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U.S. public vehicle records

2016 Nissan LEAF: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1747.2%
Electrical and battery issues1438.9%
Transmission and shifting25.6%
Steering behavior25.6%
Engine operation12.8%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes16
Electrical System11
Fuel/Propulsion System8
Air Bags3
Engine3
Power Train3
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery2
Steering2

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00012
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9992
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

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.

2016
3
2017
4
2018
6
2019
5
2020
2
2021
1
2022
4
2023
3
2024
5
2025
2
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20163
20174
20186
20195
20202
20211
20224
20233
20245
20252
20261

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10888766 · 2016-07-26 (July 26, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10888766 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10904540 · 2016-09-07 (September 7, 2016)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V244000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10904540 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10933775 · 2016-12-07 (December 7, 2016)

DECEMBER 07, 2016 I BOUGHT NISSAN LEAF 2016 IN JUNE 30, 2016. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2016, IT JUST STOPPED AND NOT GOING IN REVERSE OR FORWARD, JUST STAY ON NEUTRAL AND PARK. IT HAS TWO RECALLS ISSUED BY TRANSPORT CANADA (# 2016179 AN # 2016302). NISSAN CANADA NEVER SEND MY ANY NOTIFICATION ABOUT RECALLS. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2016 IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, 401/DIXIE MISSISSAUGA, ON CANADA.SINCE THEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING AND AFTER REPEATED CALL, THEY ARE UNABLE TO TELL ME WHATS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE T…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10933775 at NHTSA ↗

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 11011092 · 2017-07-27 (July 27, 2017)

TRACTION MOTOR INVERTER FAILURE ON 2016 NISSAN LEAF. WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED, I WAS NOT ABLE TO CHARGE OR START THE CAR.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11011092 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 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 ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

16V244000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification

Reported: 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
16V436000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module | Electrical System:Wiring

Reported: 2016-06-15 (June 15, 2016)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.

Consequence: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V253000 · Air Bags

Reported: 2017-04-13 (April 13, 2017)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
23V296000 · Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual | Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System

Reported: 2023-04-26 (April 26, 2023)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

Consequence: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A1.

NHTSA campaign record ↗