2019 Nissan Leaf Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about the lithium-ion battery and charging: many complaints center on the open Level 3 fast-charging recall (24V700000) and the wait for a remedy, alongside reports of sudden charge loss, failed charging and vehicles shutting down. A second recurring theme is the backup camera display (blank, dark, distorted or colored), and owners also describe weak battery cells causing sudden range drops on inclines, particularly in cold weather. Many battery-related complaints come in at higher mileage, while camera, defroster and wiper reports cluster at low mileage.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Level 3 fast-charging restriction and no recall remedy

   • 192 complaints (74%)
   • median 30,600 mi at 5.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe being told not to use Level 3 (CHAdeMO) fast charging because the traction battery may overheat, and complain that the remedy has been repeatedly rescheduled and still was not available. Some say dealers declined to perform the recall repair or described side effects of the repair, and several note that public charging networks no longer allow the car to charge at their stations. Complaints focus on the loss of long-distance capability and the wait for a fix. Reported across a wide mileage range, from under 25,000 to over 100,000 miles, mostly after the recall was issued in late 2024.

   Recall 24V7000001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether recall 24V700000 has been performed and what remedy, if any, was applied, and confirm whether fast charging is currently usable. Request the recall service history from a dealer.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Purchased the vehicle used in December 2024, as Nissan had a remedy expected by March 2025. It is now June, and no remedy. This has become our primary car, and I'm having to fast charge it regularily to use it as we don't have a charger available at our rental house.”

   NHTSA complaint #11665906, filed 2025-06

   “I have the same complaint as the other 2019 leaf owners. It's been over a years since I was told a recall was in effect for the car I haven't been able to drive it any significant distance because I can't use a fast charger. Additionally, the rear camera that had been recalled and supposedly fixed is now malfunctioning again. When I contacted Nissan I did get in touch with the arbitration department but they are giving me the runaround”

   NHTSA complaint #11691356, filed 2025-10
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Battery drains or cuts power while driving

   • 18 complaints (7%)
   • median 98,175 mi at 6.8 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the vehicle losing motive power or shutting off while driving, sometimes with a battery warning light or a service EV system message, and sometimes after the charge level dropped abruptly. Several say dealers diagnosed a failed battery module or cell and that the car was not repaired, either because parts were unavailable or because of cost. Some describe the car failing to start or failing to charge. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 143,000 miles, often on cars with the open battery recall.

   Recall 24V7000001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask about any battery module replacement or diagnosis history, and check that the car charges and holds charge across a full drive. Have a pre-purchase inspection read stored battery and EV system codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle suddenly loses power while driving, no warnings prior to power loss. 1st incident vehicle lost power and all check engine lights came on. Unable to shift gears or accelerate. Towed to Nissan. This has happened twice again in the past week. Complete power loss while driving, have to coast to a stop and get towed again! 3 times total. Huge safety issue to be without power in the middle of the road. Nissan tried to “reset” it but this has not worked. The 3rd time we picked it up from service it happened again less than a mile away. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11429793, filed 2021-08

   “The contact owns a 2019 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V700000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle unexpectedly shut off while driving. The contact stated that upon restarting the vehicle, the message Service EV System was displayed, and the vehicle shut off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer several times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11700134, filed 2025-11, 98,350 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Defroster and wiper problems in wet or cold weather

   • 14 complaints (5%)
   • median 7,000 mi at 1.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe weak defroster performance that leaves the windshield foggy in traffic, and wipers that stop working or work only intermittently, in one case after a light snow. Owners report the dealer either declined warranty coverage or said the car was not covered by the defroster campaign. One owner also reports a rear hatch window shattering on normal closing. Mostly reported between about 4,500 and 16,000 miles, often in cold, snowy or rainy conditions.

   Recall 23V0480003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Run the defroster and wipers from cold start and confirm airflow and wiper motion, and ask whether the HVAC reprogram campaign (P4A17) was completed and whether the owner's manual defroster instructions were updated.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When using android auto in the infotainment, one cannot see the climate (HVAC) status, so it creates a dangerous distraction to adjust the heating/air conditioning, fan speed, defrost, etc. When in normal menus and an adjustment is made to the climate settings, it is displayed on the top of the screen in a banner. This is the only place where this information is visible, and generally works fine. However, when using android auto, this banner does not activate and is not visible. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11374885, filed 2020-11, 1,000 miles

   “The rear hatchback window shattered when the hatch was closed with normal force and without any objects obstructing closure or touching the window. The vehicle was stationary in a driveway at the time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11414936, filed 2021-05, 6,000 miles
4. 4
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Backup camera blank, dark or distorted

   • 34 complaints (13%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe the rearview camera image going blank, dark, pink or streaked with lines, often intermittently, so the screen shows no usable picture when reversing. Some owners say the dealer could not reproduce the problem or asked them to supply video, and others report the issue returning after a recall repair. Reported from about 4,000 to 10,000 miles in the early reports, with later reports at unknown mileage.

   Recall 24V071000Recall 19V6540002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test the backup camera repeatedly in reverse, including after the car has been parked, and ask whether the rear camera recall campaigns were completed and whether the harness was inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I had intermittent loss of back-up camera picture, with initial repair paid by me on 8/3/22. The problem persisted intermittently, I was told the only option was to replace the camera, which I found with online search didn't fix the problem. 9/11/24 the dealer fixed the problem when a recall was issued. It worked for a short time. I returned 11/11/24 with the same problem, but because it was intermittent they could not find an issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11744625, filed 2026-06

   “Having issues with the back up camera it will randomly not work, showing a black screen instead of rearview. Other times the image is excessively dark compared to other surround camera views or has horizontal lines that interfere with view. Car is available for inspection. I have reported to the dealer multiple times. They have not been able to replicate. The problem is intermittent, dealer has not been able to replicate. Asked that I take video when it occurs which I have done. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11558480, filed 2023-12
5. 5
   Fuel system

   Charge level and range drop suddenly on hills or in cold

   • 24 complaints (9%)
   • median 30,454 mi at 4.1 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe the state of charge and range estimate falling sharply, sometimes within a minute, while climbing a highway grade or driving in cold weather, with the car sometimes entering reduced-power mode. Some report the charge recovering after cresting the hill, and at least one says a weak battery cell was identified. Others note charge fluctuating at lower percentages, limiting usable range. Reported mostly at unknown mileage, with owners noting it on very cold days and on extended highway inclines.

   What to check: If possible, drive the car up a long grade and watch whether the charge and range estimates stay steady. Ask whether any battery cell health check or module diagnosis has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “During the last 3 winters I have noticed the car do something strange when going up an extended highway inclines. The battery % along with the estimated miles left will drop suddenly (~40% in a minute) and when I would go over the top of the hill most of the battery % and miles would return. During the 2021-2022 winter, I noticed this happen only once or twice. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11590153, filed 2024-05

   “The vehicle has developed fluctuating range estimates when going up steep grades on the highway. I was traveling at about 72 mph on a 5% grade with a 50% battery charge and a 60-mile range estimate. The range instantly started to drop from 50% to 40%, then 20%, then 10%. The car then entered what is called “turtle mode,” which limits the top speed to 20 mph. I managed to get the car off the highway onto an off-ramp, and then the battery percentage returned to 50% and turtle mode was deactivated. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11629497, filed 2024-12

Buying note. Check the open status of recall 24V700000 and confirm whether fast charging is currently usable, since many complaints center on that restriction. A battery health check and a look at recall and service history will tell you more about this model year than mileage alone.

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.