Nissan · Known Issues
2011-2025 Nissan Leaf Problems: 15 Known Issues
2011-2025 model years · 5,560+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
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2011-2025 model years · 5,560+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
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According to Au7o's analysis of 5,560+ owner reports, the 2011-2025 Nissan Leaf has 15 documented known issues, with 6 rated critical. The most serious are Battery Pack Capacity Degradation ($0-$8,000 repair), Onboard Charger (OBC) Failure ($800-$3,000 repair), Traction Motor Inverter Failure ($1,500-$6,000 repair), High-Voltage Battery Fire Risk During DC Fast Charging (Recall R25C8 / NHTSA 25V655), Passenger Airbag Occupant Classification (OCS) Sensor Failure ($500-$5,000 repair) and Intelligent Brake Unit (Electric Brake Actuator) Failure ($500-$3,900 repair). The most commonly reported issue is Battery Pack Capacity Degradation with 4,500 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $60 to $8,000. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect, and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2022 LEAF vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 LEAF vehicles. The right-hand brake tubes may have been damaged during production and could corrode, possibly causing a hole in the brake line and a brake fluid leak.
Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check recalls specific to your vehicle.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 5,560+ owner reports, the 2011-2025 Nissan Leaf has 15 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Battery Pack Capacity Degradation, Onboard Charger (OBC) Failure, Traction Motor Inverter Failure. Of these, 6 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2011-2025 Nissan Leaf has 15 known issues documented across 5,560+ owner reports. 6 issues are rated critical: Battery Pack Capacity Degradation and Onboard Charger (OBC) Failure and Traction Motor Inverter Failure and High-Voltage Battery Fire Risk During DC Fast Charging (Recall R25C8 / NHTSA 25V655) and Passenger Airbag Occupant Classification (OCS) Sensor Failure and Intelligent Brake Unit (Electric Brake Actuator) Failure. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Nissan Leaf issues range from $0 to $8,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Battery Pack Capacity Degradation, typically costs $0-$8,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Reliability varies across model years of the Nissan Leaf. Based on documented issues, problems are most commonly reported in earlier model years. Au7o recommends checking the specific known issues for your target year before purchasing, and having a pre-purchase inspection performed by a qualified mechanic. Our known issues database covers the 2011-2025 Nissan Leaf with 15 documented issues documented across 5,560+ owner reports.
The Nissan Leaf uses an air-cooled lithium-ion battery that degrades faster than liquid-cooled competitors. Hot climates (Arizona, Texas) accelerate degradation significantly. Early models (2011-2015) with 24 kWh packs can lose 30-40% capacity within 5-7 years. Nissan provides an… Repairs typically run $0-$8,000. Severity: high.
The 2011-2017 Leaf onboard charger can fail, preventing the vehicle from charging via Level 1 or Level 2 AC charging. The charger may still allow DC fast charging (CHAdeMO) since it bypasses the OBC. This issue often appears after 5-7 years. Nissan extended the OBC warranty on so… Repairs typically run $800-$3,000. Severity: high.
The 2011-2017 Leaf traction motor inverter can fail, resulting in complete loss of propulsion. The inverter converts DC battery power to AC for the motor. Symptoms include sudden power loss, error messages, and the vehicle going into turtle mode. This is a costly repair outside w… Repairs typically run $1,500-$6,000. Severity: high.
NHTSA recall 25V655 and Nissan campaign R25C8 apply to 19,077 model-year 2021-2022 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 CHAdeMO quick-charge port. Excessive lithium deposits inside battery cells can increase electrical resistance and cause rapid heating during Level 3 charging;… Severity: high.
The passenger seat's Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor mat can fail, causing the 'Passenger Airbag OFF' light to stay illuminated even with an adult in the seat, deactivating the passenger airbag. NHTSA opened (and later closed) an investigation into 2011-2012 Leafs for… Repairs typically run $500-$5,000. Severity: high.
The Leaf uses an electric motor-driven 'Intelligent' brake booster/master-cylinder actuator (part of the brake-by-wire regen system) rather than a conventional vacuum booster. The actuator relies on a capacitor bank energized by the 12V supply to drive the master cylinder quickly… Repairs typically run $500-$3,900. Severity: high.
The 40 kWh (and to a lesser extent 62 kWh) Leaf uses a passively air-cooled battery with no liquid thermal management. During consecutive DC fast-charge (CHAdeMO) sessions on a road trip, the pack heats up and the BMS aggressively throttles charge rate to protect the cells. A fir… Repairs typically run $0-$150. Severity: medium.
Owners report the CHAdeMO DC fast-charge port failing to initiate a session, stopping mid-charge, or the connector locking/not releasing. Root causes include corrosion in the gray control connector on the back of the Power Distribution Module (PDM) where AC/DC charge command line… Repairs typically run $200-$1,200. Severity: medium.
The Leaf's small 12V auxiliary battery drains and fails frequently, sometimes within 2-3 years. The telematics system, Carwings/NissanConnect, and other modules draw power even when the car is off. If the 12V dies, the car cannot be turned on despite the traction battery being fu… Repairs typically run $100-$200. Severity: medium.
Because regenerative braking (especially in B-mode/e-Pedal) does most of the deceleration, the rear friction brakes are rarely used and almost never heat-cycle. Without heat to burn off moisture, the rear rotors rust and the caliper slide pins and pistons seize. This leads to une… Repairs typically run $150-$900. Severity: medium.
The Leaf's high-voltage PTC (positive temperature coefficient) ceramic cabin heater is a known high-failure item, leaving the car with little or no heat in winter. On 2011-2012 (ZE0) cars it is a liquid coolant heater in the engine bay; on 2013+ cars it is an air PTC element behi… Repairs typically run $300-$1,500. Severity: medium.
The Leaf's single-speed reduction gearbox is filled with a small amount of Nissan Matic S ATF (~1.4-1.5 qt). Nissan lists the fluid as fill-for-life, but owners report oil-seal weeping and, in some cases, premature gear wear. A developing whine/growl that rises with speed is ofte… Repairs typically run $60-$2,500. Severity: medium.
Two cosmetic durability complaints recur on the Leaf. First, the dark upper-dashboard surface is a flame-retardant coating (not paint) that rubs or wipes off — often when owners clean oily fingerprints with soap and water — leaving discolored patches. Second, the Leaf is widely n… Repairs typically run $0-$500. Severity: low.
Leaf owners widely report front tires wearing out prematurely — some as early as 20,000-26,000 miles on the OEM low-rolling-resistance Bridgestone Ecopia tires. Contributing factors: the Leaf's high curb weight (~3,300 lb from the battery) loading the front FWD tires, Nissan's fa… Repairs typically run $100-$800. Severity: low.
Pre-2020 Leafs use a 3G-based Telematics Control Unit for NissanConnect EV/Services (remote climate preheat, charge status, charge timers). AT&T shut down its 3G network in February 2022 and Nissan ended NissanConnect app support for Leafs built before 2020 on March 30, 2026, so… Repairs typically run $0-$800. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.