This page covers 5 recalls, 49 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2021 Nissan Leaf.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Electrical system complaints dominate what owners report for the 2021 Nissan Leaf, accounting for nearly half of all filed complaints. The most consistent theme involves the high-voltage battery pack and charging system, owners describe being unable to use public DC fast-charging networks, the vehicle refusing to accept a charge, or charging stopping unexpectedly before completion. Several owners report the issue renders the car impractical for longer trips or regular daily use. Visibility and wiper complaints form the second-largest named category, with owners describing wiper performance problems and obstructed sightlines in certain conditions. A smaller cluster of propulsion-related complaints describes reduced power output or unexpected changes in driving behavior. The charging and battery complaints are the clearest recurring pattern here, with multiple owners describing a loss of fast-charging capability as the primary symptom.
49
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2021 Nissan LEAF has 5 recalls, the most serious being a fire risk tied to Level 3 quick charging, where the high-voltage battery can overheat, produce smoke, and potentially ignite on vehicles equipped with a quick-charge port.
A separate recall covers unintended acceleration: if the driver switches driving modes (such as toggling from D to B, enabling e-Pedal, or selecting ECO mode) after disengaging cruise control, the car can accelerate without any input from the driver. On the visibility side, a damaged camera wiring harness can distort or blank out the rearview camera image while reversing. There is also an owner's manual error where instructions for defroster operation are incorrect, which can reduce how well the windshield clears in certain conditions and limit forward visibility.
At a glance
What can fail
The high-voltage battery can overheat during level 3 quick charging, potentially causing smoke or heat that damages the battery and surrounding components.
What the fix does
Nissan will update your vehicle's software at a dealership to address the overheating issue.
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Driver Assistance
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 →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The lithium-ion battery may overheat when using Level 3 quick charging on certain 2021-2022 LEAF vehicles with a Level 3 quick charging port.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the battery software at no cost to reprogram the charging system and prevent overheating.
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
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
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.
