2011 Nissan LEAF problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
95 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
27,863 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 95 complaints (36.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 26 | 27.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 26.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 35 |
| Electrical System | 28 |
| Service Brakes | 16 |
| Seats | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
Air Bags: 35; Electrical System: 28; Service Brakes: 16; Seats: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 21 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 19 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 15 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2011: 7; 2012: 15; 2013: 4; 2014: 10; 2015: 5; 2016: 6; 2017: 6; 2018: 6; 2019: 13; 2020: 6; 2021: 5; 2022: 3; 2023: 5; 2024: 2; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10415124 · 2011-07-25 (July 25, 2011)
I WAS ACCELERATING AFTER GETTING ON THE FREEWAY HEADING NORTH AND SLIGHTLY UPHILL I MIGHT HAVE BEEN PEAKING AT 55MPH WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SLAMMED HIS BRAKES ON. I DID THE SAME AND I HEAR MY TIRES SCREECHING , I PRESUMED THAT THEY WERE LOCKING. HOWEVER I DID MAINTAIN MY DIRECTION AND DIDN'T SEEM TO LOOSE CONTROL. WHEN I REALIZED I WOULD NOT REAR-END THE TRUCK I LEFT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. I WAS ALARMED WHEN MY TIRES WERE STILL LOCKED AND REMAINED LOCKED FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A VERY LONG HALF SECOND. BY THAT TIME I THINK I WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10415264 · 2011-07-26 (July 26, 2011)
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING APPROPRIATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SWERVED IN TO MY LANE AND BRAKED HARD IN FRONT OF ME. WITH NO PLACE TO GO ON EITHER SIDE OF ME, I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE FAST AND HARD. THE ABS KICKED IN AS EXPECTED BUT ONCE I HAD DECELERATED TO A POINT WHERE I KNEW A COLLISION WAS NOT IMMINENT AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR CONTINUED BREAKING VERY HARD. IT TOOK THE BETTER PART OF A SECOND WITH MY FOOT NOW COMPLETELY OFF THE BRAKE BEFORE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY RELEASED. IN THIS TIME, …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,786 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10435269 · 2011-11-11 (November 11, 2011)
I BORROWED A LEAF FROM A CO-WORKER TO DRIVE OVERNIGHT. I PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY (NOT BY A PLUG) AND PLUGGED THE 110V CHARGER INTO AN EXTENSION CORD TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. I AWOKE AT MIDNIGHT TO A STRONG BURNED PLASTIC/OZONE TYPE SMELL IN MY BEDROOM, WHICH IS ABOVE THE GARAGE. I WENT TO THE GARAGE AND FOUND THE EXTENSION CORD WAS OVERHEATING, MELTING THE PLASTIC INSULATION FROM THE WIRING. I DISCONNECTED IT, OPENED DOORS FOR A WHILE TO AIR OUT THE HOUSE AND WENT BACK TO BED. GLAD I HAD ENOUGH BATTERY TO GET TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING. MY CONCERN…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435269 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10469729 · 2012-08-08 (August 8, 2012)
MY NISSAN LEAF HAS EXPERIENCED A 1 CAPACITY BAR LOSS FOR IT'S LITHIUM-ION BATTERY, REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE MILES TO DRIVE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS PREMATURE AND THAT THIS IS IN RELATION TO LIVING IN A HOT WEATHER CLIMATE AREA (SUMMER MONTHS). NISSAN HAS BEEN INFORMED BY ME OF THIS CONDITION. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INSTANCE, IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE SEE ATTACHED SITE: HTTP://MYNISSANLEAF.COM/WIKI/INDEX.PHP?TITLE=REAL_WORLD_BATTERY_CAPACITY_LOSS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,570 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472378 · 2012-08-24 (August 24, 2012)
I HAVE RUN INTO WHAT I BELIEVE IS A SMALL DESIGN FLAW. WHILE USER ERROR IS CLEARLY INVOLVED, A SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIX COULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. SCENARIO: 1) LEAF IS PARKED IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL SLOPE. 2) STARTUP SOUND IS TURNED OFF. 3) PUSH START BUTTON WHILE NOT PRESSING ON BRAKE PEDAL ADEQUATELY - LEAF GOES INTO ACCESSORY MODE. 4) TRY TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, NOT LOOKING AT DASH SCREEN TO SEE THAT LEAF IS IN ACCESSORY MODE. 5) PRESS DOWN ON PARKING BRAKE LEVER TO DISENGAGE PARKING BRAKE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472379 · 2012-08-24 (August 24, 2012)
I HAVE RUN INTO WHAT I BELIEVE IS A SMALL DESIGN FLAW. SCENARIO: 1) LEAF IS PARKED IN CONDO PARKING GARAGE WITH GENTLE UPHILL SLOPE ON PARKING SPACE. 2) STARTUP SOUND IS TURNED OFF. 2) FORGET THE LEAF IS STILL PLUGGED IN TO AV L2 EVSE. 3) PUT FOOT ON BRAKE, PUSH START BUTTON. 4) SHIFT INTO REVERSE, NOT LOOKING AT DASH SCREEN TO SEE WARNING THAT LEAF WON'T START. 5) PRESS DOWN ON PARKING BRAKE LEVER TO DISENGAGE PARKING BRAKE. 6) PRESS ACCELERATOR. RESULT: THE LEAF DOESN'T START SINCE IT IS STILL PLUGGED IN TO E…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568917 · 2014-03-12 (March 12, 2014)
THE NISSAN LEAF REPRESENTATIVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH A LEAF MECHANIC HERE IN MIDLAND. I ARRIVED AT MY APPOINTMENT AND ASK THE MECHANIC IF HE WAS THE LEAF MECHANIC THAT I HAD THE APPOINTMENT WITH. HE ANSWERED YES. I TOOK HIM FOR A TEST DRIVE WHERE HE EXPERIENCED THE FRONT END PROBLEM. WHEN WE GOT BACK, THE SHOP MANAGER WANTED TO SEE THE PROBLEM FOR HIMSELF. THEN I TALKED TO THE GENERAL MANAGER WHO TOLD ME THAT NEITHER WAS A CERTIFIED LEAF MECHANIC. WHEN I CALLED THE LEAF REPRESENTATIVE HE AGAIN TALKED TO ME. AFTER SEVERAL MORE CAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10594656 · 2014-05-28 (May 28, 2014)
VEHICLE'S MAIN TRACTION BATTERY LOST 15% OF ITS USABLE CAPACITY AFTER ONLY 1 YEAR AND 3631 MILES OF VEHICLE USE. THIS RAPID LOSS IN BATTERY CAPACITY IS CONTRARY TO NISSAN'S ADVERTISED SERVICE LIFE OF 70%TO 80% CAPACITY AFTER 100,000 MILES. DEFECTIVE BATTERY COULD POTENTIALLY FAIL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING AND OR BRAKES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,631 miles reported. Look up ODI 10594656 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10981559 · 2017-05-01 (May 1, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHARGED THE ENTIRE NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING INVOLVED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,769.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,769 miles reported. Look up ODI 10981559 at NHTSA ↗