Home · 2012 · Nissan
2012 Nissan Leaf (40 Kwh Battery)
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
57 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Brakes problems dominate (39% of complaints).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2012 Nissan Leaf 5 HB FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 11%
3 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2012 Nissan Leaf (40 Kwh Battery), plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Brakes (22) · Electrical system (15) · Airbags (11)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Brakes
39%22 complaints
“The brakes on the vehicle jerk alot when going under 15, causing everyone in the vehicle to get jerked forward multiple times and are touchy resulting in almost being …”
Electrical system
26%15 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“Car stops completely due to a defective battery should be recalled by dealer manufacturer”
Airbags
19%11 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The brakes on the vehicle jerk alot when going under 15, causing everyone in the vehicle to get jerked forward multiple times and are touchy resulting in almost being …”
Speed control
7%4 complaints
“BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND IGNITION STARTED AND THRUSTED CAR FORWARD. IT SEEMED LIKE THE BRAKE GOT SOFT AND THEN WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED THE CAR TO DAMAG…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2012 Nissan LEAF (40 kWH BATTERY) beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Leaf (40 Kwh Battery) model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Nissan Leaf (40 Kwh Battery) against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.