2018 Nissan Leaf Brakes Problems

vehicle brakes went out on the driver during normal operation.

NHTSA ID

11754400

Incident

Mar 3, 2026

vehicle was being driven like normal with no warning lights or icons. vehicle was bring driven at 35 miles an hour when suddenly the ABS fault message appeared on the dash, the dash started beeping and brakes became very hard to press.

NHTSA ID

11753926

Incident

Jul 28, 2026

This vehicle is equipped with a feature known as "e-pedal" also known as one-pedal driving which is quite common on EVs. When this mode is activated, the accelerator pedal acts as a speed command (vs. power) and when the pedal is not depressed, the vehicle applies brakes until it comes to a standstill. Recently, the system has demonstrated a fault condition, where the Vehicle Control Module (VCM) issues a fault warning and disengages the e-pedal mode. This appears to occur randomly after the vehicle has been at a standstill for over one minute (e.g. waiting at a traffic signal) where the driver is using the one-pedal system vs. continuously applying pressure to the brake pedal. The safety issue is that when the system detects a fault and disengages e-pedal, the vehicle starts to move forward, requiring the driver to take immediate action to stop unwanted motion. This can lead to a collision with a vehicle or pedestrian in front of the vehicle. The desired behavior is that when the VCM detects a fault with the e-pedal system, it should engage the Park mode and prevent the vehicle from moving forward. The driver must then depress the brake pedal and affirmatively command the Drive mode before moving. Just disengaging the e-pedal (brake) without prior warning of a fault is a safety hazard.

NHTSA ID

11712360

Incident

Jan 20, 2026

Car was descending towards Kailua on the [XXX] on Oahu, HI. Dash lit up with warnings and acceleration and brake pedals stopped working. Brake pedal went to the floor with erratic pulsing sensation and very little brake power. Driver drove car into jersey wall to slow and stop vehicle. Battery state was 60% and battery was replaced under warranty about 1 year ago. While waiting for tow, powered on vehicle and symptoms remained as far as I could check. Brakes had no power and had to use ebrake to keep vehicle from rolling. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11635657

Incident

Jan 12, 2025

The incident occurred at a stop sign where I was waiting behind one other vehicle. The vehicle ahead of me accelerated from the stop sign to turn into traffic, but abruptly slammed on their brakes. I had began accelerating up to the stop sign and was unable to stop before impacting the car in front of me. As soon as I saw the vehicle was braking, I immediately slammed on the brake pedal. Braking did not immediately occur. My wife said she was afraid that I had slammed the gas pedal because she could hear my foot hit the brake pedal and neither of us felt any braking. The Nissan Leaf was in Eco Mode and ePedal at the time of the incident. I believe that the transition from regenerative braking to mechanical braking delayed the stopping of my vehicle. We were lucky that this happened in a very low consequence situation, but if this happened with a pedestrian or at a higher speed where emergency braking is required, this delay in braking could be dire. In addition, this vehicle is equipped with automatic emergency braking. I have heard this feature go off before in this specific car when a car is braking faster than I am. In this case, the alarm and assisted braking did not go off, despite a car stopping within extremely close proximity.

NHTSA ID

11630622

Incident

Dec 13, 2024

Twice now - both times on the South Bound Richmond Bridge, the Automatic Emergency Braking lights came on and slammed on my brakes for me, as if I was about to crash when I was going 65 mils per hour, no one in front or behind me and no traffic, accident or reason. I almost lost control of the vehicle and would have caused an accident had anyone been closer to me.

NHTSA ID

11603813

Incident

Jun 22, 2024

I was pulling slowly into a parking spot. The vehicle accelerated all of a sudden on its own very fast. I slammed on the brakes and the vehicle did not stop. It ran us on a sidewalk and crashed into a pole. Luckily no one hurt. Progressive is calling the car a total loss, but they have done nothing The car is still at a parking lot near the crash. Nissan is also doing nothing. I feel that I deserve better treatment. I have a good driving record and my rates are going to go up. I have not been offered a replacement car. The car is very dangerous and I would never drive another Nissan

NHTSA ID

11559018

Incident

Nov 28, 2023

On may 12, I was in a long line of cars at a red light , stopped. all of a sudden my car started moving and accelerating toward the car in front of me. When I got over the initial shock, I started stamping on the brake (2-3x) and nothing happened. I clipped the other car as I yanked the car out of line into the turn lane. I turned off the car and shook. Then I handled the insurance stuff with the other guy. I did NOT take my foot off the brake. (I reported this incident to the NTSB, BTW.) I wanted the collision center and Nissan to look at the black box, but the garage didn't and Nissan said that was no black box.

NHTSA ID

11535161

Incident

May 12, 2023

I was stopped at a light, in a long line of cars, my foot on the brake, a few feet away from the car in front of me, and the same in back. All of a sudden, the car started moving, accelerating, jerking forward. I was shocked, pushed down on the brake, nothing happened. starting pulling the car out of line because I was going to hit the car in front of me. I was pumping the brake, and NOTHING HAPPENED. Clipped the car in front's rear left bumper, wrecked my front right bumper. Finally pulled into the turn lane and finally the brakes caught. It was like someone had taken a gizmo and turned on my car (like the OnStar mess a few years ago.). Nothing like this has ever happened to me, in any car, including this one, until 5/12 at 2:00 pm. It was terrifying.

NHTSA ID

11525019

Incident

May 12, 2023

Around 45 degree weather, while driving on the freeway, a warning light indicating the AEB had been turned off started flashing on my dashboard without any collision, jerky movements, sudden stops, or changes to settings. At the same time this happened, my electric battery mileage started to fluctuate erratically (73% to 8% to 14% back to 70% and finally to 60%). This is extremely concerning because of the car immediately brakes or if the battery dies on the freeway, it could cause a major collision.

NHTSA ID

11492170

Incident

Nov 2, 2022

2 incidents have occurred with this vehicle. The first earlier this year (2021) is that upon slowly accelerating to move closer to vehicle that moved up in a turn lane, the automatic emergency brake system engaged, abruptly stopped the vehicle and many lights lit up across the dashboard. The brakes then released and all lights on the dashboard disappeared. I was not close enough to the car ahead or at any rate of speed that should have caused this abrupt brake reaction. The 2nd incident and most dangerous happened on 8/13/21. I was slowly reversing out of a parking spot at a crowded location, when I saw a car behind my vehicle. I went to brake (not hard brake just regular), and the brakes did not work. I continued to slowly roll back towards the car behind me. I tried pressing the brakes repeatedly and it would not stop rolling backwards. I then pulled the emergency brake and the car came to a stop. No lights appeared on the dashboard. I turned the car off and powered it on again and slowly moved forward into the parking space and tried reversing again. The car was driving completely fine just after. I had a short trip home & didn't drive the rest of the evening. I didn't charge the car as there was still 85% left on the battery. The next morning, the car would not start and a message showing "Service EV System No Power" appeared on the dashboard with multiple lights lit. I called a tow truck to take it to the dealer and they found that the 12v battery was completely dead. Battery light not lit on dashboard prior to the complete outage. The dealer said it was the 12v battery that was likely the cause of these incidents and they replaced it. The brake issues could not be reproduced at the dealer after the new battery installed. Also note, that I just had the vehicle in for a multi-point inspection in June where nothing was found to be faulty. They did recommend a brake fluid exchange, so this was done as well as tire rotation.

NHTSA ID

11429682

Incident

Aug 13, 2021

I WAS DRIVING ALONE AT 4:20PM AT ABOUT 30 MPH, WITH NO OTHER CARS OR PEDESTRIANS AROUND WHEN THE BRAKES SUDDENLY ACTIVATED, AND THE ACCELERATOR WENT TO IDLE. THE BRAKING LASTED ABOUT ONE SECOND AND DID NOT STOP THE CAR COMPLETELY. THIS OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET. THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH.

NHTSA ID

11394518

Incident

Feb 3, 2021

Mileage

19,000 mi

WAS DRIVING AT APPROX. 30 MPH ALONE ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY WITH NO TRAFFIC AROUND, NO PEDESTRIANS OR OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE ROAD, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR DISENGAGED AND THE BRAKES CAME ON. THE BRAKING ONLY LASTED ABOUT ONE TO TWO SECONDS AND DID NOT STOP THE CAR. A TRIANGULAR WARNING SIGN APPEARED ON THE DASH DURING THE BRAKING, AND WENT OFF WHEN THE BRAKES RELEASED. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS A MALFUNCTION OF THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID

11391083

Incident

Jan 14, 2021

Mileage

18,000 mi

THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGHOUT MY ALMOST TWO YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. THE NISSAN LEAF 2018 HAS A MODE CALLED "E-PETAL" THAT ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE USING ONLY THE GAS PETAL. THE ISSUE I HAVE WITH MY CAR IS WHEN I AM IN A PARKING LOT TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL AS FAR TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT AS IT WILL GO TO NAVIGATE INTO THE PARKING SPACE, MY CAR WILL SUDDENLY STOP BRAKING CAUSING MY CAR TO RUSH FORWARD. I HAVE NEVER BEEN HURT, BUT THE SUDDEN SPEED INCREASE WHILE MAKING A HARD TURN WIPES MY CAR AND HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST HIT PARKED CARS. THE "E-PETAL" SHOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO BRAKE WHEN THE GAS PETAL IS DEPRESSED, BUT IT SEEMS TO DISENGAGE ENTIRELY WHEN I DO AS STATED ABOVE. I DON'T SEE ANY REASON TURNING THE WHEEL A CERTAIN WAY SHOULD CAUSE THE "E-PETAL" TO DISENGAGE. I DIDN'T KNOW IF I SHOULD REPORT THIS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE I COULD REALLY HURT SOMEONE IF THIS HAPPENED WITH PEDESTRIANS AROUND. I AM UNSURE ABOUT THE EXACT MILEAGE, DATE, AND SPEED WHEN THE INDECENT OCCURRED BUT IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11316742

Incident

Feb 5, 2020

Mileage

20,000 mi

THIS NISSAN LEAF HAS AN EZ-PEDAL FEATURE. WHEN ENABLED, TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR SLOWS YOU DOWN QUICKLY UNTIL YOU COME TO A FULL STOP. AND THEN THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE. AND THIS NON-MOVEMENT DOES NOT REQUIRE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. WHILE A CONVENIENCE, THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW. WHEN ENABLED AND THE CAR IS STOPPED (BUT IN DRIVE), THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT COME ONE. IN CONTRAST, WHEN STOPPED USING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD! DRIVERS APPROACHING FROM BEHIND DON'T EXPECT A STOPPED CAR TO NOT HAVE BRAKE LIGHTS ON. THEY MAY REALIZE RATHER LATE THAT THE CAR IS STOPPED. IN OTHER WORDS, THE VISUAL CUE OF "BRAKE LIGHTS ON MEANS CAR IS STOPPED OR SLOWING DOWN" IS NOT EVIDENT. WHICH CAN LEAD TO MISTAKES BY DRIVERS WHO ARE NOT PAYING FULL ATTENTION. THIS HAPPENED TO ME RECENTLY. I WAS STOPPED BEHIND A CAR WAITING AT A CROSSWALK. ON A 3 LANE 40MPH STREET, WITH NO LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS FOR A MILE. A FAST STRETCH WITH NO EXPECTATION OF STOPPING!. I, IN MY LEAF, HAD EZ PEDAL ENABLED. I WORRIED THAT SOMEONE MIGHT HIT ME, SINCE I WAS STOPPED IN A PLACE THAT IS UNUSUAL TO STOP IN. AND 15 SECONDS AFTER STOPPING I WAST REAR ENDED! NO PERSONAL DAMAGE, BUT $1500 IN REPAIR (AND MORE FOR THE CAR THAT HIT ME). SINCE I WAS NOT AT FAULT, I WILL GET FULL INSURANCE. BUT IT IS NOT A GOOD THING! I CHECKED LATER - AND INDEED THE BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT GO ON WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED IN EZ-PEDAL MODE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED! I IMAGINE THIS IS A SOFTWARE UPDATE. I SUGGEST THAT FOR CARS (LEAF OR OTHER) IN DRIVE, WITH EZ-PEDAL ENABLED: WHEN THE CAR IS FULLY STOPPED THE BRAKE LIGHTS MUST GO ON. AND, WHEN THE CAR IS DECELERATING QUICKLY (WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR WHILE MOVING), THE BRAKE LIGHTS SHOULD GO ON. THANKS. I COULD OF PUT ON MY EMERGENCY FLASHERS, BUT IT IS NOT EASY TO THINK OF SUCH A TRICK ON THE FLY.*DT*JB *DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11301859

Incident

Jan 12, 2020

Mileage

7,000 mi

NISSAN PROPILOT HAS A SERIOUS SAFETY FLAW. WHEN USING PROPILOT ON MY 2018 NISSAN LEAF SV IN STOP AND GO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, SOMETIMES WHEN MY NISSAN LEAF COASTS TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP 15 FEET BEHIND A "BOXY" VEHICLE LIKE A SEMI-TRUCK, THE LEAF SUDDENLY ACCELERATES LIKE IF THERE IS NO VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME AND IF I AM NOT COMPLETELY ATTENTIVE AND IF I DO NOT IMMEDIATELY APPLY THE BREAKS, THE NISSAN LEAF WOULD REAR END THE SEMI-TRUCK. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME 4 TIMES OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS WHEN FOLLOWING A SEMI-TRUCK WITH TRAILER AND THIS MORNING IT OCCURRED AGAIN A FIFTH TIME BUT THIS TIME I WAS BEHIND A SEDAN. I HAVE A DASHCAM VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT FROM THIS MORNING. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE TO NISSAN BUT THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE TAKEN MY 2018 NISSAN LEAF IN TO THE LOCAL NISSAN SERVICE CENTER BUT THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SENSORS AND THEY DO NOT SEE ANY ISSUES AND NO ERROR CODES REPORTED BY THE CAR. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM WHERE THE SOFTWARE IGNORES THE RADAR IMAGE OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT BECAUSE IT THINKS IT IS AN OVERHEAD SIGN AND NOT ANOTHER VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY IN FRONT, THE CAMERA INPUT OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT ALSO APPEARS TO BE IGNORED BY THE SOFTWARE IN THIS SITUATION. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE HAD AT LEAST TWO INCIDENTS (ALSO OCCURRED THIS MORNING) WHERE PROPILOT LANE KEEPING FEATURE SHUTS OFF AND AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BREAKING IS ALSO SHUT OFF AND DEACTIVATED FOR AND EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME FOR NOW APPARENT REASON (IN EXCELLENT WEATHER AND CLEAR CONDITIONS, NO OBSTRUCTIONS OF SENSORS, ETC.), I HAVE VIDEO OF THIS AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

11286815

Incident

Dec 4, 2019

Mileage

12,000 mi

ON THE STREET WE USE TO LEAVE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THERE IS ONE SECTION OF THE CEMENT THAT IS A LITTLE TALLER THAN THE ONE BEFORE IT.INTERMITTENTLY, THE AUTOMATIC BREAKING WILL BE SET OFF IN THIS SPOT FOR NO REASON. IT IS ALARMING! WE ARE ALSO WORRIED IT WILL HAPPEN ON A BUSY STREET AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11282306

Incident

Nov 25, 2019

Mileage

12,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING FORWARD, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY, UNEXPECTEDLY AND VIOLENTLY APPLIES THE BRAKES WITHOUT ANY DRIVER INPUT WHATSOEVER! THERE ARE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS IN THE VICINITY AT THE TIME. THIS SUDDEN BRAKING PROBLEM BEGAN ON OR ABOUT 5/15/18 AND HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AFTER THAT. TWICE WHILE ENTERING THE UNDERGROUND PARKING GARAGE AT AN OFFICE BUILDING AND TWICE WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER FOR OVER A WEEK BUT NEITHER THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER APPARENTLY HAS ANY IDEA HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY THINK THAT THERE IS A FAULT IN THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT OTHER INSTANCES OF THE SAME ISSUE HAVE BEEN REPORTED TO NISSAN. THE SALESPERSON INDICATED THAT THERE WERE 4 OTHER SIMILAR CASES AT THEIR DEALERSHIP ALONE.THEY ALSO WILL NOT LET US TAKE THE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT SIGNING A RELEASE OF LIABILITY DOCUMENT. THE OBVIOUS CONCERN IS THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM WILL AGAIN RANDOMLY ACTIVATE WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGHER SPEED AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT RESULTING IN SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE AND INJURIES!

NHTSA ID

11103747

Incident

May 15, 2018

Mileage

675 mi

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED MODERATELY AT AROUND 40MPH TO SLOW DOWN, AND IF A WHEEL GO ON TOP OF SOME BUMPS OR POT HOLES, CAR SEEMS TO LOOSE BRAKING POWER, BRAKE PADEL DROP ABOUT 1 INCH, HAVE TO PEDAL HARD TO GET THE BRAKES BACK. AT ONE TIME I SAW A MESSAGE ON DASHBOARD "NOT AVAILABLE" WHICH I WAS NOT ABLE TO READ AND CONFIRM, AS THIS HAPPENED IN A PANIC SITUATION. THIS IS OCCATIONAL BUT HAS HAPPENED TO BE 4 - 5 TIMES NOW. MY GUESS IS CAR TRY TO APPLY REGENERATIVE BRAKES FIRST, IF THAT CANNOT WORK DUE TO EXCESSIVE, BUMP / POT-HOLE ON THE ROAD, IT GIVE UP, AND AS A RESULT, CAR LOOSE BRAKING POWER FOR 1-2 SECONDS. THIS 2 SECONDS CAN BE LIFE AND DEATH IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION. I TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID, NO ISSUES FOUND. THIS PROBLEM IS HARD TO REPRODUCE, BUT CAN BE REPRODUCED. THIS HAPPENED IN LOCAL ROADS WITH 45MPH SPEED LIMIT. ONE TIME WHEN THERE WAS ROUGH ROAD DUE TO CONSTRUCTION. ANOTHER TIME WHEN ONE TIRE WAS GOING ON TOP OF ROAD DIVIDERS WHICH ARE ABOUT 1 INCH TALL AND 1 FOOT APART, IT HAD MANY OF THESE NEXT TO EACH OTHER, WHEN I WAS APPLYING BRAKE.

NHTSA ID

11092600

Incident

May 5, 2018

Mileage

40 mi