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Model year record

2016 Nissan Leaf recalls & problems

The 2016 Nissan Leaf has 4 safety recalls and 36 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes (16 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls
Complaints36filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 1reported in complaints
NHTSA overall4 ★crash-test stars
2016 Nissan Leaf in an NHTSA crash test
NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

EquipmentApr 26, 2023

Other › Owners/service/other manual

Recall 23V29600094,343 vehicles

Problem
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Risk
Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A1.

Components: Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual; Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system

Air bagsApr 13, 2017

Air bags

Recall 17V25300030,038 vehicles

Problem
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk
In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.
Fix
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Air bagsJun 15, 2016

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 16V4360004,355 vehicles

Problem
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.
Risk
If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Components: Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module; Electrical system › Wiring

Air bagsApr 26, 2016

Sensor › Occupant classification

Recall 16V2440003,296,947 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk
If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Fix
Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2016 Nissan Leaf 5 HB FWD

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Rollover risk10.9%
2016 Nissan Leaf NHTSA side crash test
NHTSA side barrier crash test
2016 Nissan Leaf NHTSA side pole crash test
NHTSA side pole crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Range & efficiency

Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack) EV

84mi range
Efficiency29.6 kWh/100 mi
MPGe city / hwy / comb126 / 101 / 114
Charge time (240 V)8 h

Automatic (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $650/year to charge

Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) EV

107mi range
Efficiency30 kWh/100 mi
MPGe city / hwy / comb124 / 101 / 112
Charge time (240 V)6 h

Automatic (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $650/year to charge

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem areaComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuriesTypical mileage*
Service brakes1610020,000 mi
Electrical system12v/24v/48v battery1301018,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system8000—
Air bags3000—
Engine3000—
Power train3000—
Steering2000—
Unknown or other1010—
StructureBody1000—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations