RoadVitals

2020 Nissan Leaf Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Aug 16, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 165 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2020 Nissan Leaf submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 16, 2026

SAFETY COMPLAINT / INCIDENT DESCRIPTION Vehicle presented to Dennis Dillon Nissan on June 20 2026 for a factory high voltage battery recall software update intended to fix Level 3 fast charging safety risks. The software update rendered the vehicle completely inoperable by disabling standard Level 2 charging. The vehicle has been held in continuous dealer custody for 58 consecutive days without a working repair. Nissan failed to disclose that the recall patch could brick a functioning EV. Loaner support was revoked prematurely forcing 850 in out of pocket rental costs. Inadequate buyback offer via Morley Companies was rejected. Factory recall update rendered vehicle useless and unsafe to operate.

NHTSA ID
11757287
Incident
Jul 20, 2026
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 26, 2026

I am unable to use my 2020 Nissan Leaf because of the recall (R24B2) on the battery preventing fast charging. My child has the vehicle and now lives in an apartment and there is no place to plug in my car overnight. So the only option for my child is to fast charge it. I'm frustrated that this recall is almost 1 and a half years old and there is still no remedy.

NHTSA ID
11713417
Incident
Sep 19, 2024
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 21, 2026

NHTSA ID: 24V-700 Was announced September 2024. It is now January 2026 without a fix nor can I fast charge, preventing me from using this car for daily travel. What is NHTSA’s recommendation for this recall? Nissan keeps extending the date for a fix.

NHTSA ID
11712403
Incident
Jan 21, 2026
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 21, 2025

On November 5, 2025 our 2020 Nissan LEAF (42,701 miles) experienced rapid loss of battery capacity under normal driving/temperatures (80F.) Vehicle defaulted to "turtle mode" temporarily, an unsafe condition. Were able to replicate condition on subsequent days. Took vehicle to Cedar Park Nissan for evaluation. Technicians concluded that the traction battery had one or more defective cells and recommended battery pack replacement. Vehicle is inoperable. Started complaint with Nissan customer assistance. Dealer and Nissan refused use of a loaner vehicle, despite offering no timeline on repairing/replacing the battery pack. The defect in our vehicle's battery cells may lie in the battery chemistry and be related to issues associated with damage from DC fast charging (recall 24V-700.) Our vehicle has seen little or no fast charging, being charged mostly on Level 1 or Level 2.

NHTSA ID
11706392
Incident
Nov 5, 2025
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 29, 2025

Vehicle was taken to Nissan to perform "initial remedy" recall P5A22 on 10/24/25 to address recall R24B2. Vehicle was taken from dealer and was driving on 10/27/2025 and experienced a dramatic slow down/turtle mode with "Service EV System Power Reduced" error message.

NHTSA ID
11696456
Incident
Oct 27, 2025
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 24, 2025

We have an open recall for the DC fast Charging for the last year. I use my car for work and often need to fast charge and haven’t been able to and so have to use another vehicle. This has caused a lot of stress and problems for work over the last year and Nissan have failed to address. I am also then concerned about resale value for the vehicle

NHTSA ID
11689367
Incident
Sep 24, 2024
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 13, 2025

The recall preventing me from fast charging and using my car as intended was supposed to be fixed by now! I would like a buyback by Nissan since they can't reach a resolution.

NHTSA ID
11660785
Incident
May 13, 2025
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Nov 29, 2024

I have previously had an issue with low resistance of the high voltage battery. This resulted in the car giving a warning code that prevents the restart of the vehicle once it's turned off. This is itself potentially leaves a driver in an unsafe location if they are in an isolated place since you are also unable to charge. I took it to the dealer multiple times and it took them almost a month to determine the vehicle did have an issue, that it needed 8 modules out of around 24 total replaced. These modules were replaced and the vehicle was returned to me. In spite of this the vehicle when under 50% capacity still exhibits erratic range and capacity readouts when under heavy load. The vehicle has been returned to the dealer and is under investigation again because it is unsafe to drive in this condition. There is currently an outstanding recall for high internal resistance when dc charging. This is the same resistance the battery has at all times so to assume it will only be a charging issue and not discharging is disingenuous. Any time a high load, either going into or out of, the battery a high internal resistance will lead to a cascading failure. The only repair is either replacement or the battery or derating the battery. The latter would vastly decrease the capabilities of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11627966
Incident
Nov 14, 2024

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .