2013 Nissan LEAF problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
81 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
24,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 60 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 81 complaints (39.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 35 | 43.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 17.3% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 3.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 32 |
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
Service Brakes: 32; Electrical System: 18; Air Bags: 17; Unknown Or Other: 10; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Seat Belts: 4; Steering: 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 | 31 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 31; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (31). 21 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 11 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2013: 11; 2014: 13; 2015: 8; 2016: 6; 2017: 8; 2018: 9; 2019: 14; 2020: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 6; 2024: 2; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 35 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 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 10519929 · 2013-06-15 (June 15, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE 101 FREEWAY IN CAMARILLO, CA ON THE WAY TO WORK. CAR SUDDENLY FLASHED MULTIPLE CONFLICTING DIAGNOSTIC CODES (TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND REDUCED POWER TO THE CAR AND PUT IT IN TURTLE MODE. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE FROM THE MIDDLE LANE (OF THREE LANES) TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND CALLED NISSAN SERVICE. POWER WAS ONLY AVAILABLE TO THE DASHBOARD AND CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AFTER CALLING NISSAN ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. DEALER REPLACED THE ACCELERATO…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10531552 · 2013-07-24 (July 24, 2013)
WHEN STARTING THE CAR, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND CAR WOULD DO NOTHING. SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS CLEAR. PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND HAD NOMINAL BRAKING. IT TOOK 10 FEET OF SLAMMING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP AT 2 MPH IN REVERSE. IT LITERALLY FELT LIKE NO BRAKE PRESSURE. STOPPED AND RESTARTED AGAIN AND THINGS WERE SEEMINGLY BACK TO NORMAL. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHO BLAMED IT ON LOW 12V BATTERY. BRAKING WAS PATHETICALLY WEAK AT THE ONE TIME... IT WAS NOT JUST THE TYPICAL LACK OF R…
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10531552 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10538582 · 2013-09-03 (September 3, 2013)
VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. MY SPOUSE STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO LOOK FOR A PROBLEM. SHE FOUND THAT AIR WAS ESCAPING THE FRONT LEFT TIRE OUT OF THE SIDEWALL. SHE THEN DROVE THE CAR TO A SAFE STOPPING POINT AND CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SIDEWALL HAD BLOWN OUT ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS REPLACED. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RIM WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE SIDEWALL OF THE BRIDGESTONE ECOPIA TIRE HAD FAILED AFTER 5,800 MILES. WE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,880 miles reported. Look up ODI 10538582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10595114 · 2014-06-05 (June 5, 2014)
2013 NISSAN LEAF. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO RARE OCCASIONS, HE ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON IN QUICK SUCCESSION TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. ALL SYSTEMS SHUT DOWN, NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES, ETC, BUT THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD OUT OF THE GARAGE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10595114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11521771 · 2023-05-12 (May 12, 2023)
The left curtain and driver seat airbags were spontaneously deployed while driving. The driver seatbelt pre-tensioner was engaged and locked. There was no collision or abrupt motion. My wife sustained minor abrasions to her left arm and swerved to the right shoulder of the road. The car would not shift into drive and was towed. The cause is unknown and without warning.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11521771 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11557774 · 2023-11-30 (November 30, 2023)
The car suddenly lost power during freeway driving. The brake system appeared compromised. Turning off 12v accessories - which includes safety critical functions such as the defrost blower - was necessary to restore functionality. This is caused by a defective DC-DC converter that fails to properly charge the 12V battery, risking and repeatedly causing sudden loss power, loss of braking, and loss of safety critical functions. This is not the result of damage to the DC-DC converter or other such damage. This is proven by the fact that activati…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11557774 at NHTSA ↗