2020 Nissan LEAF: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
164 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
12,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 117 of 164 complaints (71.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 107 | 65.2% |
| Braking behavior | 8 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 117 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 34 |
| Unknown Or Other | 22 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 5 |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
Electrical System: 117; Fuel/Propulsion System: 34; Unknown Or Other: 22; Power Train: 13; Engine: 8; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 5; Back Over Prevention: 3; Service Brakes: 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 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 149 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 85 |
| 2026 | 52 |
2020: 2; 2021: 5; 2022: 3; 2023: 8; 2024: 9; 2025: 85; 2026: 52
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 107 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 11355182 · 2020-09-15 (September 15, 2020)
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN BOTH RURAL AND SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENTS, REGARDLESS OF WEATHER TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE AND DURING NORMAL FORWARD DRIVING MOTION, THE CAR REPORTS THAT THE FORWARD CAMERA OVERHEATS AND IMMEDIATELY RENDERS THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM AND PROPILOT INOPERATIVE. DASH LIGHTS PICTURE INCLUDED.1ST OVERHEATING OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON APRIL 15, 2020 AND THE AFTER 2 MORE OCCURRENCES I TOOK A PICTURE ON JULY 6, 2020. NISSAN SERVICE REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE AND DISMISSES THE ISSUE WHEN I REQUEST SERVICE, STATING THAT I…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,570 miles reported. Look up ODI 11355182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11367047 · 2020-10-29 (October 29, 2020)
THE REVERSE CAMERA SYSTEM THAT ACTIVATES WHEN THE CAR IS IN REVERSE IS SO BLURRY THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DISTINGUISH OBJECTS. YOU CAN'T TELL IF THAT'S A BOX IN THE DRIVEWAY BEHIND YOUR CAR OR A BABY SEAT WITH A BABY IN IT. FOR TEST PURPOSES A SIGN WITH 3-INCH LETTERS PLACED 48 INCHES FROM THE CAMERA IS COMPLETELY ILLEGIBLE ON SCREEN. NISSAN REPORTS THAT THIS IS NORMAL OPERATION FOR THE 2020 LEAF REAR CAMERA. I AM ATTACHING A PICTURE OF THE REAR CAMERA SCREEN ALONG WITH A PICTURE OF THE EXACT SAME SCENE TAKEN WITH A CELL PHONE. THE QUALITY D…
Owner-reported narrative. 65 miles reported. Look up ODI 11367047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11390469 · 2021-01-28 (January 28, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS A THUMPING NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER HARBOR NISSAN LOCATED AT 4336 TAMIAMI TRAIL, PORT CHARLOTTE, FL 33980 WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT AND CV JOINT WAS FAULTY AND THE AXLE NUT NEEDED TO BE RETORQUED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE AND WAS CONCERNED THAT THE REPAIR FAILED TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…
Owner-reported narrative. 720 miles reported. Look up ODI 11390469 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11395644 · 2021-02-10 (February 10, 2021)
"AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED TO ENGAGE" ON A OFFRAMP LANE FROM FREEWAY 5 SOUTHBOUND TO CROWN VALLEY PARKWAY OFF RAMP WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH I REAR ENDED A VEHICLE THAT WAS AT DEAD STOP AND THAT VEHICLE REAR ENDED A SECOND VEHICLE. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL WAS CALLED AND REPORT WAS DOCUMENTED WHICH IS ATTACHED. THIS HAPPENED ON DECEMBER 22,2020 AT ABOUT 7PM, DARK CLEAR EVENING IN THE CITY OF MISSION VIEJO. IT WAS ON THE STRAIGHT FREEWAY LANE LEADING TO THE OFFRAMP WITH OTHER LANES ON THE FREEWAY MOVING FREELY. UPON DISC…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11395644 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11428439 · 2021-08-09 (August 9, 2021)
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that the battery gauge was reading incorrectly. The contact stated that while doing a 70-mile roundtrip with 173 miles battery life, the battery gauge indicated the battery level was at 70 miles remaining. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11428439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11434729 · 2021-09-28 (September 28, 2021)
When putting my car in reverse my back up camera intermittently will not work. I have called the dealership that I purchased the vehicle (Rossen of Madison on the Beltline). I have taken the car multiple times, I have called multiple times. Nissan has yet to include my vehicle make and model into the recall. Even though it is a 2020 model. My car is at the dealership today as my camera stopped working last week and was still not working this morning. However the dealership is now telling me "it worked when it arrived and they have been unabl…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11434729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11434735 · 2021-09-28 (September 28, 2021)
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA - RECALL NO 20V412000 - For a week at a time on a monthly basis the back-up camera will disappear while in reverse. And therefore our vehicle no longer complies with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111 "Rear Visibility". - Yes the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. - My safety and the safety of others continues to be put at risk due to the lack of an image in the back-up camera display which increases the risk of a crash. - We have taken the vehicle into the Nissa…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11434735 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11450148 · 2022-02-03 (February 3, 2022)
Defroster is not working at all. Spoke to dealer, needs new part and Nissan corporate. Nothing moving. Live in denver, having a working defroster is extremely important.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11450148 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V412000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Reported: 2020-07-17 (July 17, 2020)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 LEAF electric vehicles. Under certain circumstances, the images for the back-up camera can disappear while in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. This recall began August 31, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V570000 · Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear
Reported: 2020-09-22 (September 22, 2020)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.
Consequence: Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V048000 · Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual | Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Reported: 2023-02-02 (February 2, 2023)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 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 April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V494000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2023-07-17 (July 17, 2023)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.
Consequence: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A6.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V071000 · Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Reported: 2024-02-02 (February 2, 2024)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2022 LEAF vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23D7.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V700000 · Electrical System:Propulsion System:Charging:Module:Software | Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery
Reported: 2024-09-19 (September 19, 2024)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
Consequence: A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 3, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R24B2, P4A38, and P5A22.
NHTSA campaign record ↗