAKING POWER, BRAKE PADEL DROP ABOUT 1 INCH, HAVE TO PEDAL HARD TO GET THE BRAKES BACK. AT ONE TIME I SAW A MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD "NOT AVAILABLE" WHICH I WAS N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED MODERATELY AT AROUND 40MPH TO SLOW DOWN, AND IF A WHEEL GO ON TOP OF SOME BUMPS OR POT HOLES, CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE BRAKING POWER, BRAKE PADEL DROP ABOUT 1 INCH, HAVE TO PEDAL HARD TO GET THE BRAKES BACK. AT ONE TIME I SAW A MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD "NOT AVAILABLE" WHICH I WAS N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR STOPPED ITSELF SIMULATING A "SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES" AFFECT. THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE CAR JUST STOPPED. AFTER THE CAR STOPPED, AN ERROR APPEARED ON THE SCREEN SAYING "POWER SUPPLY FAILURE. TO AVOID ACCIDENT, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH DO NOT DRIVE. CO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SPEED CONTROL: THIS NISSAN CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH FEATURES NAMED, PRO-PILOT ASSIST (PPA), INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL (ICC) AND EMERGENCY BRAKE ASSIST (EBA). WHEN ENGAGED, IT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP LANES AND FOLLOW DISTANCE IF THERE IS A CAR IN FRONT. WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT IS STOPPED THIS CAR IS SUPPOSED TO STOP AS WELL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)