What 124 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Nissan Leaf Plus (60 Kwh Battery)

The contact owned a 2019 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 23V494000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL), 24V700000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), and 24V071000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH and coming up to an intersection, the vehicle ahead of the contact had stopped in front of the contact due to a crash. The contact attempted to stop the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to stop. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and crashed into the rear of the vehicle ahead. The contact stated that the vehicle came to a stop at the intersection under the traffic light after the crash. There were no warning lights illuminated; however, there was a beeping sound while attempting to stop the vehicle. The driver’s and passenger’s side air bags deployed as needed. The contact was unsure if a Police report was filed. The contact stated that the vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact sustained an injury to the right knee from the impact, sciatic nerve injury, shoulder pain, and emotional distress. The contact went to the Emergency room and had since received physical therapy. The contact believed that one other person in one of the other vehicles had sustained injuries. The contact stated that the vehicle had been towed to an auto body shop, and the contact stated that the body shop had deemed the vehicle a total loss. The contact stated that the dealer had contacted the body shop and had been harassing her as well as the body shop about returning the vehicle to the dealer. The contact then took the vehicle home with an abnormal clinking sound. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and suggested that there would be an investigation into the failure. The failure mileage was 82,000.

NHTSA ODI 11652665

I am writing to report a serious safety issue with my Nissan Leaf that needs immediate attention. On two separate occasions, the brakes have failed completely without any warning while driving. A warning light appeared, stating "T/M System Malfunction Warning - See Dealer," but by that time, the brakes had already stopped working. The only way to stop the vehicle was by using the emergency brake, which is extremely dangerous and could easily lead to a fatal accident. The first incident occurred when I was able to quickly pull into a Walmart parking lot, luckily avoiding other vehicles. The second time, the car crashed into the side of my garage and hit a tree stump in my driveway, causing damage to the rear of the car and breaking the side mirror. I was fortunate enough to engage the emergency brake before the car entered the road, but it was a terrifying experience that could have ended much worse. Fortunately, did not happen while my teenage children and their friends were driving the car. After researching this issue, I was shocked to discover that many other Nissan Leaf owners have experienced similar brake failures dating back to 2012. This is not an isolated incident, and I am deeply concerned that it continues to happen without resolution. When I brought my car to the dealership, they informed me that the issue is related to the Intelligent Brake Unit Controller, and the repairs would cost $5,000. However, my vehicle is only five years old with 62,000 miles, and I believe this defect should be addressed by Nissan, not at the owner's expense. I urge you to take immediate action to investigate this dangerous defect. There is no warning before the brakes fail, and this puts drivers and others on the road at extreme risk. Does it really take a fatal accident for Nissan to address this issue? This problem has been ongoing for years, and it’s unacceptable that it has not been resolved. I hope that you will take this matter seriously and provide a solution befo

NHTSA ODI 11617533

On 7/19/2024 while charging the car at Chargepoint Johns Creek, I heard a "clunk" sound as if something had popped off from beneath the body of the Leaf. At the same time, the charging emergency stopped. Smoke started to come out from under the Leaf. There was a smell as if something was melting, making me feel dizzy and nauseous. I felt a sense of confusion from inhaling the smoke. Since both my son and I were outside the car, we were able to quickly pull away and escape as soon as the smoke started. If we had been inside the car, or if this had happened while driving, we might have been unable to escape in time, lost consciousness from the smoke, and possibly died in the fire. The smoke continued for about 15 minutes, followed by a fire. At the same time, there was a sound of something exploding. The police arrived, followed by the fire truck. It took a long time to extinguish the fire, possibly because the lithium battery caught fire. Please refer to the video. ︎Mental and Physical Condition After the Accident Both my son and I are experiencing symptoms similar to PTSD. When we smell smoke or drive a car, we feel chills, nausea, and dizziness, which negatively affect our daily lives. This incident left burn scur to my son and has started having nightmares and crying at night. Seeing an electric vehicle scares us to the point that our bodies freeze and we can't move. Also, seeing fire or hearing car sounds suddenly makes us tremble, our hearts race, and we have difficulty breathing. We start crying uncontrollably in a panic, and it takes time to calm down. It is difficult to control our emotions. We are experiencing insomnia, likely due to the excitement of our nerves from the accident. We probably need mental treatment such as therapy and physical treatment to alleviate insomnia and tension.

NHTSA ODI 11608237

The Incident happened on a bright afternoon while I was entering our two car parking garage in our home ; steering wheel steered to the utmost right to enter the right parking space in our garage. I was driving an almost dead battery (8% charge remaining and 13 miles left) and the 2019 model Nissan Leaf car (20K miles driven) was already very heavy while entering our alley (backyard parking). I was driving at 10 mile speed or under when our fence door was in the process of opening (half way opened) and the car garage was already opened; the car jerked forward with a sudden speed, dashed through the fence door and did not stop on drive way (brakes failed) and entered into the garage, hitting the storage racks built to the wall and the toilet right behind it. Things fell on the windshield, obstructed the car when it finally stopped (had to hit the stop button by force). I was scared to death if the car was going to get on a fire or would result in an electric short circuit. Luckily I was saved with no major injuries and God was beside me and saved me from causing any damage to anyone or other's properties. I am sure there might have been other such complaints on Nissan Leaf and want to bring this to light.

NHTSA ODI 11448057

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY VEHICLE RAN OVER A SPARE TRAILER TIRE THAT HAD FALLEN OFF ANOTHER VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE ALMOST CLEARED IT BUT THE TIRE JUST BARELY LODGED UNDERNEATH IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE,JUST PAST THE FRONT TIRES. EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO FRONT COLLISION OR SUDDEN REDUCTION IN SPEED; THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. THIS IS A FLAW AND SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE THE VEHICLE DID SUSTAIN SOME DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE, THERE WAS NO NEED FOR AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND DOING SO EXACERBATED AN ALREADY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. THE AIRBAG STARTLED ME, OBSTRUCTED MY VIEW, AND COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED ME TO COLLIDE WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD. I REPORTED IT TO NISSAN USA. I WAS CONTACTED BY NISSAN INCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS AND THEY HAVE DISAVOWED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT AND CLAIM THAT THE SYSTEMS ARE WORKING AS INTENDED. I AM A FIREFIGHTER AND HAVE DEALT WITH MANY CAR WRECKS. I KNOW WHEN AN AIRBAG IS SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY AND IT IS CLEAR TO ME THAT THE SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE IS NOT OPERATING AS IT SHOULD AND IS PRESENTING A SAFETY HAZARD. FURTHER, BOTH THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND THE ATTENDANT AT THE REPAIR SHOP EXPRESSED CONFUSION AS TO WHY THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE AIRBAG REPLACEMENT ALONE WILL COST NEARLY $3,000 AND, SINCE THE PARTS ARE ON BACKORDER, WILL TAKE NEARLY A MONTH.

NHTSA ODI 11394641

ON FRIDAY 5/22/2020 AT 8:59 PM A 2019 NISSAN LEAF WAS IN MOTION DRIVING AT LESS THAN 7 MILES PER HOURS WHEN THE MAIN SCREEN DISPLAYED: 'WARNING: SERVICE EV SYSTEM POWERED REDUCED'. WITHIN SECONDS, THE OPERATOR STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND TOOK A PHOTO OF THE SCREEN. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE OPERATOR SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE. THE OPERATOR QUICKLY EXITED THE VEHICLE. VERY SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FLAMES OUT. SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF WARNING SCREEN, TRIP REPORT, VEHICLE ON FIRE, AND VEHICLE AFTER FIRE WAS PUT OUT. *TR*DT*JB

NHTSA ODI 11325648