Home · 2011 Nissan Leaf Plus (62 Kwh Battery) · Complaints

What 95 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Leaf Plus (62 Kwh Battery)

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (95)Crash / fire / injury (5)Airbags (35)Electrical system (29)Brakes (20)Seats (7)Speed control (5)Fuel system (4)Body & structure (3)Transmission & drivetrain (3)Engine (2)Service Brakes, Electric (2)

Newest first · 95 complaints · page 4 of 4

Sep 3, 2012Electrical system

I AM FILING A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE MAIN BATTERY IN MY 2011 NISSAN LEAF. ACCORDING TO NISSAN, I SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED ABOUT A 20% BATTERY CAPACITY LOSS AFTER FIVE YEARS OF OWNERSHIP. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 14.5 MONTHS. AS OF 8/29/2012, THE BATTERY HAS LOST 3 BARS OF CAPACITY (APPROXIMATELY 27.5% CAPACITY LOSS). THIS RATE OF CAPACITY LOSS IS FAR BEYOND WHAT NISSAN EXPECTED AND POSSIBLY MODELED/ENGINEERED. PLEASE HELP INSURE THERE WILL NOT BE ANY SAFETY ISSUES WITH THE BATTERY AS THE CAPACITY DETERIORATES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10473672

Aug 24, 2012Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemCrash

I HAVE RUN INTO WHAT I BELIEVE IS A SMALL DESIGN FLAW. WHILE USER ERROR IS CLEARLY INVOLVED, A SIMPLE SOFTWARE FIX COULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING. SCENARIO: 1) LEAF IS PARKED IN GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT ON A SLIGHT DOWNHILL SLOPE. 2) STARTUP SOUND IS TURNED OFF. 3) PUSH START BUTTON WHILE NOT PRESSING ON BRAKE PEDAL ADEQUATELY - LEAF GOES INTO ACCESSORY MODE. 4) TRY TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE, NOT LOOKING AT DASH SCREEN TO SEE THAT LEAF IS IN ACCESSORY MODE. 5) PRESS DOWN ON PARKING BRAKE LEVER TO DISENGAGE PARKING BRAKE. 6) PRESS ACCELERATOR. RESULT: THE LEAF IS STILL IN ACCESSORY MODE, BUT HAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AFTER STEP #4. ONCE PARKING BRAKE IS OFF AND FOOT IS ON ACCELERATOR, THERE IS NOTHING TO KEEP THE LEAF FROM ROLLING FORWARD. THIS IS NOT HYPOTHETICAL, IT HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN THE LAST YEAR. ONE TIME I HIT A SHOPPING CART, BUT FORTUNATELY PUT THE BRAKE ON IN TIME AND THE FRONT LICENSE PLATE HOLDER PROTECTED MY LEAF FROM DAMAGE. COMMENT: IN MY OPINION, TRYING TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE WHILE THE LEAF IS IN ACCESSORY MODE SHOULD NOT PUT THE LEAF IN NEUTRAL--IT SHOULD STILL BE IN PARK. THIS SIMPLE CHANGE WOULD PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF THIS HAPPENING. THE LEAF CAN STILL SHIFT TO NEUTRAL IN ACCESSORY MODE BY MOVING THE SHIFTER TO THE LEFT AND HOLDING IT THERE FOR 2 SECONDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10472378

Aug 24, 2012Electrical systemSpeed control

I HAVE RUN INTO WHAT I BELIEVE IS A SMALL DESIGN FLAW. SCENARIO: 1) LEAF IS PARKED IN CONDO PARKING GARAGE WITH GENTLE UPHILL SLOPE ON PARKING SPACE. 2) STARTUP SOUND IS TURNED OFF. 2) FORGET THE LEAF IS STILL PLUGGED IN TO AV L2 EVSE. 3) PUT FOOT ON BRAKE, PUSH START BUTTON. 4) SHIFT INTO REVERSE, NOT LOOKING AT DASH SCREEN TO SEE WARNING THAT LEAF WON'T START. 5) PRESS DOWN ON PARKING BRAKE LEVER TO DISENGAGE PARKING BRAKE. 6) PRESS ACCELERATOR. RESULT: THE LEAF DOESN'T START SINCE IT IS STILL PLUGGED IN TO EVSE. THE LEAF SHIFTS OUT OF PARK INTO NEUTRAL AFTER STEP #4. ONCE PARKING BRAKE IS OFF AND FOOT IS ON ACCELERATOR, THERE IS NOTHING TO KEEP THE LEAF FROM ROLLING BACK. IF IT ROLLS FAR ENOUGH IT WILL DAMAGE EITHER THE L2 CONNECTOR TO THE CAR OR THE EVSE OR BOTH. COMMENT: THIS IS NOT A HYPOTHETICAL, IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME 3-4 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. FORTUNATELY, I QUICKLY REALIZED THE LEAF WAS STILL CONNECTED TO THE EVSE AND APPLIED THE BRAKE SO THAT NO DAMAGE WAS DONE. IN MY OPINION, YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE LEAF OUT OF PARK OR RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE WHILE THE LEAF IS STILL PLUGGED IN. I WOULD SUGGEST CHANGING THE SOFTWARE TO AVOID POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO THE LEAF L2 CONNECTER, EVSE OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY IN THE VICINITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10472379

Aug 9, 2012Electrical system

THE NISSAN LEAF IS A 100% BATTERY OPERATED VEHICLE. THERE IS A BUILT-IN BATTERY CAPACITY INDICATOR THAT IS DISPLAYED AS 12 INDICATOR BARS. EACH BAR REPRESENTS A % OF THE BATTERIES CAPACITY TO HOLD A CHARGE. NISSAN CLAIMS THAT GRADUAL CAPACITY LOSS IS NORMAL AND THAT DRIVER SHOULD EXPECT TO HAVE 80% OF THEIR CAPACITY LEFT AFTER 5 YEARS AND 70% AFTER 10. I LOST MY FIRST BAR AT THE BEGINNING OF APRIL, SECOND BAR FIRST WEEK OF JUNE, AND THIRD BAR FIRST WEEK OF JULY. NISSAN HAS NOT DEFINED WHAT THESE BARS MEAN, HOWEVER, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE LOSS OF THREE BARS IN 4 MONTHS AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR A YEAR IS GRADUAL. I HAVE SENT MY CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERSHIPS AND EVEN LET NISSAN NORTH AMERICA TAKE MY CAR FOR 16 DAYS FOR TESTING. SO FAR, NISSAN HAS TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. I BELIEVE THAT HAVING A 100% BATTERY OPERATED VEHICLE MARKETED TO A MASS CUSTOMER BASE AND BEING DRIVEN ON OUR STREETS AND HIGHWAYS SHOULD HAVE A DEPENDABLE BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10469919

Aug 9, 2012Electrical system

BATTERY CAPACITY HAS DECREASED OVER 15%, IN JUST 7200 MILES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE DEFECT IN NISSAN LEAF BATTERY. PLEASE HAVE NISSAN INSTITUTE RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE BATTERIES IN 2011/2012 NISSAN LEAF VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10469923

Aug 9, 2012Electrical system

2011 NISSAN LEAF ELECTRIC VEHICLE, PURCHASED ON 8/6/2011, LOST A BATTERY CAPACITY BAR ON 06/21/2012 - 10 MONTHS, 15 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. THIS IS A 15% LOSS OF BATTERY CAPACITY. NISSAN ADVERTISES AN EXPECTED 80% CAPACITY REMAINING AFTER 5 YEARS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD MY BATTERY IS "NORMAL," AND SO IS THE LOST CAPACITY. I DISAGREE AND BELIEVE THE BATTERIES NISSAN IS USING IN THIS CAR ARE UNFIT FOR THE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN MY LOCAL AREA OF PHOENIX, AZ. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10469924

Aug 9, 2012Electrical system

LOST FIRST BATTERY CAPACITY BAR AFTER ONE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. THIS RESULTS IN A 15% LOSS IN CAPACITY. DIFFICULTIES ARE OCCURING TO ACHIEVE DRIVING DISTANCES AND HABITS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. VEHICLE WILL SOON NO LONGER FUNCTION AS AN FORM OF TRANSPORTATION IF RANGE CONTINUES TO DIMINISH. THE CAPACITY LOSS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE BATTERY AND IS UNACCEPTABLE TO LOOSE A LARGE AMOUNT IN A SHORT TIME FRAME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10469926

Aug 8, 2012Electrical system

MY NISSAN LEAF HAS EXPERIENCED A 1 CAPACITY BAR LOSS FOR IT'S LITHIUM-ION BATTERY, REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE MILES TO DRIVE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS PREMATURE AND THAT THIS IS IN RELATION TO LIVING IN A HOT WEATHER CLIMATE AREA (SUMMER MONTHS). NISSAN HAS BEEN INFORMED BY ME OF THIS CONDITION. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INSTANCE, IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE SEE ATTACHED SITE: HTTP://MYNISSANLEAF.COM/WIKI/INDEX.PHP?TITLE=REAL_WORLD_BATTERY_CAPACITY_LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10469729

Aug 8, 2012Electrical systemEngine

THE PROBLEM IS THE BATTERY, WE WHERE TOLD BY NISSAN THAT THERE WOULD BE A SLOW LOSS OF CAPACITY AND UP TO 20% LOSS AT 5 YEARS. THIS IS ONLY IN HOT CLIMATES LIKE ARIZONA, TX AND CA. THE CAR SHOULD HAVE HAD A BATTERY COOLING SYSTEM. *TR NOW AFTER PAY $40,000 FOR THE CAR IN THE FIRST YEAR MY DRIVING RANGE IS DOWN SO MUCH IN MY SECOND YEAR THE CAR WILL BE WORTHLESS TO DRIVE OR SELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10469914

Jul 7, 2012Electrical systemEngine

ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, I PURCHASED A 2011 NISSAN LEAF FROM MY LOCAL DEALER. EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 20 MPH OR SO WHEN THE POWER SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD INSTANTLY WENT OFF BUT THE RADIO+TOUCHSCREEN REMAINED ON. THE CAR CAME TO A CRAWL AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND LEFT A VOICE MAIL FOR THE SERVICE DEPT. SINCE IT WAS SATURDAY BUT NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK. I KIND OF SHRUGGED IT OFF THAT DAY THINKING IT MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN A QUIRK SO I DIDN'T FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEALER. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT GOING AROUND 10 MPH AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY. THEY'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND SAID THAT NISSAN TOLD THEM TO DRIVE IT AND TRY REPRODUCING THE PROBLEM. I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO REPRODUCE IT SINCE IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN WEEKS. AS EXPECTED, THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE IT SO I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK SINCE THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM TAKING THE LEAF BACK TOMORROW TO START DRIVING AGAIN BUT DEFINITELY HAVE CONCERNS SINCE MY WIFE ALSO DRIVES THE CAR AND WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE WOULD DO IN A SHUT-OFF WHILE DRIVING SITUATION. LUCKILY, THE PAST TWO INCIDENTS WERE NOT IN HIGH SPEEDS AND I WAS ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY. MY WORST NIGHTMARE WOULD BE IF WE GOT REAR ENDED DUE TO INSTANTLY LOSING POWER. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN DIRECTLY TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT MY CAR BUT NO ONE HAS CALLED ME BACK. I ASSUME THEY WERE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER. I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT I AM BEING HANDED THE CAR BACK AT A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10464541

Jun 12, 2012Brakes

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 50 MPH. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED QUICKLY, AND I HAD TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PRETTY HARD TO SLOW DOWN QUICKLY. BUT AS SOON AS I DID THAT, SOME CRAZY EMERGENCY/AUTOMATIC BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED INTO OVERDRIVE AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES LIKE 10 TIMES HARDER THAN I DID, AND CAUSED MY CAR TO PRACTICALLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET HIT BY A CAR, BUT LUCKILY I DIDN'T. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY, AND CLEARLY A DEFECT IN SOME BRAKING OR COMPUTER SYSTEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD A SIMILAR THING HAPPEN WHEN I AM DRIVING SLOWER (LIKE 30 MPH), BUT THE EFFECT IS NOT AS DANGEROUS OR INTENSE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY UPDATED SOME COMPUTER UPGRADES THAT WERE NOT RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER LEAF OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS, AND YET NISSAN DOES NOT SEEM TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10461319

May 19, 2012Brakes

BRAKE APPLICATION IS AT TIMES VERY INCONSISTENT. ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS (<40MPH) SOMETIMES A LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATION CREATES A DISPROPORTIONAL BRAKE FORCE. THIS RESULTS IN SUDDEN INVOLUNTARY STOPS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE HEADS OF PASSENGERS AND DRIVER BEING JERKED FORWARD. THE ISSUE DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME BUT IS REPRODUCIBLE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10458995

Jan 23, 2012Brakes

I NOTICED THE BRAKING DEFECT SOON AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF MY LEAF. SIMILARLY TO THE OTHER RESPONDENTS, THE CONTINUANCE TO BRAKING AFTER THE PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED OCCURS AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS, ON THE FREEWAY, AND AT ALL SPEEDS IN BETWEEN. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DISCERN ANY PARTICULAR SITUATION THAT SEEMS TO 'CAUSE' THE PHENOMENON. I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS TO TWO SEPARATE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES (AT DOWNTOWN NISSAN OF LOS ANGELES, AND UNIVERSAL CITY NISSAN) WHO BOTH SAID IT WAS THE FIRST THEY'D HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. NEITHER SEEMED INCLINED TO LOOK INTO MY CLAIM IN ANY WAY. THE FACT THAT A SERIOUS FREEWAY COLLISION HAS BEEN REPORTED ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER LESS SERIOUS OCCURRENCES DETAILING THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATES THAT THERE IS INDEED A PROBLEM. IS NISSAN WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? I REALLY LOVE THE CAR, EXCEPT FOR THIS BRAKING PROBLEM, BUT I REALLY HATE NISSAN FOR IGNORING SOMETHING POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING UNTIL SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10444875

Nov 27, 2011Brakes

WHILE BRAKING LIGHTLY AND NOT SUDDEN TO TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER, THE LEAF APPLIED FULL BRAKES AND DID NOT RELEASE THE BRAKES UNTIL THE CAR WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10437414

Nov 11, 2011Electrical system

I BORROWED A LEAF FROM A CO-WORKER TO DRIVE OVERNIGHT. I PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY (NOT BY A PLUG) AND PLUGGED THE 110V CHARGER INTO AN EXTENSION CORD TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. I AWOKE AT MIDNIGHT TO A STRONG BURNED PLASTIC/OZONE TYPE SMELL IN MY BEDROOM, WHICH IS ABOVE THE GARAGE. I WENT TO THE GARAGE AND FOUND THE EXTENSION CORD WAS OVERHEATING, MELTING THE PLASTIC INSULATION FROM THE WIRING. I DISCONNECTED IT, OPENED DOORS FOR A WHILE TO AIR OUT THE HOUSE AND WENT BACK TO BED. GLAD I HAD ENOUGH BATTERY TO GET TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING. MY CONCERN IS THAT I ASSUMED THE CAR CHARGER WAS SELF REGULATING SO IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM USING AN EXTENSION CORD. AS A BORROWER, I DIDN'T READ AN OWNER'S MANUAL OR ANY INFORMATION WARNING ME TO AVOID AN EXTENSION CORD. I'M VERY STRONG AUTO-TECHNOLOGY BASED, YET STILL MADE THIS DUMB MISTAKE. IT WAS DARK, I WAS IN A HURRY TO GET HOME, QUICKLY PLUGGED IT IN AND WENT INSIDE. IF I WASN'T SLEEPING NEAR THE GARAGE, I ASSUME IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED THIS PATH OF OVERHEATING UNTIL THE WIRE BURNED THRU OR A FIRE OCCURRED. I ASSUME IF SOMEONE PLUGS IT DIRECTLY INTO OLD WIRING IN A HOUSE, IT COULD OVERHEAT THAT WIRING TOO. I EXPECT MANY PEOPLE COULD DO THE SAME THING AS I DID SINCE NO ONE HAS A PLUG OUTSIDE, AND NO ONE IN CALIFORNIA CAN ACTUALLY GET A CAR IN THEIR GARAGE BECAUSE ITS FILLED WITH STUFF. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AS IT WAS MARVELOUS TO DRIVE. BUT THIS CHARGING ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT CLOSELY SINCE WE ARE BEGINNING TO READ STORIES OF HOUSE FIRES WITH EVS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10435269

Oct 3, 2011Body & structureEquipment

ALTHOUGH APPARENTLY WORKING AS DESIGNED, THE PEDESTRIAN WARNING SOUND ON THE NISSAN LEAF IS INAUDIBLE TO ANY WITH MODERATE HEARING PROBLEMS, INCLUDING A GREAT MANY OF THE ELDERLY. THE PITCH IS TOO HIGH. LIVING IN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10428350

Sep 1, 2011Service Brakes, Electric

I HAVE DEFINITELY NOTICED THE BRAKING ASSIST DISPLAYING A MIND OF ITS OWN, THOUGH NEVER ON THE FREEWAY AS YET. SOMETIMES I JUST TAP THE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES APPLY MUCH MORE THAN I WAS PUSHING. OTHER TIMES THE BRAKES APPLY NORMALLY, BUT DO NOT RELEASE IMMEDIATELY AFTER RELEASING THE PEDAL. NISSAN...SOMETHING IS UP HERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10422865

Jul 26, 2011Brakes

WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY, I HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I DECELERATED TO ABOUT 30MPH WHILE VEERING TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR. TO INFORM THE RAPIDLY APPROACHING CAR BEHIND ME, I TAPPED MY BRAKES ABOUT 4-5 TIMES A SECOND TO FLASH MY TAILLIGHTS. AT THAT POINT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND MY CAR RAPIDLY DECELERATED EVEN THOUGH I HAD REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. AFTER ABOUT 1/3-1/2 SECOND, THE BRAKES RELEASED AND I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CONTINUE DRIVING. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE FORUMS AND MY LOCAL EV GROUP, IT TURNS OUT THAT TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR BRAKING BEHAVIOR WHERE THE CAR DECELERATED RAPIDLY EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED.

NHTSA ODI 10415888

Jul 26, 2011BrakesCrash2 injuries

I WAS ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING APPROPRIATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SWERVED IN TO MY LANE AND BRAKED HARD IN FRONT OF ME. WITH NO PLACE TO GO ON EITHER SIDE OF ME, I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE FAST AND HARD. THE ABS KICKED IN AS EXPECTED BUT ONCE I HAD DECELERATED TO A POINT WHERE I KNEW A COLLISION WAS NOT IMMINENT AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR CONTINUED BREAKING VERY HARD. IT TOOK THE BETTER PART OF A SECOND WITH MY FOOT NOW COMPLETELY OFF THE BRAKE BEFORE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY RELEASED. IN THIS TIME, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AND HIT ME HARD, CAUSING INJURY TO TWO PEOPLE IN THE CAR WHO WERE NOT BELTED IN. THIS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDABLE IF THE LEAF HAD NOT FAILED TO DECREASE THE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN I RELEASED PRESSURE AND THEN ULTIMATELY TOOK MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT FELT AS IF SOMETHING LIKE THE BRAKE ASSIST FUNCTION WAS MALFUNCTIONING... *TR

NHTSA ODI 10415264

Jul 25, 2011Service Brakes, Electric

I WAS ACCELERATING AFTER GETTING ON THE FREEWAY HEADING NORTH AND SLIGHTLY UPHILL I MIGHT HAVE BEEN PEAKING AT 55MPH WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SLAMMED HIS BRAKES ON. I DID THE SAME AND I HEAR MY TIRES SCREECHING , I PRESUMED THAT THEY WERE LOCKING. HOWEVER I DID MAINTAIN MY DIRECTION AND DIDN'T SEEM TO LOOSE CONTROL. WHEN I REALIZED I WOULD NOT REAR-END THE TRUCK I LEFT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. I WAS ALARMED WHEN MY TIRES WERE STILL LOCKED AND REMAINED LOCKED FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A VERY LONG HALF SECOND. BY THAT TIME I THINK I WAS UNDER 20 MPH ON A FREEWAY AND I WAS DARN LUCKY NOBODY WAS REAR-ENDING ME! I THINK THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE BRAKING RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10415124

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Working with the data? Download all 95 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 15, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2011 Nissan Leaf Plus (62 Kwh Battery) verdict →