2023 Nissan Ariya Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
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What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2023 Nissan Ariya, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical2237.9%
- Powertrain (other)915.5%
- Engine915.5%
- Driver assistance712.1%
- Fuel system46.9%
- Brakes35.2%
- Steering23.4%
- Other / unspecified11.7%
- Exterior lighting11.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The vehicle’s EV system and related electrical components appear to be malfunctioning, causing repeated “EV System Off” error messages and rendering the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and available for inspection upon request. The defect created a significant safety risk because the vehicle became unreliable and could unexpectedly fail to operate, leaving me stranded and without dependable transportation. This placed both myself and others at risk, especially if the failure occurred while driving or in traffic. Yes, the issue has been repeatedly reproduced and confirmed by the Nissan dealership. The vehicle has been towed to the dealership approximately five times for the same or substantially similar issue, and multiple repair attempts and part replacements have been made. The vehicle has been inspected by the Nissan dealership and Nissan Consumer Affairs has been notified on multiple occasions. Repairs and diagnostics were performed between March 20, 2026 and April 10, 2026, and the same issue reoccurred again on May 19, 2026. Yes, warning messages appeared prior to the failures, specifically the “EV System Off” warning message. These symptoms first began prior to the initial repair period in March 2026 and have continued to reoccur despite repair attempts.
At low speeds after startup, the car automatically shifts from drive into neutral. The car will be locked in neutral, not letting you put it in park, drive, or reverse. To get the car back into drive, you must come to a complete stop, turn the car off, back on, and floor the accelerator. Failure to floor the accelerator will lead to the car getting stuck in neutral again. I have pulled out into traffic on numerous occasions and had the car die in the middle of the road, forcing me to come to a stop and fully turn it back on, sometimes multiple times. No warning messages appear.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Recently I been hearing a clicking noise every time I come to a complete stop and when I take off again. It started happening recently. After I hear the click noise coming from the middle of the front of my car, the wheel feels like it’s spinning just a little bit before coming to a stop.
The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Ariya. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud thud coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to inspect the vehicle, the vehicle restarted while in park, and unexpectedly rolled away. The contact was able to quickly re-enter the vehicle and stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 77,000.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Ariya. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle unexpectedly lost motive power. The contact became aware of smoke coming from the engine compartment. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that oil was leaking from the vehicle, causing the engine to fail. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact later went to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
This is the fourth time this has happened to us during normal driving. I pulled out onto a highway and suddenly with no prior warning, the car lost all power and went into what I can only describe as a "limp mode" and wouldn't go above 5 mph. I had to quickly pull off the road as traffic was catching up at highway speed. The dashboard flashed "Malfunction, see owners manual" and we had an orange triangle with an exclamation point as well as a circle with exclamation point with a wrench next to it. The traction control light and car with exclamation point were also lit up. After limping to a cross road we turned the car completely off for 5 min and when we restarted it, it worked normally. The same thing happened July 25, 2024 and I had the car in the dealership. They said they could not recreate the issue even though I showed them video of the dashboard acting strangely. The service manager said he believed something had blocked the front bumper sensor and that it should be fine now. We have already performed both software updated recalls and since then, it has happened to us twice more. The battery was at around 80%, had just been driven by my wife for around 30 min with no issues, was turned off in the driveway for about 15 min and then we left again. It was extremely cold during this issue (temps around 10 degrees F), but this has also happened during normal temps in the summer and fall.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owned a 2023 Nissan Ariya. The contact stated that, while pulling out of an end parking space, the driver made a third-point turn. While reversing, the vehicle suddenly stopped. The corner of the vehicle hit a pillar. The driver looked into the camera. There were no objects in the camera view. There was no alert activated. The contact pulled back into the parking spot with her foot on the accelerator pedal. The vehicle suddenly accelerated to 40 MPH, jumped the curb, hit a young tree, a dumpster, and an electrical box. There were no warning lights illuminated. While exiting the vehicle, there was an abnormally loud revving sound. Prior to the failure, the vehicle failed to shift into reverse. There was a symbol of two vehicles. The vehicle restarted and worked as designed. There were no reported injuries, airbags did not deploy, fire or police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 59,000.
I am writing to formally report a series of safety concerns I have encountered with my Nissan vehicle. These issues have been brought to the attention of both the service department and Nissan directly, but they remain unresolved. I believe these defects pose significant safety risks, not only for me as the driver but also for others on the road. Below is a detailed account of the problems: Spontaneous Locking and Unlocking: The vehicle intermittently locks and unlocks itself without any input from me. This issue compromises security and creates a potential safety hazard while driving or when the vehicle is parked. Malfunctioning Steering Wheel Controls: The steering wheel controls often become unresponsive and freeze, particularly during the use of cruise control. This prevents me from canceling cruise control unless I press the brakes abruptly, which could lead to unsafe situations on the road. Melting Dashboard Emitting Toxic Vapors: The dashboard of the vehicle begins to melt during driving, releasing vapors that are extremely toxic and irritating. This is a serious health concern, as the vapors affect the air quality within the vehicle and could impair my ability to operate the vehicle safely. Inadequate Door Seals: The door seals are unusually thin and fragile, causing them to break easily. This not only impacts the structural integrity of the vehicle but also creates potential exposure to external elements, affecting the vehicle's safety and functionality. Given the severity of these issues, I request an investigation to determine if these defects are common among similar vehicles and if they warrant a recall. The safety of myself, my passengers, and others on the road is at risk due to these defects, and I believe action is necessary to prevent accidents or injuries. Please feel free to contact me if further details or documentation are required. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
At low speeds after startup, the car automatically shifts from drive into neutral. The car will be locked in neutral, not letting you put it in park, drive, or reverse. To get the car back into drive, you must come to a complete stop, turn the car off, back on, and floor the accelerator. Failure to floor the accelerator will lead to the car getting stuck in neutral again. I have pulled out into traffic on numerous occasions and had the car die in the middle of the road, forcing me to come to a stop and fully turn it back on, sometimes multiple times. No warning messages appear.
Vehicle displayed a "Service EV system" while driving on the highway. Battery state of charge dropped from 60% to 0%. Pulled over and turned the car off. After 5-10 minutes, I turned on the car and the issue disappeared.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
At approximately 18,500 miles, my 2023 Nissan Ariya experienced a brake system failure while driving. The vehicle exhibited abnormal braking behavior and reduced braking performance, creating a serious safety concern. I was able to safely stop the vehicle, but the failure could have resulted in an accident. The vehicle was taken to a Nissan dealership for inspection. The diagnosis revealed severe and premature wear of the rear brake pads and significant damage to the rear rotors. The dealership also recommended replacement of the entire rear brake assemblies, not just standard wear components. The total repair estimate is approximately $3,800. Safety Concern: This failure occurred at very low mileage. In an electric vehicle with regenerative braking, brake components should last significantly longer under normal conditions. The extent of damage and need for full brake assembly replacement suggests a potential mechanical or electronic defect, such as a caliper malfunction or braking system issue. This was not normal wear and tear. The failure occurred during operation and posed a direct safety risk due to compromised braking ability. Manufacturer Response: The dealership has indicated the issue may not be covered under warranty, classifying it as wear-related. However, the severity and early failure strongly indicate an underlying defect rather than routine wear. I have contacted Nissan Corporate claims for further resolution. When visually inspecting the car the rotors were irregularly worn and the brake lines had burst spilling break fluid all over the rear innner tire .
After multiple repairs on my vehicle. We have received a new error today. Showing e-Step system failure, ABS light, Brake system failure, forward collision system off, rear braking system off & traction control system off.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
I am writing to formally report a series of safety concerns I have encountered with my Nissan vehicle. These issues have been brought to the attention of both the service department and Nissan directly, but they remain unresolved. I believe these defects pose significant safety risks, not only for me as the driver but also for others on the road. Below is a detailed account of the problems: Spontaneous Locking and Unlocking: The vehicle intermittently locks and unlocks itself without any input from me. This issue compromises security and creates a potential safety hazard while driving or when the vehicle is parked. Malfunctioning Steering Wheel Controls: The steering wheel controls often become unresponsive and freeze, particularly during the use of cruise control. This prevents me from canceling cruise control unless I press the brakes abruptly, which could lead to unsafe situations on the road. Melting Dashboard Emitting Toxic Vapors: The dashboard of the vehicle begins to melt during driving, releasing vapors that are extremely toxic and irritating. This is a serious health concern, as the vapors affect the air quality within the vehicle and could impair my ability to operate the vehicle safely. Inadequate Door Seals: The door seals are unusually thin and fragile, causing them to break easily. This not only impacts the structural integrity of the vehicle but also creates potential exposure to external elements, affecting the vehicle's safety and functionality. Given the severity of these issues, I request an investigation to determine if these defects are common among similar vehicles and if they warrant a recall. The safety of myself, my passengers, and others on the road is at risk due to these defects, and I believe action is necessary to prevent accidents or injuries. Please feel free to contact me if further details or documentation are required. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to your response.
My Ariya lane assist almost crashed me outside Philadelphia on I-76 (a notoriously congested and hazardous road). My hands got sweaty (I have sweaty palms, it's a medical condition) and it suddenly couldn't detect my hands. It quickly went into the "retake control" alert and I tried tapping the break to disengage it but that didn't do anything because it thought I wasn't driving the car so it kept the locked up lane assist on. I had to take my hands off the wheel, dry them, and then grab the wheel over and over until I found a dry enough spot for it to detect my hands. I figured out the fault, and why different people have different experiences. It's based on how moist your skin is and how sweaty your hands are. It took a couple trials to figure it out. I think it also uses back-force on the wheel to some extent, but mostly it's the capacitative sensor. I also tested if it would detect at different pressure levels when your hands are sweaty but that doesn't seem to matter. In addition turning the wheel ALSO doesn't help so you can be fighting for control of it when the system refuses to de-activate and is steering you into a bad place due to a left exit or something with traffic bearing down on you from 3 sides. This is extremely dangerous and using a system that fails IF YOUR HANDS AREN'T EXACTLY THE RIGHT LEVEL OF DRY/WET is absolutely something that needs to be recalled and replaced.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
Vehicle tires last less than 10k miles before tread depth is unsafe. I have complained to Nissan and they take no responsibility despite being the company that selected these tires, and there are multiple instances of failure for this vehicle. I should not have to buy new tires on a $60k car with less than 10k miles on it.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
Car screens suddenly shut down while driving on highway with no instrument cluster and no navigation screen and vehicle lost entire power excluding drive train. The cars screens both began to flash and speakers popped loudly with beeps and headlights began to flash along with interior lights all while going 80mph
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .