2013 Nissan Leaf Problems

On 3 occasions the brakes have randomly failed when traveling. In 2 cases, stopping ability was non-existent except for the use of the parking brake. In the other case, stopping was significantly decreased. 13-Jan-2025, when traveling straight on a 40mph road towards a busy intersection, when the brakes were applied to slow to the intersection they failed and a red indicator light came on. Stopping ability was significantly reduced, but not completely gone. The car was able to safely divert into a parking lot without incident. When the car was powered off then on, the error went away and the brakes functioned. There were 2 other incidents prior to this, traveling at low speeds in residential areas. Braking was completely gone and I had to use the parking brake pedal to stop the vehicle. Again, after powering the car off then on, the braking system functioned normally.

I put the car in park as I was pulling in without turning it off to grab trash from the curb and take it to the car, but the car keep accelerating. I jumped in and slammed on the bricks but it hit the brick wall to the house. I see more recent years were recalled for "unintended acceleration" and "brake issues"

The car suddenly lost power during freeway driving. The brake system appeared compromised. Turning off 12v accessories - which includes safety critical functions such as the defrost blower - was necessary to restore functionality. This is caused by a defective DC-DC converter that fails to properly charge the 12V battery, risking and repeatedly causing sudden loss power, loss of braking, and loss of safety critical functions. This is not the result of damage to the DC-DC converter or other such damage. This is proven by the fact that activation of the wipers triggers the DC-DC converter to temporarily raise the charging voltage to a level sufficient to restore power and charge the 12v battery. Due to defective programming of the DC-DC converter, the power provided to the 12v battery and system quickly returns to unsafe low levels. The DC-DC converter has a sense line that senses the voltage of the 12v battery, but the programming of the converter is defective such that it does not actually maintain the battery at a healthy level. This is a commonly reported and discussed issue on Nissan Leaf ownership forums. Reprogramming of the DC-DC converter is necessary, but not available from Nissan. This issue also causes early degradation of 12v batteries, and replacement of the 12v does not cure the issue. The most recent occurrence of loss of power was 11/30/23, but it has happened repeatedly in the past.

The Nissan Leaf has a 6,600 watt charger that is attached to the top of the 26,000 watt electrical motor. A 30 Amp Nissan charging cord connects the 220 volt electrical outlet (dryer) to the Leaf via a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J1772 Plug. Unknown to me a desert rat had chewed the insulation down to the wires of the charging cord, leaving the wires bare. The desert rat was not electrocuted because the onboard charger safety system in the vehicle turns off the 220 volts AC before it reaches the car using the control box that is part of the the charging cable. But when I plugged the J1772 Plug into the Leaf Nissan's "safety system" sent 220 volts form the dryer plug to the Nissan Leaf creating an electrocution hazard where the rat removed the insulation. I saw a series of sparks and felt the electricity through my electric car safety gear rubber Crocs. Nissan's "safety system" ensures that there is NO arc of electric current when you unplug the J1772 connector. Unfortunately for me and possibly for tens of thousands of other EV drivers Nissan did not envision a rat eating the wire and causing the system to momentarily electrocute a person attempting to charge their car. Nissan 220 volt charging cord no longer charges the Leaf and the Leaf's entire charging system on top of the motor in no longer operational. I suspect the two, 220 volt wires in the Nissan charging cable shorted to the two safety wires (pilot and proximity wires) which is has about 1/16 of an inch separation, and fired Nissans onboard charger. The cost to replace Nissans onboard charging system is about $7,000 for parts and labor. What does Nissan LEAF’s EV warranty coverage include? Your confidence gets a boost with Nissan LEAF’s New Electric Vehicle Limited Warranty. Coverage includes — but is not limited to — Motor, Inverter Unit, VCM, Reduction Gear, DC/DC Converter, Onboard Charger, Onboard Charger Connector, and Trickle Charge Cable. [*]

Warning light is flashing and the airbag warning light is flashing. I took it to the dealership and they tell me this is not covered under a recall notice but I have hear other Nissan Leafs do have a recall notice for airbags. It is expensive to fix. Is there a mistake and it is covered under a recall notice?

The left curtain and driver seat airbags were spontaneously deployed while driving. The driver seatbelt pre-tensioner was engaged and locked. There was no collision or abrupt motion. My wife sustained minor abrasions to her left arm and swerved to the right shoulder of the road. The car would not shift into drive and was towed. The cause is unknown and without warning.

I put the car in park as I was pulling in without turning it off to grab trash from the curb and take it to the car, but the car keep accelerating. I jumped in and slammed on the bricks but it hit the brick wall to the house. I see more recent years were recalled for "unintended acceleration" and "brake issues"

2013 NISSAN LEAF BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 30MPH RESULTING IN NEAR COLLISION AND POTENTIALLY SERIOUS INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. SPEED VERY GRADUALLY SLOWED WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT DEPRESSED AND WAS ULTIMATELY BROUGHT TO COMPLETE STOP USING PARKING BRAKE. VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT ABILITY TO BRAKE WHEN ACCELERATOR PRESSED LIGHTLY AFTER STOPPING. NISSAN DEALER REPORTED A FAILURE OF THE "INTELLIGENT BRAKE CONTROL UNIT" AND REPLACED AT COST OF APPROX. $3,000. INCIDENT OCCURRED IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA AREA IN LATE AFTERNOON IN DRY WEATHER WITH TEMPERATURES AROUND 80F. TOW TRUCK OPERATOR STATED THAT WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE IT LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT ABILITY TO HALT AND THE OPERATOR WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED AND ALMOST CRASHED.

MY CAR'S WARNING SYSTEM INDICATORS CAN BE ACCESSED AND OR TURNED ON OR OFF VIA FOREIGN KEY FOB (OR OTHER DEVICE). FOR EXAMPLE SOMEONE PASSING BY MY CAR WHILE I'M IN MOTION DRIVING ON THE STREET OR THE PARKING LOT HAS TURNED ON THE TIRE INFLATION WARNING INDICATOR FROM OUTSIDE OF MY VEHICLE USING A FOREIGN KEY FOB OR SOME OTHER DEVICE LIKE A KEY FOB.

WHAT THE PROBLEM

THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER JUST SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AT 40,000 MILES, THE DRIVER SIDE WORKS FINE.

THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD WIPER JUST STOPPED WORKING

2013 NISSAN LEAF BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING 30MPH RESULTING IN NEAR COLLISION AND POTENTIALLY SERIOUS INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. SPEED VERY GRADUALLY SLOWED WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL NOT DEPRESSED AND WAS ULTIMATELY BROUGHT TO COMPLETE STOP USING PARKING BRAKE. VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT ABILITY TO BRAKE WHEN ACCELERATOR PRESSED LIGHTLY AFTER STOPPING. NISSAN DEALER REPORTED A FAILURE OF THE "INTELLIGENT BRAKE CONTROL UNIT" AND REPLACED AT COST OF APPROX. $3,000. INCIDENT OCCURRED IN CLEARWATER, FLORIDA AREA IN LATE AFTERNOON IN DRY WEATHER WITH TEMPERATURES AROUND 80F. TOW TRUCK OPERATOR STATED THAT WHEN THEY ATTEMPTED TO MOVE THE VEHICLE IT LURCHED FORWARD WITHOUT ABILITY TO HALT AND THE OPERATOR WAS EXTREMELY FRIGHTENED AND ALMOST CRASHED.

DANGEROUSLY LOW INCREASINGLY HIDEOUS BATTERY STORAGE. PURCHASED USED 2013 LEAF IN JUNE 2019. WAS ABLE TO CHARGE IT UP ROUGHLY TO 70 MILE RANGE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. NOW, JUST 3 MONTHS LATER, IT ONLY CHARGES ONLY TO 62 MAX! WORSE YET, IT'S ONLY AN ESTIMATE. AND GOD FORBID YOU GO FASTER THAN 65 MILES, YOUR 'ESTIMATE' DECREASES ASTRONOMICALLY. TODAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2019, TOOK TO THE DEALER TO CHECK FOR BATTERY RECALLS, BUT THE DEALER DOESN'T SEE ONE FOR THE BATTERY, ONLY THE MOUNTS. STATES THAT I HAVE ENOUGH TOP-OFF 'BARS' FOR THE BATTERY LIFE, THAT IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO RECALL. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE BATTERY SWAP/UPGRADE, HE OFFERED A PLAN WORTH OVER $10K. THIS IS BECOMING A CLASS-ACTION MATTER DUE TO STRAIGHT-UP FAULTY BATTERY, GAUGE, AND DEALER'S REFUSAL TO OWN-UP TO THEIR COMPLETELY FAULTY PRODUCT.

The left curtain and driver seat airbags were spontaneously deployed while driving. The driver seatbelt pre-tensioner was engaged and locked. There was no collision or abrupt motion. My wife sustained minor abrasions to her left arm and swerved to the right shoulder of the road. The car would not shift into drive and was towed. The cause is unknown and without warning.

MY NISSAN LEAF WAS EXPERIENCING A SEAT BELT NOT BUCKLED AND IT WOULD LIGHT UP WHEN NO ONE WAS SITTING IN THE SEAT. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES TO HAVE IT FIXED. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THEY RESET THE SENSOR AND IT WOULD STAY FIXED FOR 2 MONTHS. I JUST TOOK IT BACK THE 3RD TIME. THE DEALER SAID THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. SINCE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, I CHOSE FOR THEM TO FIX MY VEHICLE. THE OCS SENSOR AND CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY. IT COST ME $652.56 TO REPAIR IT. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY SINCE THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WANT TO REPORT THIS ISSUE TO YOU SINCE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I DO NOT WANT ANYONE DYING IN A CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING.

RED TRIANGLE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON WILL NOT GO OUT WHEN CAR IS ON AND WHEN DRIVERS SEAT BELT IS INGAGED BOTH TRIANGLE RED LIGHT AND SEAT BELT LIGHT FLASHES ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND SECURE INCLUDING HATCH

ON NOV 18. 2016, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING NISSAN LEAF 2013 ON THE HIGHWAY UNDER A RAINY DAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY GRADUALLY STOPPED (HIGHWAY 680 TO HIGHWAY 580 AT CALIFORNIA STATE). MY WIFE COULDN'T MAKE IT MOVE EVEN PRESS ACCELERATOR UNTIL SHE STOPPED THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED AGAIN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR HER TO HAVE SUCH EXPERIENCE ON THE HIGHWAY. LATER I CHECKED THE MANUAL, IT IS SAID BECAUSE OF NISSAN'S VDC FUNCTION. HOWEVER IT IS NOT PROPER TO STOPPED THE CAR WHEN IT IS DRIVING. TODAY, I ALSO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN I DROVE BACK MY CAR, THE CAR DIDN'T ALLOW TO MOVE UNTIL I PRESSED "VDC OFF" BUTTON. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BY NISSAN. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM TO CHECK AND REPAIR MY CAR. HOWEVER I THINK IT IS SAFE TO GOVERNMENT TO CHECK WITH NISSAN TO SEE WHETHER THEY HAVE ISSUES ON ANY VEHICLES WITH VDC FEATURE. *TR

THE CAR HAS ITS GEAR SHIFTER DIRECTLY BEHIND THE 2 CUP HOLDERS. I LEARNED THAT THE SHIFTER IS SOME KIND OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE LIKE A COMPUTER KEYBOARD. THE DEVICE IS SO UNPROTECTED THAT A SMALL SPILL OF A DRINK, AN OZ OR TWO CAN DRAMATICALLY ALTER ITS ABILITY TO OPERATE SAFELY. I HAVE HELD TWICE TWO BEVERAGES THAT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP EJECTED AN OZ OR SO ONTO THE SHIFTER. NOW THE CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING OR SLIPS OUT OF REVERSE BACKING UP. ITS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. NISSAN AT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY WARRANTY ASSISTANCE YET THE CAR IS NOW UNSAFE. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS ON THE VEHICLE ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW, YET THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THE SHIFTER IS VERY DIFFERENT IN DESIGN THAN OTHER NISSAN SHIFTERS .THIS SHIFTER IS EXPOSED UNLIKE OTHER MODELS. THEIR OTHER VEHICLES AREN'T EXPOSED. THIS IS SO SERIOUS I BELIEVE UPON EXAMINATION A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE FOR ALL OWNERS WHO MAY BE DRIVING AND THEIR CAR WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET RESOLVE AND THEY WILL NOT BUDGE. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A PRODUCT DESIGN FLAW.. CAN YOU IMAGINE A COMPUTER WITH A KEYBOARD AND CUP HOLDERS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT? ANY LEAKAGE FROM A CUP WOULD RENDER IT USELESS. NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CAR GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY AND SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR OR NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT IT IN PARK OR BACK UP AS IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. THEY SHOULD HAVE DESIGNED THE SHIFTER TO MAKE IT LIQUID PROOF IF ITS GOING TO BE PLACED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF DRINK HOLDERS. THEY APPARENTLY DON'T CARE ABOUT MY FAMILY NOR MY SAFETY BY THEIR DISREGARD. PLEASE JUMP INTO THIS AND MAKE THEM CORRECT THIS FOR ME AND FOR OTHERS. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAVE OTHER SITUATIONS LIKE THIS YET NISSAN CLAIMS AT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS LEVEL ITS NOT KNOWN. PEOPLE COULD GET KILLED FROM THIS. HELP. THANKS *TR

2013 NISSAN LEAF. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO RARE OCCASIONS, HE ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON IN QUICK SUCCESSION TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. ALL SYSTEMS SHUT DOWN, NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES, ETC, BUT THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD OUT OF THE GARAGE. *JB

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a whistling sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure was unofficially diagnosed as a failed air condition hose or a failed air condition line connector. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, however, the contact declined to pay the diagnostic fee. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to have the vehicle diagnosed by the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.

GOODNESS MY 2013 NISSAN LEAF WAS PARK IN THE RECREATION. THE CAR WON'T START BECAUSE THERE ARE EV SYSTEMS WARNING ICON DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAD TO TOW MY NISSA LEAF TO BROADWAY NISSAN DEALER. EVERYDAY THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR LEAF ENGINEER TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS A NON-COMMENT PROBLEM. I TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISER THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. EVERYDAY THEIR EXCUSE STILL WAITING FOR LEAF SPECIALIST TO COME AND LOOK AT IT AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE ISSUE. *TR

PURCHASED A NEW TIRE AND GOT A BLOW OUT THAT DAMAGED MY RIM AND TIRE. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DEBRY ON THE ROAD AND I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE. *BF THE VIN WAS INVALID. UPDATED 09/26/2017*JS

VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. MY SPOUSE STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO LOOK FOR A PROBLEM. SHE FOUND THAT AIR WAS ESCAPING THE FRONT LEFT TIRE OUT OF THE SIDEWALL. SHE THEN DROVE THE CAR TO A SAFE STOPPING POINT AND CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SIDEWALL HAD BLOWN OUT ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS REPLACED. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RIM WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE SIDEWALL OF THE BRIDGESTONE ECOPIA TIRE HAD FAILED AFTER 5,800 MILES. WE WERE CHARGED $183 FOR THE REPAIR DESPITE THE CAR BEING LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD.

I WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA ON 12/26 WHEN SOMEONE REAR-ENDED ME GOING ABOUT 35-40MPH WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. MY SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UPON IMPACT AND I SUSTAINED A BAD WHIPLASH CAUSING NECK PAIN, BACK PAIN AND SEVERE HEADACHES. NOW I AM DIAGNOSED WITH SEIZURES CAUSED FROM THE MVA GIVING ME SEVERE MIGRAINES AND HEAD INFLAMMATION.. THE COLLISION CENTER DISCOVERED MY SENSORS IN MY LEAF WAS FAULTY CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS NOT TO LOCK UP IMPACT, WHICH THEY SHOULD. WHEN I CALLED NISSAN MANUFACTURING AND LEFT A MESSAGE ABOUT THE FAULTY SYSTEM, [XXX] CALLED ME BACK ON 2/7/18 AND SAID MY SEAT BELTS WERE NOT SUPPOSE TO LOCK UPON IMPACT. I KNOW THIS IS NOT TRUE. SEAT BELTS ARE DESIGNED TO LOCK UPON IMPACT. I AM UNABLE TO WORK DO TO CONSTANT SEIZURES. I AM BEING TREATED BY SEVERAL PHYSICIANS. I AM PREPARED TO FILE A LAWS SUIT WITH NISSAN. *BF INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2013 NISSAN LEAF. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO RARE OCCASIONS, HE ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON IN QUICK SUCCESSION TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. ALL SYSTEMS SHUT DOWN, NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES, ETC, BUT THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD OUT OF THE GARAGE. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT END STARTED SHAKING AND VIBRATING DUE TO A SUSPENSION FAILURE. UPON INSPECTION, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL WAS OUT OF POSITION. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000.*DT *TR

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN BETWEEN 25-30 MPH WHEN THERE WAS A "POP", VEHICLE JERKED TO THE RIGHT CAUSING IT TO HIT CURB (CRASH) AND DEPLOY TOP CURTAIN AND RIGHT DOOR AIRBAG. VEHICLE WAS TOWED INTO TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP, INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP, AND RE-INSPECTED BY NISSAN NORTH AMERICA OVER THE PAST 30 DAYS. RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS PERPENDICULAR TO CAR AND DEFECT WITH TIE ROD / SUSPENSION IS OUR EXPRESSED CONCERN. *TR

I HAD AN ADULT PASSENGER SITTING ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WITH HER 8LB DOG. SHE WEIGHS 83 LBS. THE AIRBAG LIGHT SHOWED THAT THE AIRBAG WAS SHUT OFF. ANOTHER TIME I PLACE A GROCERY BAG WITH TWO BAGS OF FROZEN POTATOES AND A QUART OF ICE CREAM ON THE SEAT, THE "NO AIRBAG LIGHT" SHUT OFF. WHEN I REMOVED THE BAG THE THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WHENT ON.

PASSENGER AIRBAG SHOWS OFF WHEN PASSENGER IN THE SEAT IS A TYPICAL ADULT, ~130 POUNDS. THE UNDERSEAT SENSOR (ODS OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM) IS NOT CALIBRATED - NEEDS ABOUT 160 POUNDS TO SENSE A PERSON IN THE SEAT. NISSAN HAD A RECALL (MARCH 2013) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NISSAN HOTLINE ([XXX]) SAYS TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAYS CALL NISSAN. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THE RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR