2016 Nissan Leaf

36 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

1. Filed Jul 28, 2026Failure Mar 11, 2026LAS Vegas, NVService brakes

   THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME intermittently AT FIRST ... NOW permanently AND CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED BY NISSAN. IHAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE ON THE FWY AT 60MPH, THE DASH LIGHTS FOR ALL BRAKE COMPONENETS CAME UP WITH TIRE AS WELL...ALMOST ALL WARNINGS LIT UP AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKES VERY HARD AND CAR WOULD NOT STOP BUT EVENTUALLY DID ON SIDE OF ROAD. VERY BAD LOUD GRINDING MALFUNCTIONING SOUND. WHEN I WAS GETTING IT TOWED I TRIED TO TURN ON JUST TO CONFIRM STILL BROKEN STATUS, HOWEVER CAR RAN PERFECTLY TILL THE NEXT INCIDENT WITH SAME DIAGNOSIS. NISSAN 777 HAS GIVEN ME 4 DIFFERENT DIAGNOSTIC PROBLEMS WITH ESTIMATES AT $5,900 MASTER CYLANDER, $3,800 BRAKE ASSEMBLE AND A VERBAL ONE SAYING IT IS THE ACTUATOR. THEIR PARTS DEPT IS incompetent AS NISSAN HAS BEEN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR 6 MONTHS NOW. THIS IS BY FAR A TRAFFIC SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN IS FAILING TO RECOGNIZE THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS NISSAN LEAF. REDDIT HAS SEVERAL PEOPLE CLAIMING SAME ISSUE AND NISSAN IS IGNORING IT.

   NHTSA complaint 11753334
2. Filed Apr 10, 2025Failure Jan 1, 2024Ridgeville, SCSteering

   When turning left there is a plasticky sticking feeling and sound like a plastic bushing is coming apart. this causes the steering to momentarily bind. this happens most often when making gentle curves on the highway. the feeling causes you to overcorrect the steering wheel. there are many complaints online of similar issues from 2016 Nissan leafs. The issue occurs near daily since purchasing the car back in 2023. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

   NHTSA complaint 11653891
3. Filed Jan 9, 2025Failure Jan 9, 2025Bryans Road, MDFuel/propulsion system, Power train, Steering

   On January 9, a little after 12:30 pm, on Indian Head Highway (MD route 210) northbound near the Manokeek exit, after limiting drive power owing to battery degradation and cold weather (about 30 F) drive power and power steering failed entirely. There was no warning to pull over so I suspect this is an undocumented failure mode. After the car was towed home, it would not charge when plugged in until after I disconnected the 12 v battery and reconnected it after about ten minutes. It would then charge and after a few minutes I checked and it would send power to the wheels and power steering again. The state of charge of the lithium ion battery was about 86% throughout. This was not a failure of the on board 12 v battery charging system or 12 v battery which the tow truck driver tested as good, it is quite new. After the reset of disconnecting the 12 v battery and reconnecting, the terminals show higher voltage when the car is on than when it is off. Attached please find a picture of the warning lights after the car failed. Note that the battery light is for the 12 volt battery but there is nothing wrong with it. Also atteched, voltmeter readings when the car is off and on showing that the 12 volt battery recharging system is working. This car may or may not have an optional battery warmer, but its range of operation is well below the 30 F temperature when the failure occured. The car is more that two years overdue for warranty lithium ion battery replacement owing to manufacture delay.

   NHTSA complaint 11635126
4. Filed Nov 5, 2024Failure Nov 1, 2024Bryans Road, MDElectrical system, Service brakes

   On Friday, November 1, at about 3 pm, the brakes failed pulling away from the curb in a forward direction after loading equipment into the vehicle. Really stomping the brakes as though they had a fluid problem did get them to engage. I think the problem occured again backing out of my driveway prior to Monday the 4th when I fixed the problem. Again, really slamming the brake peddle got the brake to engage. You may look at the vehicle if you wish. On Friday, I was at a large senior center party and there were many pedestrian with limited mobility near the exit. An out of control vehicle could have been very dangerous. I applied experience from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles with brake problems and that fortunately worked, but brake fluid was NOT the problem and there is no clear documentation of the problem in the owner's manual. This problem is an EV problem. I can't really take the vehicle to the dealership because they have failed to perform warranty service and refused to do so in the time required by MD law. To determine the cause of the problem, I checked the brake fluid level which was normal, brake wear, which was little, checked the owners manual in detail (nothing clearly stated) and then searched the internet. By Monday the 4th, I had seem a reditt post that said a dead cell in the 12-volt battery could cause a confusion in the vehicle between the regenerative braking system and the hydrolic braking system. There had been some odd behavior at startup. The dash info would flash up with missing numbers then come on normally. And, at shutdown a few time, the lights left on buzzer would sound even though the lights were off. I checked the 12-volt battery voltage and it was low, about 10 volts consistent with a bad cell. I ordered a NAPA battery said to fit the vehicle, and replaced the defective battey which seems to have fixed the problem. The NAPA store confirmed a bad cell in the old battery. No clear warnings of the problem showed.

   NHTSA complaint 11623624
5. Filed Apr 23, 2024Failure Apr 21, 2024Los Altos, CAService brakes

   Drove home at 7PM mild day (65-70 degrees). Stopped the car and turned it off for an hour. Had to leave home at 8PM. Turned on the car and backed up the driveway. Tried to stop but break wasn't working.. Pressed all the way that ABS started trickling. Used the hand break to stop the car. Turned off the car and turned it back on. This is when I noticed all the dashboard lights are on including break and ABS and had the same break not working issue.. Pulled the car into the driveway slowly and turned it off till tomorrow morning.. Started the car tomorrow morning and everything was back to normal and driving without an issue.

   NHTSA complaint 11584720
6. Filed Mar 24, 2024Failure Nov 27, 2023Hayward, CAFuel/propulsion system

   While climbing the incline section of the San Mateo Bridge in the fast lane, the Leaf shifted itself into Neutral and would not shift back into Drive. With no power, driver was forced to change lanes to the right with no power, but luckily made it over the top and down the decline to pull over. Vehicle did not want to shut off or shift. Dealer confirmed bad battery. This occured Nov. 27th, 2023. And the car is still at the dealership as of March 24, 2024, waiting for a replacement battery.

   NHTSA complaint 11579194
7. Filed Mar 22, 2024Failure Mar 18, 202493,000 milesMarietta, GAService brakes

   The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The brake pedal had to be pushed to the floor to activate the service brakes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed electronically driven intelligently braking unit and the electronically driven intelligently braking unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11578967
8. Filed Jan 23, 2024Failure Jan 10, 2024Colorado Springs, COElectrical system, Engine

   Goes into neutral in a matter of seconds while driving at highway speeds and goes into turtle mode while on highway. A scan of the vehicle showed a number of low battery voltage codes (P0AA0, P3180, P3182, P08AF) stored when the battery was disconnected. Nissan gave no ETA on battery replacement.

   NHTSA complaint 11567295
9. Filed Oct 9, 2023Failure Jan 8, 2023Medford, MAElectrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Power train

   While driving at highway speeds (65mph) on a cold day (10-20F), the car lost all drive power with no warning. Driver was able to coast to the road margin. In another situation this could have been a catastrophic accident. Driver called 911 for police protection and tow. At this point car was completely unresponsive but still on. The car could not be turned off, turned on, shifted into drive, or any other action performed. The car has shown at least 3 other cold weather failures at highway speeds with various error states (ranging from turtle mode, a complete loss of the info display, and sudden power losses). Our mechanic said "I almost died today, this car is not safe to drive on the highway".

   NHTSA complaint 11548956
10. Filed Mar 10, 2023Failure Mar 8, 2023Tujunga, CAElectrical system

    On March 8, 2023, my 2016 NISSAN LEAF main EV battery failed at 75% charge power going up an incline on the freeway. The car shut down in the center lane with no warning at 60mph and could not be moved or shifted to be driven off the freeway. The car is available for inspection. My safety and the safety of others was put at EXTREME risk. I could have been killed or rear ended. I called 911 for the highway patrol and a county or city tow truck got me off the freeway. Previously, the main EV battery was diagnosed by the dealer as dropping in capacity to 8 bars in December 2022. I was told the car was safe to drive still although they did put in a warranty claim for a new battery which I was told was on back order and could take up to one year. Yet, I was told the car was 100% safe and drove it from December 2022 until this week. After the March 8 incident I had the car towed immediately to the dealer repair facility and the dealer service again confirmed the battery was compromised and told me not to drive the car anymore. So far NISSAN corporate has not asked to inspect the vehicle. The only warning the car gave was it was having a loss of power going up hills from December 2022 to this week but the car never showed a warning or gave a warning light on the dash.

    NHTSA complaint 11511218
11. Filed Feb 2, 2023Failure Jan 27, 2023Eagan, MNElectrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Power train

    Car shifted into neutral at highway speeds and would not go back into drive on 3 separate occasions over the past 6 days. Car is an EV and there was no warning and the battery SOC was 50% or more on all occasions. Can can be shifted from neutral to park only, not drive or reverse. Very unsafe to have to cruise to a stop on busy highways without much or any shoulder depending on where the car stops with snow banks. Had to have car towed. The incidents happened separately on 1/27, 1/28, and 2/2 all on the highway at ~60mph. I will upload some pictures of the dtc codes and battery stats for the vehicle. After the incident on 1/27, I replaced my 12v battery with a new one (having done some searching for possible cause), but the issue happened again on 1/28 and 2/2 after the 12v replacement.

    NHTSA complaint 11505289
12. Filed Dec 24, 2022Failure Dec 21, 2022Santa Monica, CAElectrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system

    We were driving the car on a highway (the 405 in Los Angeles) in the midafternoon on December 21. We were going uphill and in the flow of traffic. I'd say the speed was about 60-65. The car was functioning well. Then, the driver accelerated to pass a car and suddenly the car lost all power and went into neutral. Fortunately, we made our way to the freeway shoulder without an accident. But, it could have been very different, as we were on a fast-moving highway and there could have been a pile-up. The car had plenty of battery power (around 47 miles) but it would not shift back into drive. We turned the car on and off and it was stuck in neutral. A tow truck came by and suggested a jump start. That worked and we took the car immediately to a Nissan dealership. The dealership found an error code (I believe it's P3398 but I am unsure) and says that a part of the lithium battery is malfunctioning and the car is unsafe to drive. It is under warranty but they say they are unable to replace the battery for many months. I saw no warning lamps prior to the failure (apart from a recurring message about tire maintenance that we had addressed repeatedly). For what it is worth, I had just had the brake pads checked that morning at a local mechanic who said the brakes were in excellent shape.

    NHTSA complaint 11498756
13. Filed Oct 24, 2022Failure Aug 28, 2022Albuquerque, NMService brakes

    Vehicle is 2016 Nissan Leaf. Odometer reading 42,537. On August 28, 2022 in a shopping center parking lot under fair weather conditions and temperatures in the 80s, upon starting car, brake system control light and ABS indicator light both illuminated. Pulled car back into parking spot. Brakes did not work. Used emergency brake to stop vehicle. 9/11/2022 Inspection by Melloy Nissan. [XXX], Service manager, reported that vehicle has two faulty components: brake control assembly and actuator assembly that require replacement. Stated that technician called Nissan USA. Other vehicle on East Coast had same problem that was fixed with this repair. Cost of parts $4,099. Cost of labor $900. Total repair cost $5,000. Service manager advised owner that vehicle is not safe to drive. 9/27/2022 Inspection by Reliable Nissan. [XXX], Service manager, reported that vehicle has error codes for electrically driven intelligent brake system. Stated that other Nissan Leaf had recently been repaired for same problem at Reliable Nissan. Cost of part (brake control assembly) $2,792. Cost of labor $700. Total cost $3,854. Service manager advised owner that vehicle is not safe to drive. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

    NHTSA complaint 11490696
14. Filed May 26, 2022Failure Apr 4, 2022St Joseph, MOBody

    The driver's side door handle broke on my 2016 Nissan LEAF. Investigating the issue online, I found that many owners have had this issue, and the fix often breaks again. It's a safety issue for owner or emergency responders wouldn't be able to get the driver's door open without breaking the glass.

    NHTSA complaint 11466187
15. Filed Feb 2, 2022Failure Feb 2, 202254,000 milesBountiful, UT12v/24v/48v battery

    The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Low Battery Mode" warning message was displayed while the battery was fully charged, which caused the vehicle to inadvertently decelerate. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer replaced the capacitor and three cells in the battery; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired and had an upcoming appointment with the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11450028
16. Filed Jan 23, 2021Failure Dec 13, 202048,713 milesSAN Pedro, CAService brakes

    THE NISSAN LEAF WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A 35 MPH ROAD IN A HILLY AREA. WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A DOWNHILL CURVE COMING UP TO A RED LIGHT THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT ENGAGE WITH NORMAL PRESSURE. THE DRIVER THEN PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDDLE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO SLOWLY STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO 10 FEET PAST A RED LIGHT INTO AN INTERSECTION. THE DRIVER DROVE OUT OF THE INTERSECTION AND TESTED THE BRAKES AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS. THE DRIVERS SPOUSE ARRIVED TO TEST THE VEHICLE AND VERIFIED THE SAME RESULTS. THE ONLY WAY HOME WAS A VERY STEEP DOWN HILL SO TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND BRING IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ALSO VERIFIED THE BRAKES WERE NOT ENGAGING WHEN HE LOADED THE VEHICLE ON THE FLATBED. WHEN THE VEHICLE ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND UNLOADED FROM THE TOW TRUCK THE BRAKES STARTED WORKING. THE DEALERSHIP TESTED THE VEHICLE AND VERIFIED THE BRAKES PASSED INSPECTION. FEELING UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE OWNER TRIED TO CONVINCE THE DEALERSHIP TO TEST MORE. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. THE OWNERS REPORTED TO NISSAN OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE. NISSAN OF AMERICA SAID THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF ISSUE AND THAT IF THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. SINCE THE DEALERSHIP AND CORPORATE CAN NOT FIX THE CAR AND DO NOT WANT TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE OWNERS HOUSE WHERE IT NOW SITS UNUSED.

    NHTSA complaint 11389581
17. Filed Aug 9, 2020Failure Jul 31, 202030,000 milesFremont, CAService brakes

    DURING CONDITIONS OF LOW 12V BATTERY CHARGE, THE VEHICLE WILL OCCASIONALLY START, GO INTO A DRIVE MODE ("R" OR "D") BUT THE BRAKES WILL NOT OPERATE. I STRESS THAT THIS ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE 12V BATTERY HAS LOW CHARGE, BUT NOT TOO LOW THAT THE VEHICLE WILL REFUSE TO START. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO REPORT THIS. NOTE THE COMMENT ABOUT BRAKES FAILING IN THIS POSTING: HTTPS://WWW.MYNISSANLEAF.COM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?F=30&T=12959&P=588304#P587949

    NHTSA complaint 11344245
18. Filed Jan 22, 2020Failure Nov 2, 201922,000 milesHonolulu, HI12v/24v/48v battery, Unknown or otherFire

    TL* THE CONSUMER OWNED A 2016 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE ASLEEP AT THEIR RESIDENCE, THEY WERE AWOKEN BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO INFORMED THEM THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. NO INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. FIRST INSURANCE WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND A CASE WAS OPENED. AN INVESTIGATION WAS ALSO STARTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THOUGH THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION, HOWEVER THEY ARE CLAIMING NO RESPONSIBILITY OVER THE INCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURE IS CLAIMING THAT THE FAILURE DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE INSTALLATION OF THE ORIGINAL BATTERY.*AS *LN*JB

    NHTSA complaint 11301153
19. Filed Nov 15, 2019Failure Oct 22, 201987,500 milesUnion City, CAElectrical system

    WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH, MY CAR TURNS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY! I HAVE A VIDEO OF THIS ORDEAL THAT I'D BE HAPPY TO SEND OVER.

    NHTSA complaint 11280442
20. Filed Oct 7, 2019Failure Oct 7, 201929,000 milesTampa, FLService brakes

    NO BRAKES AT STARTUP. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. DROVE 20 MILES NIGHT BEFORE. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHILE BACKING OUT OF GARAGE.

    NHTSA complaint 11266691