Nissan LEAF — Years to Avoid
Which model years have the most problems and which are safe to buy.
Avoid These Years
2019 Nissan LEAF
309 complaints (386% of segment average)
Main issue: LEAF BACKUP SCREEN TURNS PINK WHEN IN REVERSE. UNABLE TO BACKUP SAFELY!!! CALLED AND DROVE LEAF TO DEALER WHO INSPECTED THE LEAF.. DEALER SAID THERE WOULD BE A 'BOX DELIVERED NEXT WEEK' AND THEY WOULD CALL ME. *TR
2020 Nissan LEAF
210 complaints (263% of segment average)
Main issue: 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
2015 Nissan LEAF
141 complaints (176% of segment average)
Main issue: MY 2015 LEAF S IS 3 WEEKS OLD WITH LESS THAN 700 MILES. I WAS DESCENDING AN 8% GRADE HILL IN B MODE WITH A SHARP BEND AT THE BOTTOM. AS I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND B MODE CUT OUT. THE CAR WAS NOW ROLLING DOWN THE HILL AND ACCELERATING UNDER GRAVITY WITH NO BRAKES A
2022 Nissan LEAF
130 complaints (163% of segment average)
Main issue: The E-pedal was on. Trying to park car and it jumped the curb when it lurched forward and brakes would not engage so I had to hit a tree to stop the car.
2013 Nissan LEAF
120 complaints (150% of segment average)
Main issue: 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
2011 Nissan LEAF
117 complaints (146% of segment average)
Main issue: PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG ON/OFF SWITCH SENSOR NEEDS REPLACEMENT ACCORDING TO NISSAN DEALER. PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF" LIGHT IS FLASHING EVEN WITH 125 POUND PASSENGER IN SEAT. NISSAN COULDN'T TELL ME WHETHER OR NOT PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS REALLY ON OR OFF. QUOTED $2400 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBA
2018 Nissan LEAF
112 complaints (140% of segment average)
Main issue: 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
Safe to Buy
2024 Nissan LEAF
5 complaints — well below segment average
2025 Nissan LEAF
7 complaints — well below segment average
2017 Nissan LEAF
24 complaints — well below segment average
2023 Nissan LEAF
30 complaints — well below segment average
2014 Nissan LEAF
45 complaints — well below segment average