2020 Nissan LEAF

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2020 Nissan LEAF has 210 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is electrical problems (54% of all complaints), specifically: on several occasions in both rural and suburban environments, regardless of weather temperature outside and during normal forward driving motion, the car reports that the forward camera overheats and immediately renders the collision avoidance system and propilot inoperative. dash lights picture inc.

2 crash reports

210

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ELECTRICAL

114 complaints

54%

• ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN BOTH RURAL AND SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENTS, REGARDLESS OF WEATHER TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE AND DURING NORMAL FORWARD DRIVING MOTION, THE CAR REPORTS THAT THE FORWARD CAMERA OVERHEATS AND IMMEDIATELY RENDERS THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM AND PROPILOT INOPERATIVE. DASH LIGHTS PICTURE INC
• The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that the battery gauge was reading incorrectly. The contact stated that while doing a 70-mile roundtrip with 173 miles battery life, the battery gauge indicated the battery level was at 70 miles remaining. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repai
• The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that the battery gauge was reading incorrectly. The contact stated that while doing a 70-mile roundtrip with 173 miles battery life, the battery gauge indicated the battery level was at 70 miles remaining. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repai

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

“ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN BOTH RURAL AND SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENTS, REGARDLESS OF WEATHER TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE AND DURING NORMAL FORWARD DRIVING MOTION, THE CAR REPORTS THAT THE FORWARD CAMERA OVERHEATS AND IMMEDIATELY RENDERS THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM AND PROPILOT INOPERATIVE. DASH LIGHTS PICTURE INC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

31 complaints

15%

• I have previously had an issue with low resistance of the high voltage battery. This resulted in the car giving a warning code that prevents the restart of the vehicle once it's turned off. This is itself potentially leaves a driver in an unsafe location if they are in an isolated place since you ar
• Driving on [XXX] to Denver, when it gets to about 55% it jumps to less than 10% triggering an alarm to recharge. And by the time I get to the nearest charger, it’s about 1%. When I stop at traffic light it goes back up. Just started this recently. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFO
• My Nissan Leaf high voltage battery has experienced excessive heating due to normal use of the level 3 chargers. Recently the battery tripped a fault sensor due to the expansion of battery cells due to excessive heating, and the vehicle is no longer drivable. They recommend replacing the battery, bu

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

“I have previously had an issue with low resistance of the high voltage battery. This resulted in the car giving a warning code that prevents the restart of the vehicle once it's turned off. This is itself potentially leaves a driver in an unsafe location if they are in an isolated place since you ar”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

22 complaints

10%

• THE REVERSE CAMERA SYSTEM THAT ACTIVATES WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE IS SO BLURRY THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH OBJECTS. YOU CAN'T TELL IF THAT'S A BOX IN THE DRIVEWAY BEHIND YOUR CAR OR A BABY SEAT WITH A BABY IN IT. FOR TEST PURPOSES A SIGN WITH 3-INCH LETTERS PLACED 48 INCHES FROM THE CAMER
• "AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE" ON A OFFRAMP LANE FROM FREEWAY 5 SOUTHBOUND TO CROWN VALLEY PARKWAY OFF RAMP WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE THAT WAS AT DEAD STOP AND THAT VEHICLE REAR ENDED A SECOND VEHICLE. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL WAS CALLED AND REPORT
• When putting my car in reverse my back up camera intermittently will not work. I have called the dealership that I purchased the vehicle (Rossen of Madison on the Beltline). I have taken the car multiple times, I have called multiple times. Nissan has yet to include my vehicle make and model into th

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

“THE REVERSE CAMERA SYSTEM THAT ACTIVATES WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE IS SO BLURRY THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH OBJECTS. YOU CAN'T TELL IF THAT'S A BOX IN THE DRIVEWAY BEHIND YOUR CAR OR A BABY SEAT WITH A BABY IN IT. FOR TEST PURPOSES A SIGN WITH 3-INCH LETTERS PLACED 48 INCHES FROM THE CAMER”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

12 complaints

• Makes clicking sound when changing from Park to Drive mode or Drive to Park, Park to Reverse, etc. The click is loud enough to hear with windows closed. The clicks are also heard when starting to accelerate or when decelerating. I first noticed this a few months ago, but these clicking sounds see
• While attempting to drive on icy pavement and “rocking” the vehicle forward and back, the motor accelerates uncontrolled without pressing the accelerator and would not stop when the brake pedal was pressed and released. It would only stop when the brake pedal was held depressed. I do not have a ph
• Vehicle: 2020 Nissan Leaf Issue: Level 3 DC Fast Charging (CHAdeMO) disabled due to known defect Odometer: ~68,000 miles Description: My 2020 Nissan Leaf is affected by a known defect that disables Level 3 DC fast charging (CHAdeMO). Nissan initially acknowledged the issue and planned a fix for No

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

“Makes clicking sound when changing from Park to Drive mode or Drive to Park, Park to Reverse, etc. The click is loud enough to hear with windows closed. The clicks are also heard when starting to accelerate or when decelerating. I first noticed this a few months ago, but these clicking sounds see”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

11 complaints

• "AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE" ON A OFFRAMP LANE FROM FREEWAY 5 SOUTHBOUND TO CROWN VALLEY PARKWAY OFF RAMP WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE THAT WAS AT DEAD STOP AND THAT VEHICLE REAR ENDED A SECOND VEHICLE. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL WAS CALLED AND REPORT
• When putting my car in reverse my back up camera intermittently will not work. I have called the dealership that I purchased the vehicle (Rossen of Madison on the Beltline). I have taken the car multiple times, I have called multiple times. Nissan has yet to include my vehicle make and model into th
• BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA - RECALL NO 20V412000 - For a week at a time on a monthly basis the back-up camera will disappear while in reverse. And therefore our vehicle no longer complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111 "Rear Visibility". - Yes the veh

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

“"AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE" ON A OFFRAMP LANE FROM FREEWAY 5 SOUTHBOUND TO CROWN VALLEY PARKWAY OFF RAMP WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE THAT WAS AT DEAD STOP AND THAT VEHICLE REAR ENDED A SECOND VEHICLE. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL WAS CALLED AND REPORT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 210 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN BOTH RURAL AND SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENTS, REGARDLESS OF WEATHER TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE AND DURING NORMAL FORWARD DRIVING MOTION, THE CAR REPORTS THAT THE FORWARD CAMERA OVERHEATS AND IMMEDIATELY RENDERS THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM AND PROPILOT INOPERATIVE. DASH LIGHTS PICTURE INC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: I have previously had an issue with low resistance of the high voltage battery. This resulted in the car giving a warning code that prevents the restart of the vehicle once it's turned off. This is itself potentially leaves a driver in an unsafe location if they are in an isolated place since you ar
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE REVERSE CAMERA SYSTEM THAT ACTIVATES WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE IS SO BLURRY THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH OBJECTS. YOU CAN'T TELL IF THAT'S A BOX IN THE DRIVEWAY BEHIND YOUR CAR OR A BABY SEAT WITH A BABY IN IT. FOR TEST PURPOSES A SIGN WITH 3-INCH LETTERS PLACED 48 INCHES FROM THE CAMER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: Makes clicking sound when changing from Park to Drive mode or Drive to Park, Park to Reverse, etc. The click is loud enough to hear with windows closed. The clicks are also heard when starting to accelerate or when decelerating. I first noticed this a few months ago, but these clicking sounds see
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)