2015 Nissan LEAF problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
110 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
27,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 68 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 84 of 110 complaints (76.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 85 | 77.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 17.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 84 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
Service Brakes: 84; Electrical System: 17; Unknown Or Other: 9; Air Bags: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 8; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3; Engine: 3; Power Train: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 30 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 25 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 30; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (30). 42 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 | 1 |
| 2015 | 16 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 13 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2014: 1; 2015: 16; 2016: 12; 2017: 5; 2018: 11; 2019: 10; 2020: 7; 2021: 9; 2022: 13; 2023: 10; 2024: 5; 2025: 6; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 85 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 19 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 10678538 · 2015-01-23 (January 23, 2015)
MY 2015 LEAF S IS 3 WEEKS OLD WITH LESS THAN 700 MILES. I WAS DESCENDING AN 8% GRADE HILL IN B MODE WITH A SHARP BEND AT THE BOTTOM. AS I WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND B MODE CUT OUT. THE CAR WAS NOW ROLLING DOWN THE HILL AND ACCELERATING UNDER GRAVITY WITH NO BRAKES AND WITHOUT B MODE SLOWING THE CAR. I WAS EXPECTING TO HIT A BRICK WALL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL WHEN SUDDENLY, AFTER NO MORE THAN TWO SECONDS, THE BRAKES AND B MODE CAME BACK ON AND I SAFELY STOPPED. ON REFLECTION AFTER THE INCIDENT, IT WAS AS IF TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10678538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10683997 · 2015-02-18 (February 18, 2015)
BRAKE FAILURE. CAR BARELY STOPPED WHEN BACKING OUT OF GARAGE. SYSTEM DESIGNED TO MAINTAIN BRAKES IN CASE OF ELECTRICAL FAILURE DID NOT FUNCTION. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE PROBLEM WAS DUPLICATED BUT NO CAUSE WAS IDENTIFIED. STILL NOT REPAIRED AS OF 2/18/15 BECAUSE BRAKES STARTED WORKING AGAIN AT DEALER. WHEN FAILURE OCCURRED, TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON. CAR HAD BEEN TO DEALER THE WEEK BEFORE FOR "GRABBING" EXTREMELY SENSITIVE, BUT TRANSIENT, BRAKE PROBLEM. NO PROBLEM COULD BE IDENTIFIED.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10683997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10823368 · 2016-02-01 (February 1, 2016)
I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 MONTHS, AND THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY, ONCE ABOUT EVERY 5 DAYS ON AVERAGE. EVERY TIME THEY HAVE FAILED, IT WAS WHEN I START UP THE CAR, AND PUT IT IN EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE. I USUALLY PULL FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPOT, SO I GO IN REVERSE MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY AFTER STARTING UP, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN GOING FORWARD TOO. THIS IS THE FAILURE MODE. I START THE CAR, WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE. AT THAT POINT THE CAR STARTS ROLLING BACKWARDS, EVEN THOUGH I'M STILL HOLD…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10823368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11042139 · 2017-11-01 (November 1, 2017)
I ACTIVATED MY VEHICLE BY PLACING MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PRESSING THE IGNITION BUTTON. I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO MOVE, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. AT THIS POINT MY VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP AND I FRANTICALLY PUMPED THE BRAKE PEDAL. AFTER ABOUT 5 OR 6 FEET OF DISTANCE IN REVERSE, MY VEHICLE FINALLY STOPPED AND I PLACED IT IN PARK. NOTE: THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING LIGHTS OR SOUNDS BEFORE THE BRAKES FAILED. THE INCIDENT I EXPERIENCED WAS A VERY CLOSE CALL. THE P…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11042139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11390430 · 2021-01-27 (January 27, 2021)
PRIMARY BRAKES MALFUNCTION WHILE COMING TO A STOP ON CITY STREET. BRAKE WARNING DASH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BRAKE PEDDLE DEPRESSED TO FLOOR WITH VERY DIMINISHED EFFECT. LOUD CLICKING NOSE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD WHEN BRAKE PEDDLE IS DEPRESSED. EMERGENCY BRAKE REQUIRED TO HOLD CAR STOPPED WHEN SHIFTING INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11390430 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10722238 · 2015-05-29 (May 29, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,050. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10722238 at NHTSA ↗