NHTSA (USA)Low Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The Owner's Manual contains incorrect defroster operation instructions that may reduce defroster performance under certain conditions.
What the fix does
This page covers 4 recalls, 35 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2016 Nissan Leaf.
The 2013 to 2016 Nissan Leaf received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. The model earned four stars in frontal crash, side crash, and rollover protection. In the side pole crash test, the Leaf achieved five stars. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so this assessment covers the entire 2013 to 2016 range.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2016 Nissan Leaf, brake-related complaints make up the largest share of what owners report. The most common pattern involves the brakes failing to engage normally, particularly after the vehicle has been parked, owners describe pressing the pedal fully with little or no stopping response, sometimes needing to pump the brakes repeatedly or rely on the parking brake to stop. A smaller cluster of electrical system complaints describes sudden loss of drive power, in some cases accompanied by loss of power steering, with little or no warning beforehand. The propulsion system draws a handful of reports as well, with owners describing the car unexpectedly shifting into neutral while moving, leaving them without drive power mid-trip. The brake engagement issue, especially after a cold start or following a period of sitting, appears across multiple reports and tends to resolve temporarily after cycling the vehicle off and back on.
35
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
By System
The 2016 Nissan LEAF has 4 recalls, the most serious involving the front passenger airbag, which may fail to deploy in a crash and leave the front passenger without protection.
Three of the four recalls center on the front passenger airbag system, each involving a different failure point. In one, a defect in the airbag inflator itself can prevent the bag from deploying correctly in a crash. In another, the wiring harness connector can separate from the dual-stage passenger airbag module, cutting the electrical signal needed to trigger deployment entirely. A third recall involves the passenger seat occupant classification sensor, which detects whether a passenger is present and whether the airbag should fire at full or reduced force; if that sensor does not function as intended, the airbag may not deploy correctly. The fourth recall is lower in severity and involves the owner's manual rather than a mechanical component: the printed instructions for operating the windshield defroster are incorrect, which can lead to reduced defroster performance under certain conditions and limit how clearly the driver can see through the windshield.
At a glance
What can fail
The Owner's Manual contains incorrect defroster operation instructions that may reduce defroster performance under certain conditions.
What the fix does
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Nissan will mail an addendum with corrected defroster operating instructions at no cost to owners.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing error in the passenger front air bag inflator may prevent it from deploying properly during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wiring harness connector for the dual-stage passenger air bag may disconnect, potentially preventing the air bag from deploying.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the connector for proper engagement and replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat's occupant detection system may incorrectly identify an adult as a child or miss an occupied seat. This can cause the passenger airbag to stay off during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram or replace the occupant detection and airbag control units to ensure proper airbag operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.