2016 Nissan LEAF problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
20,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 16 of 36 complaints (44.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 47.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 14 | 38.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.8% |
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 | 16 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
Service Brakes: 16; Electrical System: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Air Bags: 3; Engine: 3; Power Train: 3; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 2; Steering: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 17 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2018: 6; 2019: 5; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 5; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 14 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 11001701 · 2017-06-27 (June 27, 2017)
WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION IN A BUSY AREA OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY, THE BRAKES FAILED ON MY NISSAN LEAF. THE BRAKE SHUDDERED UNDER MY FOOT, MUCH LIKE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DO WHEN THEY'RE ENGAGED. AFTER I FELT THE SHUDDERING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT DECELERATE AS IT NORMALLY WOULD IN RESPONSE TO BRAKING. I TRIED THE BRAKE PEDAL A FEW TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE, BUT THE VEHICLE'S MOMENTUM SLOWED ENOUGH FOR ME TO AVOID A COLLISION AND CONTINUE ON THE ROAD. AS I CAME TO A SECOND INTERSECTION, I AGAIN TRIED THE BRAKES AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11072190 · 2018-02-11 (February 11, 2018)
ON 6 OCCASIONS THE BRAKES FAILED TO WORK ON FIRST CONTACT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO COME TO A FULL STOP AT EITHER A STOP LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN ON CITY STREETS. RELEASING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLYING THE BRAKES FINALLY BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP. THIS HAPPENED TO BOTH MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF AND HAPPENED ON BOTH STRAIGHT FLAT ROADS AND DOWNHILL ROADS. THIS HAPPENED IN BOTH REGENERATIVE AND NON-REGENERATIVE BRAKING BUT THE WORST FAILURE HAPPENED IN NON-REGENERATIVE BRAKING.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11072190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11042126 · 2017-11-01 (November 1, 2017)
MY BATTERY LOST 2 OF MY 12 RANGE BARS AND NISSAN DOES NOT SEE ANY OF THIS AS AN ISSUE, OCTOBER 06, 2016 - 110 MILE RANGE MARCH 04, 2017 - AUGUST 28, 2017 - 76 MILE RANGE ' 1 BAR LOSS OCTOBER 23, 2017 - 65 - 72 MILE RANGE ' 2 BAR LOSS I CAN NO LONGER MAKE MY COMMUTE AFTER 1 YEAR OF USAGE. LEASED 2016 NISSAN LEAF OCTOBER 8, 2016 DEALER PURCHASED FROM: AVONDALE NISSAN [XXX] 10/8/2016 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11042126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11047839 · 2017-11-21 (November 21, 2017)
BATTERY DEGRADATION OCCURRING MUCH QUICKER THAN REASONABLY EXPECTED. DETAILS FOLLOW. CAR PURCHASED IN JUNE 2016. AFTER DRIVING A TOTAL OF 6,150 MILES UNDER CONDITIONS OF MODERATE TEMPERATURE, CONSERVATIVE DRIVING (NOT EXCEEDING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, USING ECO MODE AS RECOMMENDED IN THE MANUFACTURER'S MANUAL TO ENHANCE BATTERY LIFE) AND RARELY CHARGING THE BATTERY TO MORE THAN 80% NOR MAKING USE OF FREQUENT QUICK-CHARGING (ALSO AS RECOMMENDED IN MANUFACTURER'S MANUAL), I NOTICED THAT 1 OUT OF 12 "BARS" OF BATTERY CAPACITY WERE LOST. USE…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,364 miles reported. Look up ODI 11047839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11505289 · 2023-02-02 (February 2, 2023)
Car shifted into neutral at highway speeds and would not go back into drive on 3 separate occasions over the past 6 days. Car is an EV and there was no warning and the battery SOC was 50% or more on all occasions. Can can be shifted from neutral to park only, not drive or reverse. Very unsafe to have to cruise to a stop on busy highways without much or any shoulder depending on where the car stops with snow banks. Had to have car towed. The incidents happened separately on 1/27, 1/28, and 2/2 all on the highway at ~60mph. I will upload so…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11505289 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11548956 · 2023-10-09 (October 9, 2023)
While driving at highway speeds (65mph) on a cold day (10-20F), the car lost all drive power with no warning. Driver was able to coast to the road margin. In another situation this could have been a catastrophic accident. Driver called 911 for police protection and tow. At this point car was completely unresponsive but still on. The car could not be turned off, turned on, shifted into drive, or any other action performed. The car has shown at least 3 other cold weather failures at highway speeds with various error states (ranging from turtle …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11548956 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11635126 · 2025-01-09 (January 9, 2025)
On January 9, a little after 12:30 pm, on Indian Head Highway (MD route 210) northbound near the Manokeek exit, after limiting drive power owing to battery degradation and cold weather (about 30 F) drive power and power steering failed entirely. There was no warning to pull over so I suspect this is an undocumented failure mode. After the car was towed home, it would not charge when plugged in until after I disconnected the 12 v battery and reconnected it after about ten minutes. It would then charge and after a few minutes I checked and it wou…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11635126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11653891 · 2025-04-10 (April 10, 2025)
When turning left there is a plasticky sticking feeling and sound like a plastic bushing is coming apart. this causes the steering to momentarily bind. this happens most often when making gentle curves on the highway. the feeling causes you to overcorrect the steering wheel. there are many complaints online of similar issues from 2016 Nissan leafs. The issue occurs near daily since purchasing the car back in 2023. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11653891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11511218 · 2023-03-10 (March 10, 2023)
On March 8, 2023, my 2016 NISSAN LEAF main EV battery failed at 75% charge power going up an incline on the freeway. The car shut down in the center lane with no warning at 60mph and could not be moved or shifted to be driven off the freeway. The car is available for inspection. My safety and the safety of others was put at EXTREME risk. I could have been killed or rear ended. I called 911 for the highway patrol and a county or city tow truck got me off the freeway. Previously, the main EV battery was diagnosed by the dealer as dropping in capa…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11511218 at NHTSA ↗