2013 Nissan Leaf
This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
- Complaints
- 81
- Recalls
- 5
- Investigations
- 3
- Top problem
- Service brakes
Campaigns on file for 2013
Opened by NHTSA
40% of complaints
Complaints per year
2013: 81 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 95 |
| 2012 | 57 |
| 2013 | 81 |
| 2014 | 34 |
| 2015 | 110 |
| 2016 | 36 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 68 |
| 2019 | 258 |
| 2020 | 167 |
| 2021 | 56 |
| 2022 | 96 |
| 2023 | 22 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Service brakes
40% · 32 reportsShow complaint excerpts
I put the car in park as I was pulling in without turning it off to grab trash from the curb and take it to the car, but the car keep accelerating. I jumped in and slammed on the bricks but it hit the brick wall to the house.
NHTSA ODI report, 2024-12-12
Also filed under Vehicle speed control
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Nissan Leaf. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle failed to stop when the brake pedal was depressed. As a result, the contact crashed into the preceding vehicle. The front driver's air bag deployed.
NHTSA ODI report, 2017-11-29
Electrical system
22% · 18 reportsShow complaint excerpts
Car was being charged at pep station at ncsu campus. When I unplugged the charger from the car, I saw fumes and the plastic at the charging port of the car was melted.
NHTSA ODI report, 2014-05-06
Also filed under Fuel/propulsion system
Air bags
21% · 17 reportsVehicle speed control
6% · 5 reportsWheels
5% · 4 reportsSafety timeline
5 recalls · 3 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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2013-05-06Air bags13V069000 Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out…
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at…
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2014-04-14Air bags, electrical system14V138000 Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
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2015-03-18Recall queryClosed 2015-09-01 Occupant Classification System Failure
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2015-08-31Engineering analysisClosed 2017-05-02 Occupant Classification System Failure
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2016-03-28Service brakes16V119000 Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 LEAF vehicles manufactured November 19, 2012, to July 31, 2015.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Intelligent Brake Control Unit software, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
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2016-06-10Air bags16V244000 Nissan North America, Inc.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors.
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2023-01-27Defect petitionClosed 2023-08-07 Pedestrian alert sounds
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2023-05-30Equipment, visibility23V296000 Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions.
Remedy: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Buy-smart checklist
2013 Nissan Leaf — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Service brakes: 32 reports on file for this year.
- Electrical system: 18 reports on file for this year.
- Air bags: 17 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 13V069000 · Air bags
- Recall 14V138000 · Air bags, electrical system
- Recall 16V119000 · Service brakes
- Recall 16V244000 · Air bags
- Recall 23V296000 · Equipment, visibility
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 2013 Nissan Leaf reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2013 Nissan Leaf is rated "typical".
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Leaf?
- The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 40% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2013 Nissan Leaf have?
- 5 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-10-31 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.