Nissan Leaf years to avoid (and the best years)
1,080 NHTSA owner complaints and 18 recalls across 13 model years, 2011 to 2023. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 1,080complaints
- 18recalls
- 64reported crashes
- 12reported fires
- 33reported injuries
Which Nissan Leaf years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Nissan Leaf year to avoid is 2019. The typical Nissan Leaf year has 66 complaints on file.
- 2019: 255 complaints, 3.9 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (68% of complaints) and the fuel system (13% of complaints).
What are the best Nissan Leaf years?
The Nissan Leaf years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2017 (14), 2023 (20) and 2014 (34). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 20 | 0.3× | 3 | 6 | 0 | Few red flags | Speed control |
| 2022 | 93 | 1.4× | 4 | 7 | 3 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2021 | 55 | 0.8× | 4 | 2 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2020 | 164 | 2.5× | 6 | 1 | 0 | Some concerns to check | Electrical system |
| 2019 | 255 | 3.9× | 5 | 4 | 5 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
| 2018 | 66 | 1.0× | 4 | 9 | 3 | Few red flags | Brakes |
| 2017 | 14 | 0.2× | 2 | 1 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2016 | 36 | 0.5× | 4 | 1 | 0 | Few red flags | Brakes |
| 2015 | 110 | 1.7× | 4 | 8 | 3 | Some concerns to check | Brakes |
| 2014 | 34 | 0.5× | 6 | 3 | 2 | Few red flags | Brakes |
| 2013 | 81 | 1.2× | 5 | 11 | 4 | Some concerns to check | Brakes |
| 2012 | 57 | 0.9× | 0 | 6 | 6 | Few red flags | Brakes |
| 2011 | 95 | 1.4× | 0 | 5 | 5 | Few red flags | Airbags |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 428 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Electrical & infotainment294 (69%)
- Airbags & seat belts40 (9%)
- Brakes36 (8%)
- Engine & powertrain26 (6%)
- Other systems26 (6%)
Recalls (18)
Electrical system · 25V655000 · Oct 2025 · model years 2021, 2022
A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Electrical system · 24V700000 · Sep 2024 · model years 2019, 2020
A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Safety · 24V071000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V494000 · Jul 2023 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
Brakes · 23V362000 · May 2023 · model year 2023
A brake fluid leak can reduce braking performance and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V296000 · Apr 2023 · model years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V048000 · Feb 2023 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Body & glass · 20V570000 · Sep 2020 · model year 2020
Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 20V412000 · Jul 2020 · model year 2020
The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Safety · 19V654000 · Sep 2019 · model years 2018, 2019
The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 17V253000 · Apr 2017 · model years 2015, 2016, 2017
In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.
Airbags · 16V436000 · Jun 2016 · model year 2016
If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Airbags · 16V244000 · Apr 2016 · model years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Brakes · 16V119000 · Feb 2016 · model years 2013, 2014, 2015
If the brake relay fails, longer distances or additional brake effort would be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 14V263000 · May 2014 · model year 2014
An unexpected vehicle shut down increases the risk of a crash.
Structure · 14V192000 · Apr 2014 · model year 2014
Missing welds may effect the vehicle's integrity in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the vehicle's occupants.
Electrical system · 14V138000 · Mar 2014 · model years 2013, 2014
If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Airbags · 13V069000 · Mar 2013 · model year 2013
If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.