Home · 2012 · Nissan
2012 Nissan Leaf Plus (60 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 19, 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.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#64 of 334Among the 2012 models with a matured record, the 2012 Nissan Leaf Plus (60 Kwh Battery) ranks #64, scoring higher than 77% of them. See the 2012 ranking →
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 Plus (60 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…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
Too few owners named a mileage on this model to place issues against an odometer yet.
Read all 57 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 7 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Nissan before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report brakes problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any brakes symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
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 PLUS (60 kWH BATTERY) beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2012? See how every Leaf Plus (60 Kwh Battery) model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2012 Nissan Leaf Plus (60 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.