Reliability & cost of ownership
Nissan Leaf Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Nissan Leaf? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Nissan Leaf problems by model year
49 recall entries across 14 model years and 1,116 owner complaints across 17 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining 3 model years — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Leaf | 2 | 3 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2025 Leaf | 0 | 7 | 5.0 | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2024 Leaf | 0 | 5 | 5.0 | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2023 Leaf | 3 | 23 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2022 Leaf | 4 | 96 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2021 Leaf | 4 | 58 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2020 Leaf | 6 | 167 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2019 Leaf | 5 | 260 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2018 Leaf | 4 | 68 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2017 Leaf | 2 | 14 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2016 Leaf | 4 | 36 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2015 Leaf | 4 | 111 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2014 Leaf | 6 | 34 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2013 Leaf | 5 | 81 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2012 Leaf | Not confirmed | 57 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2011 Leaf | Not confirmed | 95 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2010 Leaf | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Nissan Leaf, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- electrical system531 complaints
- service brakes235 complaints
- unknown or other165 complaints
- fuel/propulsion system139 complaints
- air bags91 complaints
- power train64 complaints
- vehicle speed control59 complaints
- engine50 complaints