2013 Nissan Leaf Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 32about this part
- Share
- 40%of 81 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 36,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 32 complaints about the brakes of the 2013 Nissan Leaf, 40% of the 81 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 36,000 miles. 7 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“Driving about a mile away from my house on a local street this morning, I was approaching an intersection at about 35 MPH, the lights were about to turn red, tying to brake to stop...all the brake lights lit up after I push the brake pedal, brake pedal came all the way to the floor, car had no brakes, complete brake failure, threw it in neutral and slammed on the emergency brake to stop, this vehicle has only about 42k miles on it. Avoided a collision with oncoming traffic by swerving the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11098775, filed 2018-05, 42,000 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“On nov 18. 2016, my wife was driving Nissan LEAF 2013 on the highway under a rainy day, the vehicle suddenly gradually stopped (highway 680 to highway 580 at california state). My wife couldn't make it move even press accelerator until she stopped the engine and restarted again. It is very dangerous for her to have such experience on the highway. Later I checked the manual, it is said because of Nissan's vdc function. However it is not proper to stopped the car when it is driving. Today, I also experienced the same problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10934017, filed 2016-12, 32,000 miles“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. I slammed on the parking brake to stop.I tried backing again and noticed the brakes only engaged when the pedal was pressed almost all the way down. …”
NHTSA complaint #11089019, filed 2018-04, 29,000 milesRelated recalls
- 16V119000Feb 29, 2016Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 LEAF vehicles manufactured November 19, 2012, to July 31, 2015. During very cold…Covers: Nissan Leaf 2013–2015
Related service bulletins
- 10233896Mar 8, 2023ABS/VDC CAN DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10192680Nov 16, 2015Nissan is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign on Certain 2013-2015 LEAF vehicles to reprogram the Electrically-driven Intelligent Brake Control Unit.
- 10192655Oct 16, 2015Nissan is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign on Certain 2013-2015 LEAF vehicles to reprogram the Electrically-driven Intelligent Brake Control Unit.
- 10058824Oct 15, 2015Nissan: electrically driven intelligent brake control unit, on certain vehicles, needs to be reprogram. Model 2013-15 leaf.
- 10192638Sep 15, 2015SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has compiled Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) and Low Tire Pressure Warning System (LTPWS) information for: - Basic diagnosing of TPMS/LTPWS…
- 10192597Jul 6, 2015SERVICE INFORMATION When servicing run flat tires or low profile tires: - Special equipment and procedures are required to avoid damage. - Specifically, Tire Pressure Monitor…
- 10055313Mar 20, 2014Nissan: the brake pedal may be sensitive at speeds below 15 mph during stop and go traffic. The electronically driven intelligent brake control unit must be reprogrammed.
- 10192217Jul 23, 2013If YOU CONFIRM: A vehicle needs to have the brake rotors resurfaced (front or rear). ACTION: Use the ProCut PFM Series on-car brake lathe to perform brake rotor resurfacing and…
- 10192216Jul 23, 2013SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item…
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | 13% |
| 2022 | 8 | 8% |
| 2021 | 1 | 2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 2% |
| 2019 | 10 | 4% |
| 2018 | 19 | 28% |
| 2017 | 2 | 12% |
| 2016 | 16 | 44% |
| 2015 | 85 | 77% |
| 2014 | 18 | 53% |
| 2013 | 32 | 40% |
| 2012 | 22 | 39% |
| 2011 | 22 | 23% |
Other parts of the 2013 Nissan Leaf
18 complaintsAir bags
17 complaintsOther or unknown
10 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsSeat belts
4 complaintsSteering
4 complaintsWheels
4 complaintsElectronic stability control
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsEngine
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Nissan Leaf
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology