2019 Nissan Leaf Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2019 Nissan Leaf, 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
- Electrical17164.0%
- Fuel system3412.7%
- Driver assistance155.6%
- Visibility134.9%
- Powertrain (other)124.5%
- Brakes103.7%
- Engine83.0%
- Seat belts20.7%
- Other / unspecified10.4%
- Airbags10.4%
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
My 2019 Nissan Leaf is currently grounded at Dublin Nissan with leaking battery cells caused by thermal distress from open Safety Recall R24B2. Nissan Consumer Affairs has refused to buy back or repair the vehicle because it has past the 100,000-mile mark, leaving me with an unresolvable, hazardous vehicle that has no available manufacturer remedy.
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V700000 (Electrical System), 24V071000 (Back Over Prevention), and 23V494000 (Vehicle Speed Control); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the battery level dropped from 100% to zero, causing the vehicle to lose motive power. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where the battery was replaced; however, the failure recurred, and the vehicle was towed back to the residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
MANUFACTURER RECALL CAMPAIGN: Nissan R24B2 / NHTSA Campaign 24V-700 VEHICLE: 2019 Nissan LEAF (13,801 original miles) SUMMARY OF SAFETY DEFECT & REMEDY FAILURE: The manufacturer's safety recall software remedy has failed to stabilize or remedy a known high-voltage battery defect under real-world driving conditions, creating a severe, immediate risk of unexpected vehicle stalling in active traffic. The vehicle was serviced for the R24B2 campaign and returned a baseline "No DTC" stationary scan at 13,801 miles. Immediately upon driving the vehicle into public traffic post-repair, the high-voltage battery pack suffered a severe energy collapse under standard road loads. I documented the failure via an 11-photograph instrument cluster log in real time over a brief 39-minute window: 05:03 PM | 13,801 miles | 100% Battery | 127 mi Range (Trip Start) 05:07 PM | 13,802 miles | 98% Battery | -- mi Range 05:09 PM | 13,802 miles | 96% Battery | 123 mi Range 05:11 PM | 13,803 miles | 94% Battery | 118 mi Range 05:23 PM | 13,807 miles | 89% Battery | 108 mi Range 05:28 PM | 13,808 miles | 87% Battery | 105 mi Range 05:31 PM | 13,809 miles | 85% Battery | 102 mi Range 05:33 PM | 13,810 miles | 84% Battery | 100 mi Range 05:42 PM | 13,813 miles | 81% Battery | 95 mi Range (Trip End) CRITICAL SAFETY HAZARDS: 1. UNEXPLAINED ENERGY DRAIN: The vehicle consumed 19% of its total battery capacity to travel a distance of only 12 miles. This drops the vehicle's functional real-world range to roughly 63 miles on a full charge. 2. INACCURATE RANGE AND RISK OF STRANDING: While the battery charge dropped by nearly 20% in 12 miles, the dashboard continued to display an inflated, mathematically impossible estimate of "95 miles remaining, creating a risk of sudden, unpredictable stranding. 3. CONSIDERED TOGETHER, this proves that the software update fails to accurately remedy or even measure the state of health and safety of the battery, and adds additional safety risks.
Manufacturer announced a recall regarding L3 charging more than 18 months ago. The announcement included a warning that, under NO CIRCUMSTANCES, should L3 charging be attempted. The announcement included assurances that the fix would be announced by March 2025. In the interim period, two follow-ups have been announced, both coming well after the previous deadline. At this point. I have been unable to use my car in a normal manner, causing us to purchase an additional vehicle to cover the loss of use due to the defect. The manufacturer has offered no fix, no concrete timeline, and no compensation for the loss of use of the vehicle.
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 owns a 2019 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V700000 (Electrical System), 24V071000 (Back Over Prevention), and 23V494000 (Vehicle Speed Control); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the battery level dropped from 100% to zero, causing the vehicle to lose motive power. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where the battery was replaced; however, the failure recurred, and the vehicle was towed back to the residence. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
I had intermittent loss of back-up camera picture, with initial repair paid by me on 8/3/22. The problem persisted intermittently, I was told the only option was to replace the camera, which I found with online search didn't fix the problem. 9/11/24 the dealer "fixed" the problem when a recall was issued. It worked for a short time. I returned 11/11/24 with the same problem, but because it was intermittent they could not find an issue. I have photos of 8 more intermittent failures since then, my partner doesn't document problems when she's using the vehicle. I have seen no change in the frequency or effects of the backup camera malfunctions since it first began prior to the first visit for repair in 2022.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving during rainy conditions on January 19, the windshield wipers stopped working, resulting in obstructed view through front windshield while driving in the rain. Following, they worked intermittently for a week and then stopped working altogether. The exact failure has not been identified but is either a damage rod or non-functional motor; likely the motor as there is no noise coming from motor when the wipers are turned on. No warnings. We do not have a dealer within driving distance.
The rearview camera stopped working. It works intermittently when backing up (<10%), but otherwise just shows a black screen for the rear backup camera. No warning lamps. As a result the rear blind spot warning does not work, posing a risk to kids or pedestrians crossing behind me. The vehicle has not been inspected by anyone at this point but a service appointment is scheduled. It is available for inspection.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The Nissan safety recall 24V-700 has been languishing for 18 months, and Nissan has not repaired our vehicle. We are unable to drive it safely for distance travel because we are unable to use rapid DC chargers due to risk of fire. We are extremely frustrated with Nissan’s failure to act and address this issue in a timely fashion. It is completely unacceptable to not be able to use a car for its intended use for 18 months because of a safety issue.
I have been waiting for a fix to be available for recall 24V-700 for almost 2 years now. Nissan is also refusing to honor their bulletin posting that they will provide a rental upon customer request.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving on city streets at 25 mph or less, using the Nissan Leaf e-pedal system (which automatically slows the car to a stop when you let off the accellerator), when an alert flashed up on my dashboard, saying something like: “e-pedal system disconnected, use brake pedal to stop”. There was also a check engine light and an ABS warning indicator on. When I pushed down on the brake pedal I felt no resistance and no braking action. When I put the brake pedal to the floor, there was a vibration and a little bit of braking, but somewhat ineffective. I drove slow speed to a safe place to stop, and turned the car off. After calling for a tow, I turned the car back on and the brake system functioned normally. I had the car towed to a Nissan Dealership service department. The dealership read code C118A-97 stored as a “past code”. They erased the codes and performed DTC confirmation procedure and code did not return. Dealership service department road tested vehicle and no signs of malfunction. They inspected brake fluid level, level was normal but was dirty. I authorized service department flush and replace the brake fluid, which they did. They again road tested the vehicle, and I picked up the vehicle later.
I am writing to report a serious safety issue with my Nissan Leaf that needs immediate attention. On two separate occasions, the brakes have failed completely without any warning while driving. A warning light appeared, stating "T/M System Malfunction Warning - See Dealer," but by that time, the brakes had already stopped working. The only way to stop the vehicle was by using the emergency brake, which is extremely dangerous and could easily lead to a fatal accident. The first incident occurred when I was able to quickly pull into a Walmart parking lot, luckily avoiding other vehicles. The second time, the car crashed into the side of my garage and hit a tree stump in my driveway, causing damage to the rear of the car and breaking the side mirror. I was fortunate enough to engage the emergency brake before the car entered the road, but it was a terrifying experience that could have ended much worse. Fortunately, did not happen while my teenage children and their friends were driving the car. After researching this issue, I was shocked to discover that many other Nissan Leaf owners have experienced similar brake failures dating back to 2012. This is not an isolated incident, and I am deeply concerned that it continues to happen without resolution. When I brought my car to the dealership, they informed me that the issue is related to the Intelligent Brake Unit Controller, and the repairs would cost $5,000. However, my vehicle is only five years old with 62,000 miles, and I believe this defect should be addressed by Nissan, not at the owner's expense. I urge you to take immediate action to investigate this dangerous defect. There is no warning before the brakes fail, and this puts drivers and others on the road at extreme risk. Does it really take a fatal accident for Nissan to address this issue? This problem has been ongoing for years, and it’s unacceptable that it has not been resolved. I hope that you will take this matter seriously and provide a solution befo
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
RE: Manufacturer Recall Number R24B2 - No Remedy available for more than a year! I am the original owner of my 2019 Nissan Leaf SL in California but have been unable to use my car for traveling due to the fast charge port recall. I have performed all the services and the recalls at the local Nissan dealer but there is still no remedy for the fast charge issue. As per the purchase agreement with Nissan, I should be able to use fast chargers without limitation but the lack of ability to use the fast charge port has severely hampered my ability to use the vehicle to travel even within my state. Nissan has promised a fix for more than a year but has failed to deliver.
I am the owner of a 2019 Nissan Leaf affected by Recall R24B2, which addresses a critical battery issue that may lead to overheating or fire during Level 3 charging. I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs over a week ago to initiate resolution and was informed that a regional manager would follow up with me directly. However, I have not received any communication since that initial call. I followed up again with Consumer Affairs, and was told they would reach out to the regional manager once more. Despite these efforts, I have received no callback, no update, and no timeline for resolution. This delay is unacceptable given the safety risks involved and the urgency of the recall. I am requesting immediate escalation of my case, a direct response from the assigned regional manager, and a clear plan for remedy. I have documented all communications and am prepared to pursue further action if necessary.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
My Nissan does not have an audible reminder to buckle my seat belt. The dealer says this is the way the car is designed. Should my car be recalled? Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards require seat belt reminders to have an audible signal that lasts for four to eight seconds and a visual alert that lasts at least one minute whenever the driver's seat belt is not on.
2019 NISSAN LEAF SL. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE HAVING NO AUDIBLE WARNING WHEN FRONT SEAT BELT IS NOT BUCKLED. *AS *JS
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
The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the defroster was activated; however, the defroster fan motor became inoperable, causing the front and rear windshields to become foggy. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted and stated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V048000 (Equipment, Visibility). No further assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was 55,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY VEHICLE RAN OVER A SPARE TRAILER TIRE THAT HAD FALLEN OFF ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE ALMOST CLEARED IT BUT THE TIRE JUST BARELY LODGED UNDERNEATH IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE,JUST PAST THE FRONT TIRES. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO FRONT COLLISION OR SUDDEN REDUCTION IN SPEED; THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. THIS IS A FLAW AND SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE DID SUSTAIN SOME DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND DOING SO EXACERBATED AN ALREADY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. THE AIRBAG STARTLED ME, OBSTRUCTED MY VIEW, AND COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED ME TO COLLIDE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I REPORTED IT TO NISSAN USA. I WAS CONTACTED BY NISSAN INCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS AND THEY HAVE DISAVOWED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT AND CLAIM THAT THE SYSTEMS ARE WORKING AS INTENDED. I AM A FIREFIGHTER AND HAVE DEALT WITH MANY CAR WRECKS. I KNOW WHEN AN AIRBAG IS SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY AND IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE IS NOT OPERATING AS IT SHOULD AND IS PRESENTING A SAFETY HAZARD. FURTHER, BOTH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE ATTENDANT AT THE REPAIR SHOP EXPRESSED CONFUSION AS TO WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT ALONE WILL COST NEARLY $3,000 AND, SINCE THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER, WILL TAKE NEARLY A MONTH.
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 .