2017 Nissan LEAF: complaints, problems and recalls

SEAT BELT(BEHIND THE DRIVER) CAN NOT PULL OUT SMOOTHLY, IT IS EASY TO STUCK.

Owner-reported narrative. 12 miles reported. Look up ODI 10947974 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS A NEW CAR LESS THAN 4 WEEKS OLD. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR HATCH NOT CLOSING PROPERLY DUE TO POOR ALIGNMENT DURING ASSEMBLY. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE HATCH TO CLOSE AND LATCH PROPERLY AND YOU HAVE TO REALLY SLAM IT. EVEN WHEN YOU THINK IT IS CLOSED, IT CAN POP OPEN WHEN DRIVING, PARTICULARLY ON A BUMPY OR POTHOLED ROAD. IT HAS YET TO OPEN FULLY, BUT IT IS VERY UNNERVING ON THE FREEWAY. WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO GET FIXED, BUT THEY SAID IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2017'S.

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10970804 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOWLY IN A PARKING LOT, TRYING TO FIND A PLACE TO PARK. WHEN I WAS ON THE 4TH FLOOR I FOUND A SPOT, MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN, AND AS I SLOWLY TURNED INTO THE SPOT I TOOK MY FOOT OF OF THE ACCELERATOR TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND CAUSED MORE THAN $16,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY CAR. I HAVE LEASED THIS CAR SINCE AUG, 2017. BEFORE THAT I LEASED A 2015 NISSAN LEAF AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CARE.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064245 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKE FAILURE AT LOW SPEEDS. IN THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, TWICE THE CAR FAILED TO STOP WHEN I APPLIED BRAKES. I WAS GOING AT AROUND 20-25 MPH IN BOTH THE CASES.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11091422 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING OUR 2017 NISSAN LEAF ELECTRIC VEHICLE AT ABOUT 65 MPH UP A STEEP HILL / STEEP INCLINE, WE ARE EXPERIENCING A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE BATTERY AREA WHEN THE VEHICLE CLIMBS OVER 2000FT ELEVATION WITHIN A SHORT DISTANCE (16 MILES). THE CLUNK ALWAYS HAPPENS WITHIN THE SAME 1 MILE STRETCH OF ROAD AND HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR FROM SALT LAKE CITY, UT (4,226 FEET) TO SUMMIT PARK, UT (6,887 FEET). WE FIRST NOTICED IT THIS SUMMER 2019. THERE IS AN AUDIBLE CLUNK AND IT CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE PASSENGER FOOT-WELL BEHIND THE DRIVER'S S…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11245292 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN TURNING LEFT THE VISIBILITY IS VERY POOR FOR A 5' 1" DRIVER. THE DOUBLE "A" PILLAR AND LARGE SIDE VIEW MIRROR BLOCK THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VISIBILITY ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS ON A LEAF BLOG WEBSITE. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED WHEN TURNING LEFT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION AND AN OLD LADY FELL BECAUSE THE LEAF DRIVER DID NOT SEE THE PEDESTRIAN SOON ENOUGH DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY ON A CLEAR DAY AROUND NOON. THE LEAF HAD STOPPED WAITING FOR 3 VEHICLES TO PASS BEFORE MAKING THE LE…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11306625 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING OUR NISSAN LEAF FROM 4000 FEET ALTITUDE UP TO ABOUT 7000 FEET ALTITUDE (ABOUT 2500 FEET ALTITUDE CHANGE), SOMETHING UNDER THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR (BEHIND THE DRIVER) MAKES A LOUD BANG AND CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE FOOT-WELL OR FLOOR. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE SAME SECTION OF ROAD, WHICH IS USUALLY TWICE A WEEK. INTERNET RESEARCH SUGGESTS OTHER NISSAN LEAF OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND AT ALTITUDE, AND THAT IT MAY BE A ISSUE WITH COMPRESSION AND EXPANSION OF THE BATTERY CASE. I HAVE REPORTED THIS BEFORE…

Owner-reported narrative. 36,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11324479 at NHTSA ↗

A SUDDEN LOSS OF PROPULSION WITH OUT AN AUDIBLE WARNING. THE VEHICLE OPERATES AT CREEP SPEED. I NOTICE IT BECAUSE THE CAN NOT ACCELERATE. A MOMENT OF CONFUSION SETS IN IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. A TELL TALE LIGHT OF A TURTLE COMES ON. I HAVE TO WORK MY WAY THROUGH TRAFFIC TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A CONCERN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE TELL TALE LIGHT GOES AWAY AFTER CYCLING THE POWER BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND STARTING IT ALL OVER. IT GIVES ME THE IMPRESSION THAT THE TROUBLE WENT AWAY. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED ONCE A…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,749 miles reported. Look up ODI 11364521 at NHTSA ↗

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.

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.