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What 107 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Nissan Leaf Plus

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 (107)Crash / fire / injury (8)Brakes (82)Electrical system (16)Airbags (8)Speed control (8)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (3)Engine (3)Transmission & drivetrain (3)Fuel system (2)Visibility & wipers (2)Wheels (2)

Newest first · 107 complaints · page 4 of 5

Aug 30, 2017Airbags

MY DRIVER SIDE INFLATOR FAILED. THE DEALER INITIALLY ADVISED ME TO "KEEP DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL THE PART COMES IN AFTER LABOR DAY." HTTPS://WWW.ADVANTAGENISSAN.COM/ I CITED MY CONCERNS WITH TAKATA AND THE DEALER ASSURED ME THAT THIS CAR DID NOT HAVE TAKATA AIR BAGS. REGARDLESS, A FAILED AIR BAG ACTIVATOR AND THE DEALER ADVISING ME TO KEEP DRIVING THE CAR UNTIL IT COULD BE REPLACED REQUIRES NHTSA INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ODI 11020577

Aug 24, 2017Airbags

MANUFACTURER HAS EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR RECALL REPAIR. NTHSA RECALL 16V-244 FOR NISSAN LEAF 2015 RECALL WAS ISSUED OVER A YEAR AGO. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT ISSUED PARTS FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11019385

Jan 24, 2017Brakes

THIS MORNING AFTER DROPPING MY KID AT DAYCARE, I WAS BACKING UP MY CAR IN THE PARKING LOT. DURING BACKING UP, I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE CAR DIDN'T SLOW DOWN AND KEPT MOVING. AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS, IT FINALLY STOPPED. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE PARKING LOT. NISSAN NEEDS TO INVESTIGATE THE BRAKE ISSUE. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS BUT THERE IS NO RECALL TO FIX IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10947449

Nov 26, 2016

THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IS DESIGNED TO CLASSIFY THE SIZE AND WEIGHT OF THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AUTOMATICALLY TURN OFF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE OCS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO ONLY DEPLOY THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. IN THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, THE OCS SOFTWARE MAY INCORRECTLY CLASSIFY THE PASSENGER SEAT AS EMPTY WHEN IT IS OCCUPIED BY AN ADULT. IF THE OCS DOES NOT DETECT AN ADULT OCCUPANT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD BE DEACTIVATED. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 2 TIMES IN MY CAR WITH MY WIFE WHICH IS A SHORT LIGHT WOMAN, I WENT TO NISSAN IN GREENSBORO, NC AND THEY GOT THE PARTS IN, TORE APART CAR BUT NISSAN SENT THEM INCOMPLETE PARTS AND NOW IT IS ON BACK ORDER....HAS BEEN LIKE THAT SINCE AUGUST!

NHTSA ODI 10927919

Oct 25, 2016Brakes

BRAKE RECALL ISSUE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V119000 I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES TO GET THIS FIXED, BUT EVERY TIME THE DEALERSHIP COMES BACK AND SAYS THAT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE IT SO IT IS FIXED. BUT EVERY TIME I PARK IN THE GARAGE AT MY WORK PLACE OR PARK OVERNIGHT OUTDOORS, I RUN INTO THIS PROBLEM WHERE THE EXCLAMATION ICON WOULD LIGHT UP AND THE BRAKES WOULD MALFUNCTION WHERE I HAVE TO PRESS HARDER FOR THE BRAKES TO APPLY. THE WORKAROUND I FOLLOW IS - PRESSING AND RELEASING BRAKE PEDAL WILL MAKE THE EXCLAMATION ICON TURN OFF AND THE BRAKES WOULD FUNCTION NORMALLY. I HAVE HAD ATLEAST TWO INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR WILL START MOVING EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO RUNNING INTO ANOTHER CAR TWO TIMES! I LIVE IN AUSTIN TX AND THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED DURING SUMMERTIME WHEN THE TEMPERATURES WERE ABOVE 70F. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10918751

Sep 26, 2016Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SOFTWARE MALFUNCTION WITH THE ABS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000.

NHTSA ODI 10909792

Aug 10, 2016Visibility & wipers

IN NIGHT TIME THE WIDTH OF BEAM IS NOT WIDE ENOUGH(HIGH OR LOW BEAM). WHEN MAKING TURN, I CAN NOT SEE ANYTHING IN PERPENDICULAR DIRECTION. I AM ALWAYS AFRAID THAT, I MIGHT DRIVE OVER SOMEONE. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE HAPPENED YET. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THIS CAN CAUSE HARM TO SOMEONE OR LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AS I MIGHT HIT A PARKED CAR AT THE CORNER.

NHTSA ODI 10894750

May 16, 2016Airbags

MY WIFE SAT IN PASSENGER SEAT AND CLOSED THE DOOR. WE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS SENSING THAT THERE WAS NO ONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT (AIR BAG OFF)

NHTSA ODI 10865279

May 10, 2016Wheels

THE TIRES ON MY BRAND NEW NISSAN LEAF WENT OUT AT 15,000 MILES. THESE CARS HAVE NO SPARE WHEEL SO WHEN WE HAD FLAT TIRE WE HAD TO TOW IT TO THE TIRE SHOP AND PAY THE TOW TRUCK FROM OUR POCKET. NISSAN WEBSITE HAVE 36,000 MILES WARRANTY ON TIRES LISTED, BUT WHEN I CALLED NISSAN THEY SAID TIRE WARRANTY IS THOUGH BRIDGESTONE WHO MANUFACTURE THE TIRES ACCORDING TO NISSAN. THEY INSTALL ON NISSAN LEAF. I TOLD THEM NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE SINCE BUYERS DO NOT KNOW WHO MADE EACH INDIVIDUAL PART OF THE CAR. ANYWAY, WHEN I CALLED BRIDGESTONE THEY SAID THEY CAN NOT HELP ME. AS A BUYER OF NEW CAR IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE TIRES GOES OUT AT 15,000 MILES. I HAVE DONE THE RECOMMENDED TIRE ROTATION AT 7500 MILES. ALL I WANT FROM NISSAN TO INSTALL TIRES AS THEY SHOULD UNDER WARRANTY AND REIMBURSE FOR THE TROUBLE ONLY FOR THE MONEY I SPENT NOT FOR TROUBLE AS I LOST SO MUCH TIME. SO FAR I HAVE TO REPLACE 2 TIRES AND THE CAR CURRENTLY HAVE 23,400 MILES. FIRST INCIDENT WITH TIRE HAPPENED AT 15,000 MILES. THE TWO ORIGINAL TIRES CONDITIONS ARE REALLY BAD. IT IS COMPLETELY WORN OUT.

NHTSA ODI 10864185

Apr 29, 2016Airbags

THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEACTIVATION INDICATOR KEEPS GOING ON SIGNIFYING AIR BAG IS NOT FUNCTIONAL EVEN THOUGH THERE IS AN ADULT SEATING THERE.

NHTSA ODI 10862272

Apr 12, 2016Brakes

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A BUSY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MILE PER HOUR. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW DOWN FOR A STOP LIGHT. THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO "B" MODE TO SLOW IT DOWN AND THAT DID NOT HAVE ANY EFFECT (NORMALLY IT WOULD SLOW THE CAR DOWN THROUGH REGENERATIVE BRAKING). I THEN CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR SLOWLY (15-20MPH) FOR ~ 3 MORE MINUTES UNTIL I WAS IN A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN AND IT FELT "NORMAL" (PEDAL DID NOT GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR) AND THE BRAKES OPERATED NORMALLY. I CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY OPENED A CASE NUMBER, TOLD ME TO EITHER CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE, OR IF I FEEL COMFORTABLE, DRIVE THE CAR TO A LEAF-CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE HAD A TRAGIC ENDING. SINCE I DID NOT (LUCKILY) GET INTO AN ACCIDENT, THE NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE DID NOT SEEM TOO WORRIED ABOUT IT. I WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN HER REACTION. THIS IS AN INCREDIBLY SERIOUS SAFETY-RELATED ISSUE THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ODI 10855086

Feb 25, 2016AirbagsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END THREE VEHICLE COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING YARD WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM BACK PAIN AND PAIN TO THE RIGHT HAND AND THUMB PAIN. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

NHTSA ODI 10838480

Feb 8, 2016Brakes

BRAKES FAILED UPON STARTING THE CAR, THOUGH I DIDN'T KNOW IT WHEN I BEGAN TO DRIVE THE CAR. I HAD SEVERAL ERROR LIGHTS COME ON, BUT I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ERROR WAS, BUT THEN FIGURE OUT AS SOON AS PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE. I COULDN'T STOP USING THE BRAKES AND ONLY GOT MYSELF TO STOP BY USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT ONTO A CITY STREET, BUT FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO CARS PARKED BEHIND ME OR ANY MOVING CARS ON THE STREET. I ALSO ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE FORWARD, ALBEIT VERY CAREFULLY, ASSUMING IT WAS A STRANGE ONE-TIME OCCURRENCE. BUT THE BRAKES SIMPLY DID NOT WORK. UPON INSPECTING AND REPAIRING THE CAR (AFTER BEING TOWED TO A NISSAN DELERSHIP) NISSAN INFORMED ME THAT THE ABS BRAKE CONTROLLER FAILED.

NHTSA ODI 10824739

Feb 1, 2016Electrical systemBrakes

I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 2 MONTHS, AND THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED REPEATEDLY, ONCE ABOUT EVERY 5 DAYS ON AVERAGE. EVERY TIME THEY HAVE FAILED, IT WAS WHEN I START UP THE CAR, AND PUT IT IN EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE. I USUALLY PULL FORWARD INTO A PARKING SPOT, SO I GO IN REVERSE MUCH MORE FREQUENTLY AFTER STARTING UP, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED WHEN GOING FORWARD TOO. THIS IS THE FAILURE MODE. I START THE CAR, WHILE HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND THEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE. AT THAT POINT THE CAR STARTS ROLLING BACKWARDS, EVEN THOUGH I'M STILL HOLDING DOWN THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS SOFT AND WHEN I FLOOR THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR FINALLY SLOWS DOWN AND STOPS. ANOTHER WAY TO STOP IT IS TO PUT IT BACK IN PARK, BUT THAT CAUSES IT TO JERK TO A HALT. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS IS A SCARY SCENARIO, AND THIS FREQUENTLY HAPPENS AT MY KIDS' SCHOOL, WHERE THERE ARE MANY KIDS AND PARENTS WALKING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT. IN ADDITION, THE CAR ALSO HAS SOME OTHER PROBLEMS. IT SOMETIMES STARTS A LONG UNINTERRUPTED BEEP WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR TO GET OUT. THE BEEP GOES ON FOR MINUTES, AND SOMETIMES I SEE A WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD. FINALLY, THE CARD COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING TODAY. AN ERROR MESSAGE OF "T/M SYSTEM MALFUNCTION" APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND I WAS NOT EVEN ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL FOR THE TOW TRUCK. THE DRIVER WINDOW DID NOT WORK ANYMORE. AFTER ATTACHING A BATTERY CHARGER TO THE 12V BATTERY, I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT NOT ABLE TO PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, OR EVEN BACK IN PARK. THE CAR HAD MORE THAN HALF OF ITS BATTERY CELLS FULL, SO THE PROBLEM WAS NOT BECAUSE IT RAN OUT OF CHARGE.

NHTSA ODI 10823368

Jan 21, 2016Visibility & wipers

FORWARD AND SIDE VISIBILITY OBSTRUCTED BY ACCUMULATION OF FOG/FROST ON WINDOWS DUE TO HVAC SYSTEM'S FAILURE TO PRODUCE WARM AIR THROUGH DEFROSTING VENTS. WEATHER CONDITIONS BELOW ~25* F WITH REQUISITE HUMIDITY AND/OR PRECIPITATION RESULTS IN DANGEROUS LACK OF VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING OR STATIONARY.

NHTSA ODI 10821481

Dec 10, 2015Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND AFTER THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,200. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10809498

Dec 4, 2015BrakesCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A BRICK WALL. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS TO BE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. ..UPDATED 01/13/16 *BF UPDATED 05/03/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 10808499

Nov 25, 2015BrakesCrash1 injury

PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2015 NISSAN LEAF ON SEPTEMBER 12TH, 2015 3 WEEKS LATER ON OCT 5TH, 2015 BRAKES FAILED ON THIS BRAND NEW CAR WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY. AS A RESULT I ENDED UP HITTING A TRUCK IN THE REAR END AT 55 MPH. INURIES SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT AND 2015 NISSAN LEAF WAS TOTALED. I CALLED THIS INTO NISSAN AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A SERVICE NOTICE FOR THIS CAR FOR BRAKE FAILURE. THIS WAS NEVER DISCLOSED TO ME AND THE DEALER HAD NOT PERFORMED THIS SERVICE WORK ON THE CAR PRIOR TO SELLING IT TO US. PLEASE REPORT AND HAVE ALL BRAKE ISSUES WITH THE 2015 NISSAN LEAF INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA ODI 10806749

Nov 20, 2015BrakesCrash

IT WAS EARLY MORNING OF NOV 13 FRIDAY AROUND 5:30 AM, I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE TO WORK. I BACKED UP THE CAR ABOUT 10-15 FT AWAY FROM ORIGINAL PARKING POSITION AND STOPPED BECAUSE I FORGOT SOMETHING IN THE HOUSE. AT THAT TIME MY FOOT WAS STILL ON BREAK PEDAL HOWEVER, AS SOON AS I CHANGED TO DRIVE MODE, THE CAR MOVE FORWARD QUICKLY EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK PEDAL. I PRESSED HARDER ON THE PEDAL TO STOPPED THE CAR UNFORTUNATELY, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY HIT THE FILING CABINET, SHOE RACK AND PENETRATED THE HOUSE WALL. IT WAS A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR ME. MY HUSBAND ARRIVED HOME COUPLE OF HOURS LATER. HE ASSESSED THE CAR AND CAME INTO CONCLUSION THAT THE BREAK PEDAL IS TOTALLY REACHING THE FLOOR. WE IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED OUR INSURANCE COMPANY ON THE SAME DAY.

NHTSA ODI 10795161

Nov 15, 2015Brakes

UPON BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE, I FOUND THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO STOP THE CAR BY APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE. NOTE THAT I HAD THE CAR SERVICED ON 11/11/2015, AND ONE OF THE SERVICE ITEMS WAS "P5327 - LEAF ELECTRIC BRKE NTB15-089... ...7594 REPROGRAM ELECTRICALLY-DRIVEN INTELLIGENT BRAKE CONTROL UNIT... ...PERFORM CAMPAIGN P5327, ECM PART #46007-3NF9B"

NHTSA ODI 10790507

Oct 19, 2015Speed controlBrakes

LOST POWER AND COAST TO A STOP AND THEN STARTED UP OVER 12 TIMES IN A 2 DAY PERIOD NEW CAR HAD TO TURN ROTORS SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 10783489

Oct 9, 2015Speed control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHICH RESULTED IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,062.

NHTSA ODI 10781127

Sep 23, 2015Seats

2015 NISSAN LEAF. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE HEAD REST ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE HEAD REST WAS POSITIONED TOO FAR FORWARD, AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO ADJUST TO A COMFORTABLE POSITION. *JB

NHTSA ODI 10682281

Aug 23, 2015BrakesCrash

AS I TURNED INTO A PARALLEL PARKING SPOT AND APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR NEVER SLOWED. MY CAR HIT THE PARKED CAR IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI 10758632

Aug 12, 2015Fuel system

I WENT TO CHANGE LANES ACCELERATED HARD THE ACCELERATOR STUCK HIT THE BRAKE TWICE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING THAN I STOOD ON THE BRAKE HARD BRAKES LOCKED UP CAR WENT BACK TO NORMAL

NHTSA ODI 10748035

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Working with the data? Download all 107 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 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 2015 Nissan Leaf Plus verdict →