2012 Nissan Leaf: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 71 complaints
71
Total Complaints
14,470mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES
Top Issue
9
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

6,300 25th Percentile
14,470 Median Mileage
30,400 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES
22
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14
AIR BAGS
11
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4
VISIBILITY/WIPER
3
SEAT BELTS
3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
SEATS
2
ENGINE
2

Severity Assessment

9
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DURING EXTREME BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACE, LOOSE GRAVEL, OR SLICK SURFACE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) ENGAGES (AS EXPECTED). HOWEVER, ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED, ABS FAILS TO RELEASE THE BRAKES PROMPTLY. THE ADDITIONAL RELEASE DELAY CAUSES GREATER-THAN-INTENDED BRAKING, AND POTENT..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A BUSH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN ENGINEER TO INSP..."
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVERSE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE POINTED UPWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO ALTER THE VEHICLE DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28