2014 Nissan LEAF problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
34 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
21,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 34 complaints (52.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 19 | 55.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 8.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.9% |
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 | 18 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Service Brakes: 18; Electrical System: 6; Air Bags: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Steering: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 11 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 11; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 8 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2014: 3; 2015: 6; 2016: 4; 2017: 3; 2018: 4; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2021: 4; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 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 10606550 · 2014-06-27 (June 27, 2014)
TWO PASSENGERS, ONE IN DRIVER'S SEAT, ONE IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WHO WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 140 LBS. APPLIED BRAKE, PUSHED THE POWER SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION, SHIFTED CAR TO REVERSE. BACKED UP A SHORT DISTANCE, THEN SHIFTED THE CAR TO DRIVE (B MODE). DROVE ABOUT 20 FEET. NOTED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG STATUS LIGHT INDICATED THAT IT WAS OFF. STOPPED THE CAR. FRONT PASSAGE RELEASED SEATBELT, LIFTED OFF SEAT, RE-FASTENED SEATBELT. FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG STATUS LIGHT INDICATED THAT IT WAS OFF. CYCLED POWER SWITCH TO OFF, THEN ON. FRONT PAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 545 miles reported. Look up ODI 10606550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10690262 · 2015-02-24 (February 24, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE ON AN INCLINE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN HILL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,400. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10690262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11240810 · 2019-07-31 (July 31, 2019)
HI, WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE YESTERDAY MORNING IT SPED OUT OF THE GARAGE WITH NO THROTTLE AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO BRAKE. TURNS OUT THE BRAKE, ABS, WARNING AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WERE ALL ON. THROTTLE BEHAVIOR IN DRIVE WAS NORMAL BUT WAS ALSO REALLY HARD TO BRAKE. THERE WAS ALSO A WEIRD HUM AT POWER ON. I POSTED THIS TO THE R/LEAF FORUM ON REDDIT AND EVERYONE SAID REPLACE THE 12V BATTERY WHICH FIXED IT. OTHERS DESCRIBED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES.
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11240810 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413072 · 2021-04-20 (April 20, 2021)
I WAS DRIVING MY 2014 NISSAN LEAF SL AT A LOW SPEED (5-10 MPH) WHEN THE BRAKES HAD A SUDDEN AND UNANTICIPATED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. WHILE PULLING UP TO A STOPLIGHT TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN, I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET BEYOND WHERE I HAD INTENDED. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS IN MY PATH. THIS EVENT HAPPENED IN DOWNTOWN SALT LAKE CITY. FROM THE POINT OF FAILURE, I WAS ABLE TO PREDICTABLY STOP THE CAR WITH SOME EXERTION. BUT CLEARLY, A FUNDAMENTAL MAJOR COMPONENT OF THE VEHICLE FAILED. IT WAS N…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11258643 · 2019-09-27 (September 27, 2019)
WHEN STATIONARY, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO PARK, AND WILL ROLL UNLESS PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER THEIR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS PART OF THE POWERTRAIN ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA AND IS A MAJOR SAFETY FLAW. DASH DISPLAYS AN ERROR THAT READS "T/M SYSTEM MALFUNCTION VISIT DEALER", AND "WHEN PARKED APPLY PARKING BRAKE".
Owner-reported narrative. 45,217 miles reported. Look up ODI 11258643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11456836 · 2022-03-15 (March 15, 2022)
The power steering has intermittently been de-activating. There is a warning light that comes on (yellow triangle with an exclamation mark). When this happens it causes the steering wheel to feel like it’s pulls in a direction. After we suddenly lose power steering with no warning we’re left to drive a car with no power steering until it suddenly re-engages. There has been no rhyme or reason to when this happens. The issue has been diagnosed at a factory dealership. The car has not sustained any accident (ever) in the +/- 4 years we’ve ow…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11456836 at NHTSA ↗