2013 Nissan Leaf Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brakes that suddenly stop responding, mainly while driving, though some report it at low speed, when starting, in reverse, or in cold weather. Passenger airbag and seat-sensor warnings, sudden power loss or no-start events, and charging interruptions with heat at the charge port also come up often. Brake reports cover a wide mileage range, while the power and charging reports are mostly on lower-mileage cars.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brakes fail or lock up while driving

   • 23 complaints (28%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Owners describe the brake pedal feeling unresponsive, sinking toward the floor, or not slowing the car while it is moving, including at city and highway speeds. Some say there was no warning before the loss, while others report the brakes locking and the car sliding, or ABS and brake warning lights coming on. According to complaints, dealers have pointed to a brake control unit or a brake fluid leak, and warranty coverage has come up in reports. Many are reported between roughly 35,000 and 56,000 miles, with a few under 10,000 and the highest near 85,000.

   Recall 16V1190001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the brake booster recall (16V119000) and the ABS/VDC service bulletin have been reviewed for this vehicle, and check open recall status by VIN. On a test drive, confirm the brake pedal stays firm and no brake, ABS, or VDC warning lights stay on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was traveling at 25 MPH when I was forced to make a sudden stop due to the school bus in front of me stopping abruptly. I engaged the brakes and they went straight to the floor with no resistance. The brakes did not engage in anyway. I swerved but ended up hitting the rear of school bus.”

   NHTSA complaint #10703972, filed 2015-04, 7,500 miles

   “I was driving on the freeway in heavy traffic, so I was only traveling at approximately 45-50 MPH. I was switching lanes when the car I was moving behind sudden slowed (it did not stop). I quickly hit my brakes so I could slow down as well, but my car's brakes locked-up and the car started to skid. I let-off the brakes but the car continued the skid and stopped. I was very lucky to not have been hit by another car (actually Nissan is the lucky one to escaped litigation).”

   NHTSA complaint #10547501, filed 2013-10, 4,048 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake feel problems at startup, in reverse, or cold

   • 20 complaints (25%)
   • median 33,098 mi at 4.0 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2025

   Owners describe brakes that do not respond after the car is started or shifted into reverse, sometimes with the pedal sinking further than usual or the wheels locking. Some report a soft pedal in extreme cold, or brakes that grab abruptly at low speed in cold weather and jerk the car. Some complaints tie these symptoms to a low 12V battery, and the dealer could not always reproduce the problem. Most reports involve low speed, starting, or reversing, and the mileage runs from a few hundred miles to about 40,000.

   Recall 16V1190002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether a 12V battery test was done, since some reports link these symptoms to a weak 12V battery. Ask the dealer to check the status of the brake booster recall (16V119000), and on a test drive from a stop, confirm the pedal feels firm.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I didn't drive the car for a few days and the 12v battery died. So I disconnected it from the car and hooked it up to my 12v battery charger. When it was fully charged, I reconnected it and started the car. Both the yellow and red warning lights were on as were the brake, ABS, and vdc lights. I started backing up in the driveway and as soon as I pressed the brakes, strange noises came from the front of the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11089019, filed 2018-04, 29,000 miles

   “I charged the LEAF the night before and went downtown. It was winter in maine and around 10 degrees. After going into a store and coming out when I started the car and put it in d the brakes didn't work. I slammed the pedal down to the ground but it didn't seem to do much. I almost hit the parked car in front of me but I put the emergency brake down and luckily stopped. I turned the car on and off but the problem was still happening. The brakes made a weird clicking and electronic noise. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11073355, filed 2018-02, 24,000 miles
3. 3
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag turns off or warning light flashes

   • 17 complaints (21%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2023

   Owners describe the passenger airbag status turning off with an adult in the seat, and in other cases a flashing airbag or seat-belt light with nobody seated. Complaints also describe the seat sensor detecting an adult only at a much higher weight, a bag on the seat switching the light, and an airbag warning that stayed on for about a year. According to complaints, dealers have reset the sensor, blamed the control module or seat airbag, or said the vehicle was not covered by a recall, and owners have reported paying out of pocket for repairs. Reported from about 1,500 to 52,000 miles where mileage is recorded, and most of these complaints involve the front passenger seat.

   Recall 14V138000Recall 13V069000Recall 16V2440001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask the seller or dealer to check the airbag and occupant-detection warning lights, the stored diagnostic code for the occupant detection sensor unit, and whether the latest bulletin for it has been applied. Check whether any occupant-sensor recall applies to the vehicle by VIN before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had an adult passenger sitting on the front passenger seat with her 8lb dog. She weighs 83 lbs. The airbag light showed that the airbag was shut off. Another time I place a grocery bag with two bags of frozen potatoes and a quart of ice cream on the seat, the no airbag light shut off. When I removed the bag the the airbag off light whent on.”

   NHTSA complaint #10897200, filed 2016-08, 30,000 miles

   “My Nissan LEAF was experiencing a seat belt not buckled and it would light up when no one was sitting in the seat. I have taken it to the dealer three times to have it fixed. The first two times they reset the sensor and it would stay fixed for 2 months. I just took it back the 3rd time. The dealer said the airbag would not deploy in an accident. Since it was a safety issue not covered under warranty, I chose for them to fix my vehicle. The ocs sensor and control module was faulty. It cost me $652.56 to repair it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11228414, filed 2019-06, 36,870 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Sudden power loss, no-start, or dead 12V battery

   • 10 complaints (12%)
   • median 8,500 mi at 1.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2023

   Owners describe the car suddenly losing drive power or refusing to start, sometimes with warning messages about the EV system or an unrecognized key. Some report a 12V battery going flat repeatedly, leaving doors that will not open with the remote. Complaints also describe the car not moving forward or in reverse, and a restart being needed before it would drive again. According to complaints, dealers sometimes found no fault, others replaced a component, and a complaint points to a DC-DC converter that was not charging the 12V battery. Most entries with recorded mileage are under 10,000 miles, and the highest is about 32,000.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the key authentication bulletin (11004962) has been applied, and have the 12V battery and its charging tested before buying. During a test drive, check that the car starts reliably and that no EV-system or 12V warnings appear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving in heavy traffic on the 101 freeway in camarillo, ca on the way to work. Car suddenly flashed multiple conflicting diagnostic codes (traction control, brake system, electrical system) and reduced power to the car and put it in turtle mode. I was able to move from the middle lane (of three lanes) to the side of the freeway and called Nissan service. Power was only available to the dashboard and car would not go into forward or reverse. Car was towed to dealer after calling Nissan road side assistance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10519929, filed 2013-06, 2,600 miles

   “Goodness my 2013 Nissan LEAF was park in the recreation. The car won't start because there are EV systems warning icon display on the dashboard. I had to tow my nissa LEAF to broadway Nissan dealer. Everyday the service advisor told me that they are waiting for LEAF engineer to look at the problem. They cannot find the problem and this is a non-comment problem. I told the service adviser this is not acceptable. Everyday their excuse still waiting for LEAF specialist to come and look at it and they cannot find the issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10573261, filed 2014-03, 5,534 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Charging stops or the charge port overheats

   • 12 complaints (15%)
   • median 8,300 mi at 1.5 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2023

   Owners describe charging that stops partway, or a car that will not recharge, and a dealer said a software update was needed but was not yet available. Other complaints describe a burning smell, smoke, or melted plastic at the charge connector or port, sometimes with damaged terminals on both the plug and the car side. In some cases the dealer could not reproduce the stoppage. Reported at roughly 5,000 to 9,500 miles, while charging at home and at public stations.

   What to check: Ask whether any charging-related software update has been applied, and inspect the charge port and connector for discoloration, melting, or bent terminals. Where possible, test charging on more than one charger before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Nissan LEAF was plugged into 220v charging station at my home. It was charging for over an hour. My spouse went to leave and when entering the garage she smelled a strong burning smell. Smoke was coming from the charging station plug where it plugs into the car. She turned off the power at the breaker box and then proceeded to unplug the charger from the car. Two of the terminals on the plug were damaged and 2 terminals on the receptacle on the car were damaged. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10537862, filed 2013-08, 8,100 miles

   “Car was being charged at pep station at ncsu campus. When I unplugged the charger from the car, I saw fumes and the plastic at the charging port of the car was melted.”

   NHTSA complaint #10586753, filed 2014-05, 9,400 miles

Buying note. Prospective buyers may want the service history for the brake, airbag, and charging-related repairs, plus a check of open recall status by VIN. A test drive that includes low-speed stops, a reverse maneuver, and a cold start can help show whether the brake or warning-light symptoms appear.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.