Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2019. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2016.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 2 |
| 2025 Leaf | 7 | 0 |
| 2024 Leaf | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 Leaf | 22 | 3 |
| 2022 Leaf | 96 | 4 |
| 2021 Leaf | 57 | 4 |
| 2020 Leaf | 167 | 6 |
| 2019 LeafMost complaints | 260 | 5 |
| 2018 Leaf | 67 | 4 |
| 2017 Leaf | 17 | 2 |
| 2016 Leaf | 36 | 4 |
| 2015 Leaf | 110 | 4 |
| 2014 Leaf | 34 | 6 |
| 2013 Leaf | 81 | 5 |
| 2012 Leaf | 57 | 0 |
| 2011 Leaf | 95 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system529
- Service brakes234
- Unknown or other164
- Fuel/propulsion system138
- Air bags92
- Power train64
- Vehicle speed control58
- Engine51
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 22 Leaf vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 10 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 | 1 |
| 2015 | 4 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 5 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 11 model-year variants; 4 of 8 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2021 Nissan LEAF (40 KWh Battery) 5 HB FWD | ★★★★★ | 10.7 % |
| 2020 | 2020 Nissan LEAF (40 KWh Battery) 5 HB FWD | ★★★★★ | 10.7 % |
| 2019 | 2019 Nissan LEAF 5 HB FWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2018 | 2018 Nissan Leaf BEV 5 HB FWD | — | 0.0 % |
| 2017 | 2017 Nissan Leaf BEV 5 HB FWD | — | 10.9 % |
| 2016 | 2016 Nissan Leaf 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 10.9 % |
| 2015 | 2015 Nissan Leaf 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 10.9 % |
| 2014 | 2014 Nissan Leaf 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 10.9 % |
| 2013 | 2013 Nissan Leaf 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | 10.9 % |
| 2012 | 2012 Nissan Leaf 5 HB FWD | ★★★★★ | 11.0 % |
| 2011 | 2011 Nissan Leaf 5 HB FWD | ★★★★★ | 11.0 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
In New Zealand
25,876 Leaf cars are on the New Zealand register; 94% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | 32 | 1 |
| 2024 | 327 | 299 | 28 |
| 2023 | 450 | 410 | 38 |
| 2022 | 540 | 281 | 258 |
| 2021 | 593 | 88 | 505 |
| 2020 | 1,112 | 137 | 972 |
| 2019 | 1,991 | 76 | 1,908 |
| 2018 | 3,568 | 1 | 3,563 |
| 2017 | 3,897 | 0 | 3,892 |
| 2016 | 3,732 | 0 | 3,714 |
| 2015 | 2,423 | 30 | 2,376 |
| 2014 | 3,155 | 31 | 3,104 |
| 2013 | 1,662 | 2 | 1,647 |
| 2012 | 1,244 | 8 | 1,225 |
| 2011 | 1,144 | 0 | 1,129 |
| 2010 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
12,463 Leaf cars are on Dutch roads; 11% arrived later as imports, and 968 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 211 | €43,150 |
| 2025 | 121 | €26,777 |
| 2024 | 391 | €36,750 |
| 2023 | 549 | €41,150 |
| 2022 | 995 | €39,291 |
| 2021 | 1,113 | €41,841 |
| 2020 | 1,537 | €39,841 |
| 2019 | 3,136 | €40,691 |
| 2018 | 2,438 | €37,241 |
| 2017 | 402 | €36,021 |
| 2016 | 521 | €36,246 |
| 2015 | 209 | €34,905 |
| 2014 | 293 | €34,020 |
| 2013 | 297 | €34,020 |
| 2012 | 122 | €35,653 |
| 2011 | 128 | €35,555 |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
4,556 Leaf cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 0% petrol, 0% diesel, 100% electric. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 209 | 6,000 km |
| 2023 | 599 | 29,000 km |
| 2022 | 1,044 | 64,000 km |
| 2021 | 826 | 67,000 km |
| 2020 | 375 | 80,000 km |
| 2019 | 465 | 99,000 km |
| 2018 | 484 | 112,000 km |
| 2017 | 93 | 109,000 km |
| 2016 | 143 | 141,000 km |
| 2015 | 89 | 127,000 km |
| 2014 | 93 | 143,000 km |
| 2013 | 70 | 133,000 km |
| 2012 | 59 | 126,000 km |
| 2011 | 7 | 161,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Road collisions in Great Britain
From 2021 to 2025, 962 Leaf cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 8 of those collisions were fatal and 187 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.
| Year | Cars in injury collisions | Fatal | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 231 | 3 | 48 |
| 2024 | 199 | 2 | 42 |
| 2023 | 203 | 2 | 41 |
| 2022 | 183 | 1 | 37 |
| 2021 | 146 | 0 | 19 |
Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
60,914 Leaf cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 78 | — |
| 2024 | 5,769 | 17 |
| 2023 | 5,009 | 40 |
| 2022 | 8,197 | 111 |
| 2021 | 8,144 | 95 |
| 2020 | 7,309 | 105 |
| 2019 | 4,639 | 118 |
| 2018 | 4,622 | 196 |
| 2017 | 4,726 | 154 |
| 2016 | 3,731 | 158 |
| 2015 | 3,881 | 278 |
| 2014 | 2,886 | 200 |
| 2013 | 1,169 | 116 |
| 2012 | 397 | 78 |
| 2011 | 357 | 92 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
37,482 Leaf cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 82% passed first time, against 81% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 134 | 96% |
| 2021 | 742 | 94% |
| 2020 | 7,983 | 91% |
| 2019 | 5,246 | 90% |
| 2018 | 5,102 | 87% |
| 2017 | 4,976 | 83% |
| 2016 | 4,002 | 76% |
| 2015 | 4,022 | 70% |
| 2014 | 3,058 | 65% |
| 2013 | 1,273 | 61% |
| 2012 | 490 | 66% |
| 2011 | 454 | 68% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | Leaf | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 6.1% | 5.6% |
| Suspension | 5.7% | 3.5% |
| Brakes | 4.0% | 3.6% |
| Visibility | 3.5% | 3.5% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 3.3% | 5.4% |
| Steering | 0.9% | 0.7% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Road Wheels | 0.3% | 0.2% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
195,023 new Nissan Leaf cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Sweden (3,762), Germany (3,586), Norway (3,220).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 19,203 | 0 (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 25,707 | 0 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 30,702 | 0 (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 31,903 | 0 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 27,691 | 0 (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 13,385 | 0 (WLTP) |
| 2016 | 14,096 | — |
| 2015 | 11,973 | — |
| 2014 | 10,142 | — |
| 2013 | 6,158 | — |
| 2012 | 2,763 | — |
| 2011 | 1,266 | — |
| 2010 | 34 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the Leaf in 5 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
The vehicle control module (VCM) may be faulty. Deactivation of the cruise control can result in a sudden and unintentional acceleration, creating a risk of an accident, injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surve…
The welding of the actuator plate can be defective, which can cause the park lock to not engage when the customer shifts into the "Park" position.This can result in unexpected vehicle movement, increasing the risk of an accident.
The push engine start switch may remain in the pressed position and not return after switching the engine on. If the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition, the emergency engine stop function may operate and cause the engine to stop unexpectedly.
A fail-safe clip fitted to the steering column to ensure correct fitment of the steering column lower joint may have been dislodged from the part during the vehicle assembly process. Without this fail-safe clip, the bolt to secure the joint may be fixed withou…
The deployment parameters for the passenger airbag may not be adapted to the passenger's body weight if the passenger is an adult. There is therefore no guarantee that the airbag will provide sufficient protection.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
20 campaigns cover the Leaf; the latest 12 are below.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 LEAF vehicles. The outer rear seat belt automatic locking retractors (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent a child restraint system (CRS) from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 LEAF vehicles. The high voltage battery may have internal damage that can cause a short circuit within the battery module.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
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.
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."
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.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 LEAF vehicles. The right-hand brake tubes may have been damaged during production and could corrode, possibly causing a hole in the brake line and a brake fluid leak.
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."
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."
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.
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."
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
NHTSA recalls