NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Nissan Leaf. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
PAGE 1-21 OF THE 2012 NISSAN LEAF OWNER MANUAL HAS AN ILLUSTRATION OF A FORWARD-FACING CONVERTIBLE CHILD RESTRAINT INCORRECTLY INSTALLED, WITH THE CAPTION "LATCH WEBBING-MOUNTED ATTACHMENT". THE ILLUSTRATION SHOWS THE FORWARD-FACING CONVERTIBLE CHILD RESTRAINT INSTALLED WITH THE LOWER ANCHORAGE FLEXIBLE CONNECTOR STRAP (LATCH WEBBING) ROUTED THROUGH THE REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT BELT PATH. NO WEBBING IS ROUTED THROUGH THE FORWARD-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT BELT PATH. THIS ILLUSTRATION MAY SUGGEST TO USERS THAT THIS IS HOW TO ROUTE THE "LATCH WEBBING" IN A FORWARD-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT ILLUSTRATION, WHICH MAY LEAD TO INJURY. THIS ILLUSTRATION IS COMMON TO MANY MODELS OF 2003 AND LATER NISSAN VEHICLES, NOT JUST THE LEAF. *TR
THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLES REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES PROHIBITS SUCCESSFUL BUCKLING OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE BRAKE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14. *TR
DURING EXTREME BRAKING ON UNEVEN SURFACE, LOOSE GRAVEL, OR SLICK SURFACE, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) ENGAGES (AS EXPECTED). HOWEVER, ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED, ABS FAILS TO RELEASE THE BRAKES PROMPTLY. THE ADDITIONAL RELEASE DELAY CAUSES GREATER-THAN-INTENDED BRAKING, AND POTENTIAL FOR BEING REAR-ENDED (STRUCK BY FOLLOWING TRAFFIC). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVERSE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE POINTED UPWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO ALTER THE VEHICLE DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000. UPDATED 10/10/12 *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WENT OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A BUSH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500. .. UPDATED 08-27-12 *BF
MY 2012 NISSAN LEAF HAS A BATTERY CHARGE INDICATOR ON THE DASH THAT DOES NOT TRULY REFLECT HOW MUCH ACTUAL DRIVING RANGE MILEAGE IS LEFT. IN FACT, IT IS SO FAULTY THAT IT IS REFERRED TO ONLINE AS THE GOM OR GUESS-O-METER. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS I HAVE NO ACCURATE WAY OF KNOWING IF I WILL BE LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON AN EXPRESSWAY, A BUSY HIGHWAY, A BACK ROAD DETOUR, OR SIMPLY MILES AWAY FROM ANY CHARGING STATION. THE FIRST TIME I REALIZED HOW SERIOUS THIS PROBLEM WAS I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO COME AND GET ME. I LEFT MY HOME WITH 39 MILES OF CHARGE ON THE RANGE INDICATOR. IT WAS A COOL DAY SO THE CLIMATE CONTROL WAS OFF. I DROVE SEVEN MILES AND MY CAR RAN OUT OF CHARGE LEAVING ME ALONE AND FRIGHTENED IN AN UNFAMILIAR AREA. I AM A 70 YEAR OLD WIDOW. AFTER RECEIVING A TOW HOME, I CHARGED THE CAR AND THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALER FOR A BATTERY TEST. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND THAT THE PROBLEM MUST BE MY DRIVING STYLE. SINCE THEN, I HAVE NOT TAKEN THE CAR MORE THAN A FEW MILES FROM MY HOME AT A TIME. I HAVE HAD THE BATTERY TESTED PERIODICALLY AND VOICED MY CONCERN TO NISSAN BUT TO NO AVAIL. I CONTEND THAT IF A GAS DRIVEN AUTO HAD AN INACCURATE FUEL INDICATOR THAT CAUSED VEHICLE OPERATORS TO LOSE POWER WITHOUT ANY WARNING THEN THE NTSB WOULD WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT. I BELIEVE THAT MY NISSAN HAS A COMPARABLE PROBLEM. I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR THREE YEARS NOW AND HAVE LESS THAN 4,600 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I AM AFRAID TO TAKE IT ANYWHERE LEST I HAVE ONLY ONE THIRD OF REAL DRIVE TIME THAN IS DISPLAYED ON THE BATTERY DRIVE RANGE AND CHARGE INDICATOR. MY GUESS-O-METER IS A REAL SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR ADVICE AND INPUT IN THIS REGARD. *TR
NHTSA source checks for this vehicle year
Checks are recorded separately for each dataset, not for the whole page. Dates use UTC. A missing check date does not mean no records exist.
Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.