2011 Nissan Leaf Problems

Car throws a B1018 DTC, which is for the passenger seat occupancy sensor. The seat occupancy sensor failing poses a major safety risk, as it causes the airbags to not deploy properly in the event of a crash. This is a very well known issue for the 2011-2012 LEAF, and the only option Nissan gives to fix this is a full seat replacement, which is cost prohibitive at over $3000. Previously, a recall was issued for 2013-2016 LEAFs for a similar issue, but the 2011-2012 was not included in that recall.

Air bag sensor fault, passenger seat warning on dashboard. Confirmed sensor failure at repair shop. Notified by Nissan that sensors are DISCONTINUED parts. No alternative solution suggested. This means all airbags in this vehicle are disabled. Car has less than 40,000 miles and has years of service life left. How is Nissan allowed to discontinue supply of an essential safety component?

When applying brakes, at a point in the pedal travel the vehicle deceleration goes from too little to vastly too much. This makes the vehicle challenging to drive in traffic without colliding into the vehicle in front and not stopping so quickly as to cause the trailing vehicle to collide. The dealer has confirmed the behavior. There is a TSB to supposedly address the problem, and a receipt is attached of that TSB software update being applied. However, this has not changed the behavior. This is at least partially a software issue, since the vehicle blends physical brakes with EV regenerative braking.

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that the Telematics Control Unit, which locates the nearest charging station, was inoperable and could not be upgraded. Additionally, the 12 Volt battery would not charge, and the doors would not unlock to open. The windows would not roll up, and the gear shifter would not shift out of park into neutral. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. However, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was unavailable.

When applying brakes, at a point in the pedal travel the vehicle deceleration goes from too little to vastly too much. This makes the vehicle challenging to drive in traffic without colliding into the vehicle in front and not stopping so quickly as to cause the trailing vehicle to collide. The dealer has confirmed the behavior. There is a TSB to supposedly address the problem, and a receipt is attached of that TSB software update being applied. However, this has not changed the behavior. This is at least partially a software issue, since the vehicle blends physical brakes with EV regenerative braking.

THE BRAKES MALFUNCTION AT LOW SPEEDS, BUT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL PROGRAM. NISSAN HAS NOT HELPED AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO EMAILS OR QUESTIONS ON TWITTER. AT LOW SPEEDS THE BRAKES WILL SPORADICALLY ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE WITH REGENERATIVE BRAKING ENABLED. THEY WILL SOMETIMES CATCH WHICH CAUSES SUDDEN STOPPING OR SKIDDING IN HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. THEY WILL ALSO NOT ENGAGE UNTIL THEY ARE PRESSED EXTREMELY HARD WHICH WILL ALSO CAUSE SUDDEN BRAKING AND CAN BE HAZARDOUS IN TRAFFIC OR HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS. I'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO REACH NISSAN TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT THEY DO NOT RESPOND. THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT MAKES THE VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT TIMES.

Car throws a B1018 DTC, which is for the passenger seat occupancy sensor. The seat occupancy sensor failing poses a major safety risk, as it causes the airbags to not deploy properly in the event of a crash. This is a very well known issue for the 2011-2012 LEAF, and the only option Nissan gives to fix this is a full seat replacement, which is cost prohibitive at over $3000. Previously, a recall was issued for 2013-2016 LEAFs for a similar issue, but the 2011-2012 was not included in that recall.

Please see thread: [XXX] My 2011 Nissan Leaf's OCS has failed randomly. I pulled the code via an Bluetooth OBD reader and the LeafSpy Pro app installed on my phone: B1018-00 09 AIR BAG Occupant Sens [Unit Fail] SRC-41. I took the car to a local dealership and was quoted over $4k for a full seat replacement with no ETA as the part is on back order. There is no option to simply replace the OCS alone and there is no workaround from Nissan to re-enable the passenger airbag without paying the $4k for the new seat. Opened a case with Nissan Consumer Affairs who advised they could do nothing for me. The repair is more expensive than the value of the vehicle. Because Nissan offers no workaround other than paying $4k for a new seat, consumers are incentivized to bypass the airbag sensor using a 3rd-party box (see here [XXX] rather than properly repair it. This is a safety issue and Nissan should do the right thing in making the repair affordable or making an official way to bypass the sensor/enable the airbags. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Vehicle doesn't slow down when taking foot of the acceleration pedal. Same both power settings. It will continue to move at slow speed on level ground. It behaves as though the minimum pedal.motor speed is too fast. My concern.is that it might get very fast without any pedal. Thank you.

On 05/28/23 while i was trying to park my 2011 Nissan Leaf in a parking lot, the car accelerated unexpectedly and hit a pole and fence and scratched an already parked car. Applying break did not slow down my car. I own this car since 2011 and never had an experience like this.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2011 NISSAN LEAF VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY. I QUICKLY NOTICED THAT MY BATTERY CAPACITY WAS AT 5 BARS AND THE VEHICLE HAS 73300 MILES. I ALSO NOTICED THE EV SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND LET THEM KNOW THAT I WAS GOING TO NEED A NEW BATTERY BUT WANTED TO KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE VEHICLES BATTERY BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THE DEGRADATION OF THE VEHICLES BATTERY WOULD FALL INTO THE SEVERE CATEGORY AND BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS IN BETWEEN OWNERS AT THE TIME NO ONE TOOK IT IN FOR A BATTERY REPLACEMENT. CURRENTLY IN 2020 THE 2011 VEHICLE IS AT 5 BARS MEANING THAT IF THE BATTERY ONLY LOST ONE BAR IN THE LAST YEAR THE BATTERY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE LOST MORE THAN 50% CAPACITY WITHIN THE TIMEFRAME THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE 8 YR/100,000MILES EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH ANY VEHICLE BATTERY INFORMATION ALTHOUGH THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEALER DID CONFIRM THAT THE WARRANTY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN EFFECT LAST YEAR. THEY THEN QUOTED ME $6600 FOR A BATTERY REPLACEMENT. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND A LETTER FROM NISSAN WHICH STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WARRANTY WOULD BE EFFECTIVE FOR 2011 MODELS WITH IMPLEMENTATION STARTING SOMETIME IN SPRING OF 2013. NISSAN SO FAR IS NOT WILLING TO REPAIR THE BATTERY OR ASSIST IN THE REPAIR ALTHOUGH THE WARRANTY WOULD HAVE COVERED THIS ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS COME CLOSE TO TURNING OFF WHILE I'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD. I AM AFRAID OF MY CARS BATTERY DYING WHILE I'M ON THE ROAD. IT'S MY ONLY VEHICLE. *TR

THE RANGE METER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DASH SHOWS INCORRECT RANGE. I UNDERSTOOD WHEN PEOPLE WOULD SAY IT DEPENDS ON HOW YOU DRIVE, BUT NO MATTER HOW I DRIVE THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY FOR ME TO GET THE RANGE THE CAR SAYS I HAVE. IF IT SHOWS 55 MILES I CAN BE SURE TO GET BETWEEN 20 AND 35 MILES BEFORE BEING STRANDED. I CONTACTED NISSAN FOR A WARRANTY OR SERVICE CONCERN AND THEY CLAIMED IT NOT TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

I PURCHASED MY 2011 NISSAN LEAF IN SEPTEMBER OF 2012 FROM STADIUM NISSAN IN ORANGE, CALIFORNIA. I QUICKLY LEARNED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT BUILT FOR MY 69 MILE COMMUTE(4.9 MILES PER KWH), BUT WAS ABLE TO ADAPT AND MAKE IT WORK UNTIL A JOB CHANGE IN OCTOBER OF 2013. MY 10 YEAR OLD SON AND I WERE REAR ENDED SHORTLY AFTER OUR MOVE TO TURLOCK, CALIFORNIA. MY NISSAN LEAF HELD UP VERY WELL TO BEING REAR ENDED AT 45MPH BY A FULL SIZED CHEVY SILVERADO; AS I DROVE IT AWAY AND THE CHEVY WAS TOTALED. MY SON AND I BOTH RECEIVED CONCUSSIONS FROM THE ACCIDENT, AND UNFORTUNATELY HE IS STILL FACED WITH MEMORY LOSS. MY LEAF WAS TAKEN TO ALFRED MATTHEWS COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS, AND SENT TO CENTRAL VALLEY NISSAN TO HAVE THE BATTERIES REMOVED AND REINSTALLED BEFORE AND AFTER THE BODY REPAIRS. THE REPAIRS TOOK MORE THAN 2 MONTHS TO COMPLETE, AND MY LEAF HAS NEVER BEEN THE SAME. MY LEAF WILL NO LONGER GET THE 69PLUS FREEWAY MILES THAT I DROVE BEFORE THE ACCIDENT, AND WILL NOW ONLY GET 40-50 CITY MILES PER CHARGE (3.8 MILES PER KWH). I HAVE TAKEN MY LEAF BACK TO CENTRAL VALLEY NISSAN AT LEAST 6 TIMES IN THE LAST 8 MONTHS, AND EVEN HAD ONE OF THE TWO NISSAN LEAF MECHANICS EVALUATE THE ISSUES. AAA WAS WILLING AND READY TO TOTAL MY LEAF BASED ON THIS DRASTIC PERFORMANCE ISSUE, BUT THEY WERE TOLD BY CENTRAL VALLEY NISSAN AND THE LEAF MECHANIC THAT MY LEAF IS PERFORMING WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS FOR A 2011 LEAF WITH 35,000 MILES. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE BASED ON YOUR EPA ESTIMATES OF 106 CITY / 92 HIGHWAY (I AM CURIOUS IF OTHER LEAF OWNERS KNOW THAT WHEN THEIR VEHICLE IS 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS 35,000 MILES; THEY WILL ONLY GET 40 MILES PER CHARGE). *TR

AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION, LOOKING BOTH WAYS AND NOT SEEING ANYBODY, I STARTED GOING THROUGH AND CROSSING THE STREET, THEN I SUDDENLY COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH A PEDESTRIAN ONLY INCHES FROM THE SIDE OF THE CAR! I ALMOST HIT SOMEONE, AND THE EXPERIENCE LEFT ME QUITE RATTLED. THE PROBLEM IS THE PILLAR AT THE FRONT LEFT CORNER IS AT THE WORST POSSIBLE POSITION AS IT COMPLETELY BLOCKS THE VIEW OF THE FAR STREET CORNER, SO I DID NOT SEE THE PEDESTRIAN WHO STARTED CROSSING THE STREET. ALSO, THE PILLAR AT THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE COMPLETELY BLOCKS THE VIEW OF THE NEAR STREET CORNER. I HAVE SINCE TRAINED MYSELF TO CONSCIOUSLY PERFORM A CRAZY-LOOKING MANEUVER TO MOVE MY BODY TO THE LEFT AND TO THE RIGHT AND BACK, AT EVERY INTERSECTION, TO PEEK AROUND THE OBSTACLE. I DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. THIS CAR HAS EXCEPTIONALLY TERRIBLE VISIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE PILLAR, AND IT IS VERY VERY DANGEROUS. THIS NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE IT RESULTS IN A PEDESTRIAN FATALITY. IT ALMOST DID. *TR

RECENTLY I GOT A NISSAN LEAF. BATTERY HAS BEEN ACT INCORRECT MILES .I DROVE 2 MILES IT COUNT AS 5 MILES. CHARGING WAS INCORRECT. I WAS CHARGE ON QUICK CHARGE TOOK ME 40 MUNITE FOR 30 MILES.

THIS IS NOT RELATED TO ANYTHING SPECIFIC THAT HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE, BUT IT IS RELATED TO CONSUMER SAFETY AND PROTECTION. NISSAN SETTLED A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AND AMENDED THEIR BATTERY REPLACEMENT/REPAIR WARRANTY SHORTLY AFTER THEY INTRODUCED THE LEAF TO THE US. VERY SOON AFTER THIS AMENDED WARRANTY WENT INTO EFFECT NISSAN SENT A LETTER TO ALL LEAF OWNERS AND ASKED US TO BRING OUR CAR IN FOR A "SOFTWARE UPGRADE" THAT WOULD GIVE US A BETTER RANGE DISPLAY. I SUSPECT THAT THIS "UPGRADE" ACTUALLY KEEPS THE CAPACITY (RANGE) DISPLAY ABOVE THE THRESHOLD THAT WOULD OTHERWISE OBLIGATE NISSAN TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE BATTERY. IS YOUR AGENCY THE APPROPRIATE ON TO BRING THIS SUSPICION/COMPLAINT TO AND REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION OR SHOULD I CONTACT SOMEONE ELSE. I DO NOT HAVE EVIDENCE, BUT IT IS MORE THAN A HUNCH. BEFORE THIS ALLEGED ""FIX" MY CAR HAD LOST 2 BARS OF DISPLAY, AFTER, ONLY 1, YET IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND RECHARGED MUCH MORE EXTENSIVELY THAN BEFORE THE "FIX". ALSO, NISSAN HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO SHARE DATA ON THE LEAF OR ITS BATTERY, AND INSISTS THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY COMPANY WHO CAN DIAGNOSE THE BATTERY, AND THEREFORE, THE ONLY COMPANY WHO CAN DECIDE IF THE WARRANTY SHOULD BE HONORED IN ANY CASE. THIS IS TROUBLING. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF ANY RESOURCES COULD BE DEVOTED TO LOOKING INTO THIS SOFTWARE "FIX" - THOUGH I UNDERSTAND BUDGET AND PERSONNEL CONSTRAINTS MAY INHIBIT THIS WITHOUT EVIDENCE BEYOND MY CIRCUMSTANTIAL EXPERIENCE AND MY GUT FEELING. STILL, IT BEARS CONTACTING YOU TO ASK, AS WE HAVE SEEN HOW OTHER MAJOR AUTO MAKERS ARE WILLING TO BEND RULES AND LAWS IN ORDER TO PAD THE BOTTOM LINE. THANK YOU!! *TR

THE PROBLEM IS THE BATTERY, WE WHERE TOLD BY NISSAN THAT THERE WOULD BE A SLOW LOSS OF CAPACITY AND UP TO 20% LOSS AT 5 YEARS. THIS IS ONLY IN HOT CLIMATES LIKE ARIZONA, TX AND CA. THE CAR SHOULD HAVE HAD A BATTERY COOLING SYSTEM. *TR NOW AFTER PAY $40,000 FOR THE CAR IN THE FIRST YEAR MY DRIVING RANGE IS DOWN SO MUCH IN MY SECOND YEAR THE CAR WILL BE WORTHLESS TO DRIVE OR SELL. *TR

ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, I PURCHASED A 2011 NISSAN LEAF FROM MY LOCAL DEALER. EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 20 MPH OR SO WHEN THE POWER SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD INSTANTLY WENT OFF BUT THE RADIO+TOUCHSCREEN REMAINED ON. THE CAR CAME TO A CRAWL AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND LEFT A VOICE MAIL FOR THE SERVICE DEPT. SINCE IT WAS SATURDAY BUT NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK. I KIND OF SHRUGGED IT OFF THAT DAY THINKING IT MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN A QUIRK SO I DIDN'T FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEALER. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT GOING AROUND 10 MPH AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY. THEY'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND SAID THAT NISSAN TOLD THEM TO DRIVE IT AND TRY REPRODUCING THE PROBLEM. I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO REPRODUCE IT SINCE IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN WEEKS. AS EXPECTED, THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE IT SO I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK SINCE THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM TAKING THE LEAF BACK TOMORROW TO START DRIVING AGAIN BUT DEFINITELY HAVE CONCERNS SINCE MY WIFE ALSO DRIVES THE CAR AND WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE WOULD DO IN A SHUT-OFF WHILE DRIVING SITUATION. LUCKILY, THE PAST TWO INCIDENTS WERE NOT IN HIGH SPEEDS AND I WAS ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY. MY WORST NIGHTMARE WOULD BE IF WE GOT REAR ENDED DUE TO INSTANTLY LOSING POWER. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN DIRECTLY TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT MY CAR BUT NO ONE HAS CALLED ME BACK. I ASSUME THEY WERE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER. I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT I AM BEING HANDED THE CAR BACK AT A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK. *TR

ALTHOUGH APPARENTLY WORKING AS DESIGNED, THE PEDESTRIAN WARNING SOUND ON THE NISSAN LEAF IS INAUDIBLE TO ANY WITH MODERATE HEARING PROBLEMS, INCLUDING A GREAT MANY OF THE ELDERLY. THE PITCH IS TOO HIGH. LIVING IN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE. *TR

THE NISSAN LEAF REPRESENTATIVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH A LEAF MECHANIC HERE IN MIDLAND. I ARRIVED AT MY APPOINTMENT AND ASK THE MECHANIC IF HE WAS THE LEAF MECHANIC THAT I HAD THE APPOINTMENT WITH. HE ANSWERED YES. I TOOK HIM FOR A TEST DRIVE WHERE HE EXPERIENCED THE FRONT END PROBLEM. WHEN WE GOT BACK, THE SHOP MANAGER WANTED TO SEE THE PROBLEM FOR HIMSELF. THEN I TALKED TO THE GENERAL MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT NEITHER WAS A CERTIFIED LEAF MECHANIC. WHEN I CALLED THE LEAF REPRESENTATIVE HE AGAIN TALKED TO ME. AFTER SEVERAL MORE CALLS TO HIM HE SAID THAT THE MECHANIC AND MANAGER SAID THAT IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING ERRATIC EVEN WHEN I TOOK IT OUT ON THE LOOP AND THE HIGHWAY. THAT WAS A PURE LIE BY SOMEONE. I DID NEITHER. I ONLY DROVE IT AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD FOR THE TEST DRIVE. THEN THE LEAF REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO DRIVE TO ODESSA TO HAVE A LEAF MECHANIC TO CHECK IT OUT. THAT IS WHAT THEY ORIGINALLY TOLD ME ABOUT GOING TO MIDLAND FOR MY APPOINTMENT. THE ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT MY CAR WILL NO LONGER MADE IT TO ODESSA AND BACK ON A CHARGE. THEY TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE OVER THERE AND RENT A CAR TO GET BACK TO MIDLAND AND THEN I COULD DRIVE BACK TO ODESSA THE NEXT DAY. I SUGGESTED THAT THEY SEND THE LEAF MECHANIC OVER TO MIDLAND TO CHECK MY CAR. THEY WOULD NOT DO IT. IT IS OK FOR THEM TO HAVE ME SPEND TWO DAYS OF MY TIME BUT IT IS NOT OK FOR THEM TO SPEND A HALF DAY. NOW THEY SAY THAT THEY WILL DO NOTHING ELSE UNLESS I DO IT THEIR WAY. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY EVER FIXED THE STEERING PROBLEMS BUT I KNOW THAT I HAVE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THE STEERING. I NOW HAVE TO DRIVE EXTREMELY CAREFUL. I DO NOT KNOW IF I COULD AVOID AN ACCIDENT IF I HAVE TO SWERVE FAST TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. NOW THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE 2011 AND 2012 MODELS. *TR