What are the most common Nissan Leaf problems?
According to Au7o's analysis of 5,560+ owner reports, the 2011 Nissan Leaf has 13 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Battery Pack Capacity Degradation, Onboard Charger (OBC) Failure, Traction Motor Inverter Failure. Of these, 5 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
Is the Nissan Leaf reliable?
The 2011 Nissan Leaf has 13 known issues documented across 5,560+ owner reports. 5 issues are rated critical: Battery Pack Capacity Degradation and Onboard Charger (OBC) Failure and Traction Motor Inverter Failure and Intelligent Brake Unit (Electric Brake Actuator) Failure and Passenger Airbag Occupant Classification (OCS) Sensor Failure. Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
How much does it cost to fix common Nissan Leaf problems?
Repair costs for known Nissan Leaf issues range from $0 to $8,000, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Battery Pack Capacity Degradation, typically costs $0-$8,000 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
What is the 2011-2023 Nissan Leaf Battery Pack Capacity Degradation?
The Nissan Leaf uses an air-cooled lithium-ion battery that degrades faster than liquid-cooled competitors. Hot climates (Arizona, Texas) accelerate degradation significantly. Early models (2011-2015) with 24 kWh packs can lose 30-40% capacity within 5-7 years. Nissan provides an… Repairs typically run $0-$8,000. Severity: high.
What is the 2011-2017 Nissan Leaf Onboard Charger (OBC) Failure?
The 2011-2017 Leaf onboard charger can fail, preventing the vehicle from charging via Level 1 or Level 2 AC charging. The charger may still allow DC fast charging (CHAdeMO) since it bypasses the OBC. This issue often appears after 5-7 years. Nissan extended the OBC warranty on so… Repairs typically run $800-$3,000. Severity: high.
What is the 2011-2017 Nissan Leaf Traction Motor Inverter Failure?
The 2011-2017 Leaf traction motor inverter can fail, resulting in complete loss of propulsion. The inverter converts DC battery power to AC for the motor. Symptoms include sudden power loss, error messages, and the vehicle going into turtle mode. This is a costly repair outside w… Repairs typically run $1,500-$6,000. Severity: high.
What is the 2011-2019 Nissan Leaf Intelligent Brake Unit (Electric Brake Actuator) Failure?
The Leaf uses an electric motor-driven 'Intelligent' brake booster/master-cylinder actuator (part of the brake-by-wire regen system) rather than a conventional vacuum booster. The actuator relies on a capacitor bank energized by the 12V supply to drive the master cylinder quickly… Repairs typically run $500-$3,900. Severity: high.
What is the 2011-2012 Nissan Leaf Passenger Airbag Occupant Classification (OCS) Sensor Failure?
The passenger seat's Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor mat can fail, causing the 'Passenger Airbag OFF' light to stay illuminated even with an adult in the seat, deactivating the passenger airbag. NHTSA opened (and later closed) an investigation into 2011-2012 Leafs for… Repairs typically run $500-$5,000. Severity: high.
What is the 2011-2022 Nissan Leaf CHAdeMO Quick-Charge Port Failure / Won't Fast Charge?
Owners report the CHAdeMO DC fast-charge port failing to initiate a session, stopping mid-charge, or the connector locking/not releasing. Root causes include corrosion in the gray control connector on the back of the Power Distribution Module (PDM) where AC/DC charge command line… Repairs typically run $200-$1,200. Severity: medium.
What is the 2011-2024 Nissan Leaf 12V Auxiliary Battery Drain and Failure?
The Leaf's small 12V auxiliary battery drains and fails frequently, sometimes within 2-3 years. The telematics system, Carwings/NissanConnect, and other modules draw power even when the car is off. If the 12V dies, the car cannot be turned on despite the traction battery being fu… Repairs typically run $100-$200. Severity: medium.
What is the 2011-2025 Nissan Leaf Rear Brake Caliper Seizing and Rotor Corrosion from Regen/e-Pedal?
Because regenerative braking (especially in B-mode/e-Pedal) does most of the deceleration, the rear friction brakes are rarely used and almost never heat-cycle. Without heat to burn off moisture, the rear rotors rust and the caliper slide pins and pistons seize. This leads to une… Repairs typically run $150-$900. Severity: medium.
What is the 2011-2017 Nissan Leaf PTC Cabin Heater Failure (No Heat / Blown HV Fuse)?
The Leaf's high-voltage PTC (positive temperature coefficient) ceramic cabin heater is a known high-failure item, leaving the car with little or no heat in winter. On 2011-2012 (ZE0) cars it is a liquid coolant heater in the engine bay; on 2013+ cars it is an air PTC element behi… Repairs typically run $300-$1,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2011-2024 Nissan Leaf Reduction Gear Oil Seal Leak and Gearbox Whine?
The Leaf's single-speed reduction gearbox is filled with a small amount of Nissan Matic S ATF (~1.4-1.5 qt). Nissan lists the fluid as fill-for-life, but owners report oil-seal weeping and, in some cases, premature gear wear. A developing whine/growl that rises with speed is ofte… Repairs typically run $60-$2,500. Severity: medium.
What is the 2011-2019 Nissan Leaf Dashboard Flame-Retardant Coating Rub-Off and Thin Exterior Paint?
Two cosmetic durability complaints recur on the Leaf. First, the dark upper-dashboard surface is a flame-retardant coating (not paint) that rubs or wipes off — often when owners clean oily fingerprints with soap and water — leaving discolored patches. Second, the Leaf is widely n… Repairs typically run $0-$500. Severity: low.
What is the 2011-2022 Nissan Leaf Premature Front Tire Wear (Low-Pressure Spec / Alignment)?
Leaf owners widely report front tires wearing out prematurely — some as early as 20,000-26,000 miles on the OEM low-rolling-resistance Bridgestone Ecopia tires. Contributing factors: the Leaf's high curb weight (~3,300 lb from the battery) loading the front FWD tires, Nissan's fa… Repairs typically run $100-$800. Severity: low.
What is the 2011-2019 Nissan Leaf 3G Telematics Control Unit (TCU) Shutdown / Loss of NissanConnect?
Pre-2020 Leafs use a 3G-based Telematics Control Unit for NissanConnect EV/Services (remote climate preheat, charge status, charge timers). AT&T shut down its 3G network in February 2022 and Nissan ended NissanConnect app support for Leafs built before 2020 on March 30, 2026, so… Repairs typically run $0-$800. Severity: low.
