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This page covers 7 recalls, 61 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Nissan Leaf.
112 MPGe combined
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
For the 2018 Nissan Leaf, the largest share of complaints centers on the forward collision avoidance system, where owners describe unexpected behavior during low-speed maneuvering, most commonly the vehicle accelerating or failing to brake as expected while one-pedal driving mode is active. Electrical system complaints are the next most common, with owners reporting sudden loss of power while driving, dashboard warning lights illuminating, and the vehicle unexpectedly shifting to neutral. Propulsion-related reports overlap with these electrical complaints, often describing the car shutting down or cutting power mid-drive. A smaller number of owners mention premature structural rust on the front subframe, with some noting it caused the vehicle to fail safety inspection at relatively low mileage. Wiper failures in winter conditions also appear in the complaints, with at least one owner describing repeated breakdowns over multiple winters.
61
Total Complaints
9
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Nissan LEAF has 7 recalls, the most serious involving a powertrain control issue where the vehicle may fail to slow down after releasing the accelerator, or may accelerate unintentionally, raising the risk of a crash.
This acceleration and deceleration problem is triggered by a specific sequence of actions taken in quick succession: disengaging cruise control, changing the drive mode (such as switching between D and B, turning on e-Pedal, or selecting ECO mode), and applying then releasing the accelerator pedal. When this sequence occurs, the car may not respond to the driver's expectation that it will slow down, or it may surge forward without the driver pressing the pedal.
Two separate recalls address the rearview camera. In one, the camera wiring harness can be damaged by repeated movement and vibration, causing the image to display incorrectly or not at all while backing up. A related recall covers the same kind of harness damage, where distortion or total loss of the camera image reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle. Because these cover overlapping defects across different filings, owners should confirm their specific vehicle is addressed.
The final two recalls involve the windshield defroster. When temperatures drop below -10 degrees Celsius, the defroster may not clear the windshield adequately even when the owner follows the instructions in the manual. The underlying problem is that the owner's manual itself contains incorrect defroster operating instructions, which can lead to reduced defroster performance under cold conditions and limit forward visibility through the windshield.
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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 →
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera wiring harness can be damaged by vehicle movement and vibrations, causing the rearview camera image to not display correctly or at all when reversing.
What the fix does
A dealership will inspect and secure the rearview camera wiring harness, and replace the camera and harness if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera harness can become damaged, causing the rearview camera display to show distorted or no image.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera and harness if damaged, or apply protective tape and reroute the harness if undamaged.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
After disengaging cruise control, changing drive mode, and quickly pressing and releasing the accelerator pedal in sequence, the engine may not slow the vehicle when you release the pedal.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module to restore normal engine braking when you release the accelerator pedal.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally when you change the driving mode (from D to B, turn on e-Pedal, or select ECO mode) after turning off cruise control.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module at no cost to fix the acceleration issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
In temperatures below -10°C, the defroster may fail to work properly even when set to maximum fan speed as instructed in the manual, preventing windshield defrosting.
What the fix does
Nissan will mail owners a manual addendum with correct defroster settings for temperatures below -10°C.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Owner's Manual has incorrect defroster operation instructions that can reduce defroster performance under certain conditions.
What the fix does
Nissan will mail an addendum with corrected defroster operating instructions at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The backup camera display settings can be changed so the rear view image disappears. The system saves this setting, so the rear view remains hidden when you shift into reverse.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the backup camera software settings at no cost to restore proper rear visibility functionality.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
