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Nissan LeafModel year report

2018 Nissan Leaf Problems

Compared with other Nissan Leaf years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2016

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
67filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
7,250miles, 24 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
112 MPGecombined, Electric FWD · 125 city / 100 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 Nissan Leaf (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this 2018 Nissan Leaf most often describe sudden unintended acceleration at low speed, sudden power loss or shutdowns at highway speed, and battery charge readings that drop quickly. Brakes that feel weak, delayed, or fail to engage, and automatic braking that engages without warning, also come up repeatedly. Complaints are rising in recent filings, and many do not list mileage.

  1. Vehicle speed control

    Sudden unintended acceleration at low speed

    • 10 complaints (15%)
    • median 12,150 mi at 2.8 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2019–2026

    Owners report the car speeding up on its own while parking, pulling into a driveway, or stopping at a light, sometimes ending in a collision with a tree, a pole, a garage door, or another car. Some describe the car continuing to accelerate after the accelerator was released, or lunging forward with cruise control on even after the brake was pressed. Others describe ProPilot in stop-and-go traffic speeding up toward a large vehicle ahead. In some complaints the dealer gave no specific diagnosis or reprogrammed a module. Where mileage is given, complaints range from 100 to 20,000 miles, and several describe the event while parking or turning at low speed.

    Recall 23V494000

    What to check: Ask whether recall 23V494000 was completed, which you can confirm by entering the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup. Ask for records of any sudden-acceleration complaints or module reprogramming, and during a careful test drive in an open area, check that the car slows normally when the accelerator is released.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Nissan propilot has a serious safety flaw. When using propilot on my 2018 Nissan LEAF sv in stop and go highway traffic, sometimes when my Nissan LEAF coasts to an almost complete stop 15 feet behind a boxy vehicle like a semi-truck, the LEAF suddenly accelerates like if there is no vehicle directly in front of me and if I am not completely attentive and if I do not immediately apply the breaks, the Nissan LEAF would rear end the semi-truck. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11286815, filed 2019-12, 12,000 miles

    “On may 12, I was in a long line of cars at a red light , stopped. all of a sudden my car started moving and accelerating toward the car in front of me. When I got over the initial shock, I started stamping on the brake (2-3x) and nothing happened. I clipped the other car as I yanked the car out of line into the turn lane. I turned off the car and shook. Then I handled the insurance stuff with the other guy. I did NOT take my foot off the brake. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11535161, filed 2023-07
  2. Electrical system

    Sudden power loss or shutdown while driving

    • 14 complaints (21%)
    • median 25,112 mi at 3.7 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2019–2026

    Owners describe losing drive power or having the car shut down while driving, sometimes at highway speed and with dashboard warnings appearing at the same time. Some report the car placing itself in neutral and losing drive power, or entering a reduced-power mode that limited speed to about 20 to 25 mph. Another complaint describes losing brakes and steering along with the shutdown at highway speed. In a cold-weather complaint the dealer found a frozen battery, and after it thawed the battery could be recharged. Where mileage is given, complaints range from 38,225 to 79,545 miles, and several describe the event at highway speed.

    What to check: Ask whether the high-voltage battery has been tested or replaced, and ask for any records of shutdown or no-power repairs. If possible, watch the charge reading during a drive before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was traveling north on Freeway 57 at approximately 70mph. The dash lit up red with 12v and charging warnings. Power was shut off and car went into Neutral and warned me to pull over. This is an incredibly busy freeway and I was in the far left lane. I barely made it to the shoulder coasting before car started shuttering and jerking and stopped rolling. I could have been killed.”

    NHTSA complaint #11706074, filed 2025-12

    “I purchased this EV in 2021 with ~30k miles on it. On cold days ~20 degrees, the battery would drop rapidly under a load (going uphill, high speeds, etc) It would continue to drop until you were not under load anymore. The dealer said nothing was wrong until I had my family in the vehicle and it totally shut down on the highway going 70 mph and i lost all brakes, steering, etc. They finally took me seriously and put a new battery in at ~55k miles in 2022. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11771090, filed 2026-10
  3. Electrical system

    Battery charge drops quickly or reads erratically

    • 10 complaints (15%)
    • median 53,000 mi at 7.2 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2022–2026

    Owners report the battery charge reading falling sharply within seconds while driving, often at freeway speed, and in some complaints recovering after the car slowed or pulled over. Some describe range dropping well below the original rating, or a charge reading that swings between very low and high values. In some complaints the dealer did not diagnose or repair the problem, and the manufacturer was contacted. The only mileage listed for these complaints is about 53,000 miles, and several describe the drop while driving at highway speed.

    What to check: Watch the charge reading during a highway drive and ask whether it falls sharply or the car limits its speed. Ask for battery test records and any battery or cell replacement, and whether the battery warranty still applies.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When I was drivimg on the highway, the battery rapidly plummeted from 50% to 5%. The car urged me to pull over. After pulling over, the battery rose back up to 50%. If I had not pulled over, the car would have entered turtle mode, which limits the motor's power and can reduce the car's top speed to below 20mph. These low speeds are especially dangerous on interstate highways and could pose a crash risk.”

    NHTSA complaint #11573459, filed 2024-02

    “Around 45 degree weather, while driving on the freeway, my electric battery mileage started to fluctuate erratically (73% to 8% to 14% back to 70% and finally to 60%). It gave me low battery warnings two separate times. At the same time this happened, a warning light indicating the AEB had been turned off started flashing on my dashboard without any collision, jerky movements, sudden stops, or changes to settings. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11492173, filed 2022-11
  4. Brakes

    Brakes weak, hard, delayed, or not engaging

    • 15 complaints (22%)
    • median 12,000 mi at 2.3 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2018–2026

    Owners describe brake pedals that drop to the floor with little braking power, sometimes after dashboard warnings appear. Others report a hard brake pedal with an ABS fault message, or a pedal that loses braking power over bumps and potholes. Some describe braking that did not engage right away when a car ahead stopped, and e-pedal drivers describe the car coasting when regenerative braking does not engage. A complaint also describes losing brakes and steering along with a shutdown at highway speed. Where mileage is given, complaints range from 40 to 7,500 miles, and several describe braking problems over bumps, at low speed, or during e-pedal driving.

    What to check: On a test drive at low speed in an open area, check that the brake pedal feels firm and that braking responds right away. Ask whether any brake, ABS, or battery repairs were made, and whether the e-pedal settings were checked.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When the brakes are applied moderately at around 40mph to slow down, and if a wheel go on top of some bumps or pot holes, car seems to loose braking power, brake padel drop about 1 inch, have to pedal hard to get the brakes back. At one time I saw a message on dashboard not available which I was not able to read and confirm, as this happened in a panic situation. This is occational but has happened to be 4 - 5 times now. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11092600, filed 2018-05, 40 miles

    “The incident occurred at a stop sign where I was waiting behind one other vehicle. The vehicle ahead of me accelerated from the stop sign to turn into traffic, but abruptly slammed on their brakes. I had began accelerating up to the stop sign and was unable to stop before impacting the car in front of me. As soon as I saw the vehicle was braking, I immediately slammed on the brake pedal. Braking did not immediately occur. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11630622, filed 2024-12
  5. Forward collision avoidance

    Unexpected automatic braking without driver input

    • 13 complaints (19%)
    • median 7,600 mi at 1.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2018–2025

    Owners report automatic braking that, in their account, no hazard required, in some complaints at around 30 mph with no other traffic nearby. Some describe the brakes applying briefly, the accelerator going to idle, and the car not stopping. In some complaints the event repeats on the same stretch of road, such as a parking garage entrance or a raised section of pavement. A complaint describes braking that started while the car was slowly accelerating near another car in a turn lane. Where mileage is given, complaints range from 675 to 19,000 miles, and some describe the braking on city streets or in parking garages.

    What to check: Ask whether the forward collision warning light has ever come on and whether the dealer has checked the front radar or sensor. Ask for any records of automatic braking complaints or repairs before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “On the street we use to leave our neighborhood, there is one section of the cement that is a little taller than the one before it.intermittently, the automatic breaking will be set off in this spot for no reason. It is alarming! We are also worried it will happen on a busy street and cause an accident.”

    NHTSA complaint #11282306, filed 2019-11, 12,000 miles

    “I was driving alone at 4:20pm at about 30 MPH, with no other cars or pedestrians around when the brakes suddenly activated, and the accelerator went to idle. The braking lasted about one second and did not stop the car completely. This occurred on a city street. These events have been happening several times a month.”

    NHTSA complaint #11394518, filed 2021-02, 19,000 miles

Buying note. Before buying, ask whether recall 23V494000 was completed and whether the high-voltage battery has been tested or replaced, since power loss and battery drain appear often in these complaints. On a test drive at low speed, check that the brakes respond right away, and ask for records of any forward collision sensor or radar repairs.

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.

NHTSA recorded 67 consumer complaints for the 2018 Nissan Leaf. 24 of the complaints include a mileage, and 92% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 7,250 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 123 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 10 Nissan Leaf model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (3), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (3), Seat belts (2), Electronic stability control (1), Equipment (1), Tires (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “This has occurred multiple times throughout my almost two years of ownership. The Nissan LEAF 2018 has a mode called e-petal that allows the driver to operate the vehicle using only the gas petal. The issue I have with my car is when I am in a parking lot turning my steering wheel as far to the left or right as it will go to navigate into the parking space, my car will suddenly stop braking causing my car to rush forward. I have never been hurt, but the sudden speed increase while making a hard turn wipes my car and has caused me to almost hit parked cars. …”

NHTSA complaint #11316742, filed 2020-03, 20,000 miles

Electrical system: “While driving the vehicle, without warning the car stopped itself simulating a slamming on the brakes affect. There was no warning, the car just stopped. After the car stopped, an error appeared on the screen saying power supply failure. To avoid accident, serious injury or death do not drive. Contact dealer for service. The car stopping suddenly is very dangerous, if there was another car behind me, or if I was on the freeway, I would have gotten rear ended.”

NHTSA complaint #11208166, filed 2019-05, 21,150 miles

Forward collision avoidance: “Was driving at approx. 30 MPH alone on a local highway with no traffic around, no pedestrians or obstructions in the road, when the accelerator disengaged and the brakes came on. The braking only lasted about one to two seconds and did not stop the car. A triangular warning sign appeared on the dash during the braking, and went off when the brakes released. I believe the problem is a malfunction of the forward collision warning system.”

NHTSA complaint #11391083, filed 2021-02, 18,000 miles

Fuel system: “Car was fast charged on July 9th. 2026. After fast charging from 13% to 80%, and driving for a few miles, the overheating warning came on and car was forced to stop on the side of a busy highway until the engine cooled off. While there is an active recall for a similar problem (24V700), my car is not included and we were not notified.”

NHTSA complaint #11749783, filed 2026-07

Mileage when problems were reported

92% of the 24 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 2,000 and 18,000 miles.

54%0–1033%10–254%25–504%50–754%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (24 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 7,250 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20182019202020212022202320242025112026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2018 Nissan Leaf version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); for electric versions it is the cost of electricity and the rating is in MPGe.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Leaf FWDElectricsingle-speed125100112 MPGe$700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2018 Nissan Leaf → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 123 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 123 bulletins →

Other model years of the Nissan Leaf

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
202578,75005111 MPGe—Too new
20245—05111 MPGe—Too new
2023227,50035111 MPGe—Too new
20229642,39845108 MPGe51 · TypicalRising
20215727,50045108 MPGe49 · TypicalRising
202016712,00065108 MPGe75 · MoreRising
201926030,0005—108 MPGe71 · MoreRising
2018677,2504—112 MPGe50 · TypicalRising
2017174,4002—112 MPGe—Stable
20163620,00044114 MPGe26 · FewerRising
201511027,00044114 MPGe66 · MoreFalling
20143421,25064114 MPGe38 · TypicalFalling
20138124,00054115 MPGe67 · MoreRising
20125713,9200599 MPGe21 · FewerStable
20119527,8620599 MPGe28 · FewerFalling

All Nissan Leaf model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2018 Nissan Leaf?

Owners of this 2018 Nissan Leaf most often describe sudden unintended acceleration at low speed, sudden power loss or shutdowns at highway speed, and battery charge readings that drop quickly. The issues reported most often: Sudden unintended acceleration at low speed; Sudden power loss or shutdown while driving; Battery charge drops quickly or reads erratically.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 Nissan Leaf have?

NHTSA recorded 67 consumer complaints for the 2018 Nissan Leaf as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 Nissan Leaf is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 19 complaints (28% of the total), followed by electrical system with 19.

Has the 2018 Nissan Leaf been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How efficient is the 2018 Nissan Leaf according to the EPA?

The EPA rates the 2018 Nissan Leaf (Leaf, Electric) at 112 MPGe combined, 125 city and 100 highway, with an estimated annual electricity cost of $700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other battery and motor versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 Nissan Leaf reported?

Among the 24 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 7,250 miles and the middle half falls between 2,000 and 18,000 miles; 92% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.