The 2023 Nissan Leaf has 3 safety recalls and 23 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is unknown or other (8 complaints).
Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.
Risk: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A6.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
NHTSA recall 23V362000 · May 22, 2023 · 758 vehicles
Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 LEAF vehicles. The right-hand brake tubes may have been damaged during production and could corrode, possibly causing a hole in the brake line and a brake fluid leak.
Risk: A brake fluid leak can reduce braking performance and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the right-hand brake tube, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 7, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC976.
Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual
NHTSA recall 23V048000 · Feb 2, 2023 · 64,732 vehicles
Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 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 April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.
Components: Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual; Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system
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
NHTSA side barrier crash testNHTSA side pole crash test
2023 Nissan LEAF (40 KWh Battery) 5 HB FWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
10.7%
Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Standard
2023 Nissan LEAF PLUS (60 KWh Battery) 5 HB FWD
Overall
★★★★★
Frontal crash
★★★★★
Side crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rollover risk
10.7%
Forward collision warning: Standard · Lane departure warning: Standard
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 EV
149mi range
Efficiency
30.4 kWh/100 mi
MPGe city / hwy / comb
123 / 99 / 111
Charge time (240 V)
8 h
Automatic (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $700/year to charge
LEAF SV EV
212mi range
Efficiency
30.8 kWh/100 mi
MPGe city / hwy / comb
121 / 98 / 109
Charge time (240 V)
11 h
Automatic (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $700/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.
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 24, 2026 · crashService brakes On 10/24/2026 at approximately 6:10 PM, I was driving this 2023 Nissan Leaf SV Plus (under 20,000 miles) southbound on I-575 in Woodstock, GA, with Intelligent Cruise Control and e-Pedal both engaged. When traffic ahead slowed, the vehicle did not slow down. I applied the brake pedal, but the vehicle did not decelerate as expected, and it struck the rear of the vehicle ahead. No warning I am aware of preceded the event. Earlier on the same drive, the vehicle also did not slow as expected when I braked for a yellow light, until I pressed the brake pedal very hard. No injuries. The vehicle sustained significant front-end damage. Police report: Woodstock PD Case WO26-003692. The vehicle is…
Oct 7, 2026Electrical system I am requesting information regarding the scope of Nissan's high-voltage battery safety recall 25V-655 (Nissan campaign R25C8) and whether early-production 2023 Nissan LEAF vehicles have been evaluated for the same potential defect. Vehicle information: Vehicle: 2023 Nissan LEAF SV Plus VIN: [XXX] Assembly plant: [XXX] Manufacture date: September 2022 Battery: 60+ kWh lithium-ion Battery ID reported by LeafSpy: N5M10318 Current mileage: Approximately 36,000 miles According to Nissan's XXX recall filing, Nissan identified 19,077 affected 2021â2022 LEAF vehicles using its production records. My vehicle was manufactured at the same Smyrna facility approximately four months after the…
Sep 1, 2026 · 33,900 milesElectrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery The contact owns a 2023 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds on multiple occasions, the battery warning light illuminated, and an unknown warning message displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where diagnostic testing was performed; however, the contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 33,900.
Aug 16, 2026Fuel/propulsion system My Nissan Leaf entered turtle mode on the freeways 8 times over the course of about a week and a half. This causes the car to slow itself down, and severely limit acceleration. The first time was on August 16th, 2026. This is incredibly dangerous, especially on the interstate. No one expects a car to be going 35mph on I-10, or any highway, therefore, this could have easily caused a severe rear end accident. I took it to Nissan of Mission Hills in Los Angeles for inspection after the first 4 times, they claimed that they couldnât touch it without permission from corporate, and the next day said everything is fine. Due to severe safety concerns, I didnât want to be driving it any longer…
May 21, 2026Unknown or other The image displayed on the dashboard when backing up is, occasionally, blank. This only happens sporadically. When it does happen, it is annoying and dangerous.
Jun 10, 2026Fuel/propulsion system The vehicle has experienced approximately ten+ incidents while driving at freeway speeds on dry roads where the traction-control indicator illuminated and the vehicle unexpectedly lost power. During these events, the vehicle would not accelerate normally despite accelerator input, and vehicle speed decreased significantly. The incidents occurred under normal driving conditions and were not associated with any apparent loss of traction. The vehicle was inspected by a Nissan dealership, but the concern could not be reproduced and no root cause has been identified. A case has been opened with Nissan North America. I am reporting this because unexpected loss of propulsion at highway speeds…
Apr 6, 2026Electrical system Backup camera image intermittently goes out and just shows a mostly black image. It appears to match a previous recall that does not yet cover our model year (2023): 24V071000. The image can sometimes be restored by slamming the hatchback shut, but it is not a permanent fix.
Jan 3, 2025Unknown or other Heat from HVAC system stops working at temperatures below 20 degrees F. It starts blowing cold air and cannot keep up with the cold, to the point that it becomes dangerously cold in the car, especially for my young children.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
