Nissan Leaf Complaints (2013)
81 consumer complaints on file.
- #10618825August 4, 2014POWER TRAIN
THE CAR HAS ITS GEAR SHIFTER DIRECTLY BEHIND THE 2 CUP HOLDERS. I LEARNED THAT THE SHIFTER IS SOME KIND OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE LIKE A COMPUTER KEYBOARD. THE DEVICE IS SO UNPROTECTED THAT A SMALL SPILL OF A DRINK, AN OZ OR TWO CAN DRAMATICALLY ALTER ITS ABILITY TO OPERATE SAFELY. I HAVE HELD TWICE TWO BEVERAGES THAT WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP EJECTED AN OZ OR SO ONTO THE SHIFTER. NOW THE CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING OR SLIPS OUT OF REVERSE BACKING UP. ITS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. NISSAN AT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPT HAS REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY WARRANTY ASSISTANCE YET THE CAR IS NOW UNSAFE. THERE ARE NO WARNINGS ON THE VEHICLE ABOUT THIS DESIGN FLAW, YET THEY TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. THE SHIFTER IS VERY DIFFERENT IN DESIGN THAN OTHER NISSAN SHIFTERS .THIS SHIFTER IS EXPOSED UNLIKE OTHER MODELS. THEIR OTHER VEHICLES AREN'T EXPOSED. THIS IS SO SERIOUS I BELIEVE UPON EXAMINATION A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE FOR ALL OWNERS WHO MAY BE DRIVING AND THEIR CAR WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR. I MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET RESOLVE AND THEY WILL NOT BUDGE. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A PRODUCT DESIGN FLAW.. CAN YOU IMAGINE A COMPUTER WITH A KEYBOARD AND CUP HOLDERS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT? ANY LEAKAGE FROM A CUP WOULD RENDER IT USELESS. NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A CAR GOING DOWN A HIGHWAY AND SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR OR NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT IT IN PARK OR BACK UP AS IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL. THIS IS A NEW VEHICLE. THEY SHOULD HAVE DESIGNED THE SHIFTER TO MAKE IT LIQUID PROOF IF ITS GOING TO BE PLACED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF DRINK HOLDERS. THEY APPARENTLY DON'T CARE ABOUT MY FAMILY NOR MY SAFETY BY THEIR DISREGARD. PLEASE JUMP INTO THIS AND MAKE THEM CORRECT THIS FOR ME AND FOR OTHERS. THE DEALER SAID THEY HAVE OTHER SITUATIONS LIKE THIS YET NISSAN CLAIMS AT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONS LEVEL ITS NOT KNOWN. PEOPLE COULD GET KILLED FROM THIS. HELP. THANKS *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10616342July 25, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THIS IS AN ELECTRIC CAR. THE CAR WILL NOT START, EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY HAS PLENTY OF CHARGE. A DASHBOARD MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED, INDICATING THE PROBLEM IS THE CAR IS NOT RECOGNIZING THE KEY. THERE WERE OTHER UNUSUAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES AT THE SAME TIME, SUCH AS ONLY ONE OF THE FOUR WINDOWS WOULD ROLL DOWN, AND THE DOORS TEMPORARILY LOCKED AND REFUSED TO UNLOCK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10610991July 16, 2014AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIRBAG RANDOMLY TURNS OFF, WHILE SOMEONE IS SITTING IN IT. I'VE TAKEN THIS TO THE DEALER 4 TIMES NOW AND STILL HAVE THE ISSUES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10596607June 6, 2014STEERING, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10595114June 5, 2014POWER TRAIN, STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2013 NISSAN LEAF. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON TWO RARE OCCASIONS, HE ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE POWER BUTTON IN QUICK SUCCESSION TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. ALL SYSTEMS SHUT DOWN, NO POWER STEERING, NO BRAKES, ETC, BUT THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD OUT OF THE GARAGE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10586753May 6, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
CAR WAS BEING CHARGED AT PEP STATION AT NCSU CAMPUS. WHEN I UNPLUGGED THE CHARGER FROM THE CAR, I SAW FUMES AND THE PLASTIC AT THE CHARGING PORT OF THE CAR WAS MELTED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10586531May 5, 2014EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WAS DISTRACTING DURING DRIVING. UPON ACTIVATING THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM, HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE REVERSING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10586254May 2, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE 12V BATTERY IN MY LEAF GOES COMPLETELY DEAD ONCE A WEEK. THE DOORS WONT EVEN OPEN WITH THE REMOTE. I HAVE TO JUMP THE CAR AND THEN PLUG IT IN TO MY 220V CHARGER AT HOME. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED OUT THE VEHICLE AND SAID EVERYTHING IS FINE! REALLY, A 8 MONTH OLD CAR THAT NEEDS TO BE JUMP STARTED ONCE A WEEK IS NORMAL. I HAVE CHECKED THE WEBSITE FORUM, MYNISSANLEAF.COM AND THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF 2013 LEAF OWNERS. PLEASE HELP AS NISSAN WILL NOT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10573261March 18, 2014ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GOODNESS MY 2013 NISSAN LEAF WAS PARK IN THE RECREATION. THE CAR WON'T START BECAUSE THERE ARE EV SYSTEMS WARNING ICON DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD. I HAD TO TOW MY NISSA LEAF TO BROADWAY NISSAN DEALER. EVERYDAY THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR LEAF ENGINEER TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM AND THIS IS A NON-COMMENT PROBLEM. I TOLD THE SERVICE ADVISER THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. EVERYDAY THEIR EXCUSE STILL WAITING FOR LEAF SPECIALIST TO COME AND LOOK AT IT AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10558977January 8, 2014SERVICE BRAKES
I NEEDED TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE CAR. THE ABS LIGHT AND THE RED BRAKE LIGHT STAYED ON. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10547501October 10, 2013SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, SO I WAS ONLY TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH. I WAS SWITCHING LANES WHEN THE CAR I WAS MOVING BEHIND SUDDEN SLOWED (IT DID NOT STOP). I QUICKLY HIT MY BRAKES SO I COULD SLOW DOWN AS WELL, BUT MY CAR'S BRAKES LOCKED-UP AND THE CAR STARTED TO SKID. I LET-OFF THE BRAKES BUT THE CAR CONTINUED THE SKID AND STOPPED. I WAS VERY LUCKY TO NOT HAVE BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER CAR (ACTUALLY NISSAN IS THE LUCKY ONE TO ESCAPED LITIGATION). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10544062September 17, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER
DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, WHETHER IN THE SUN OR IN THE SHADE, BOTH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS SHOW ONLY THE IMAGE OF THE DASHBOARD. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE REFLECTION OF THE DASHBOARD UNLESS YOU ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS. IF YOU EMAIL ME I'LL SEND YOU PICS OF THIS CONDITION IN BOTH SUN AND SHADE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE LEAF CUSTOMER SERVICE PEOPLE AT NISSAN SEEM TO CARE. THEY CLAIM THERE ARE COMPARATIVELY FEW COMPLAINTS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10543170September 11, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, SEATS
PASSENGER AIRBAG SHOWS OFF WHEN PASSENGER IN THE SEAT IS A TYPICAL ADULT, ~130 POUNDS. THE UNDERSEAT SENSOR (ODS OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM) IS NOT CALIBRATED - NEEDS ABOUT 160 POUNDS TO SENSE A PERSON IN THE SEAT. NISSAN HAD A RECALL (MARCH 2013) FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. NISSAN HOTLINE ([XXX]) SAYS TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAYS CALL NISSAN. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THE RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10538582September 3, 2013WHEELS, STEERING, TIRES
VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND STEERING BECAME DIFFICULT. MY SPOUSE STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO LOOK FOR A PROBLEM. SHE FOUND THAT AIR WAS ESCAPING THE FRONT LEFT TIRE OUT OF THE SIDEWALL. SHE THEN DROVE THE CAR TO A SAFE STOPPING POINT AND CALLED FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SIDEWALL HAD BLOWN OUT ON THE FRONT LEFT TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND WAS REPLACED. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE RIM WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE SIDEWALL OF THE BRIDGESTONE ECOPIA TIRE HAD FAILED AFTER 5,800 MILES. WE WERE CHARGED $183 FOR THE REPAIR DESPITE THE CAR BEING LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10537862August 29, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY NISSAN LEAF WAS PLUGGED INTO 220V CHARGING STATION AT MY HOME. IT WAS CHARGING FOR OVER AN HOUR. MY SPOUSE WENT TO LEAVE AND WHEN ENTERING THE GARAGE SHE SMELLED A STRONG BURNING SMELL. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CHARGING STATION PLUG WHERE IT PLUGS INTO THE CAR. SHE TURNED OFF THE POWER AT THE BREAKER BOX AND THEN PROCEEDED TO UNPLUG THE CHARGER FROM THE CAR. TWO OF THE TERMINALS ON THE PLUG WERE DAMAGED AND 2 TERMINALS ON THE RECEPTACLE ON THE CAR WERE DAMAGED. THE CONNECTION HAD GOTTEN HOT ENOUGH TO MELT THE PLASTIC AND CREATE SMOKE INDICATING A FIRE. NISSAN HAS DETERMINED BY PICTURES THAT THE CAR WAS NOT TO BLAME FOR THE INCIDENT. THEY ARE BLAMING THE CHARGING STATION FOR THE FAILURE. THEY HAVE DENIED ANY WARRANTY COVERAGE. THE BURDEN OF THE BILL HAS BEEN PLACED WITH THE CUSTOMER. THE CAR IS CURRENTLY ONLY 5 MONTHS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10534176August 8, 2013VISIBILITY/WIPER
WASHER FLUID NOZZLES SPRAY AIMED TOO LOW. CANNOT CLEAN WINDSHIELD EFFECTIVELY. ONLY THE LOWER PORTION OF WINDSHIELD IS SPRAY LEAVING THE MIDDLE TO TOP PORTION NOT CLEAN. VERY DANGEROUS DURING WINTER AS THE SALT FROM ROAD WILL BLOCK VISION. WIPER WITH POOR SPRAYED FLUID AMOUNT/LOCATION WILL ONLY SMEAR THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10531552July 24, 2013SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN STARTING THE CAR, ALL LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED AND CAR WOULD DO NOTHING. SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING WAS CLEAR. PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE AND HAD NOMINAL BRAKING. IT TOOK 10 FEET OF SLAMMING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP AT 2 MPH IN REVERSE. IT LITERALLY FELT LIKE NO BRAKE PRESSURE. STOPPED AND RESTARTED AGAIN AND THINGS WERE SEEMINGLY BACK TO NORMAL. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP WHO BLAMED IT ON LOW 12V BATTERY. BRAKING WAS PATHETICALLY WEAK AT THE ONE TIME... IT WAS NOT JUST THE TYPICAL LACK OF REGENERATIVE AND MOTOR ASSISTED BRAKING YOU WOULD GET DURING A FAULT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10522140June 27, 2013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RE-CHARGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SOFTWARE WOULD NEED TO BE UPDATED BUT IT WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10520480June 18, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO HAVE CONTINUING CHARGE SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY LEAVING ME UNABLE TO DRIVE SOMETIMES DUE NOT BE FULLY CHARGED WHEN YOU EXPECT TO BE CHARGED AND HAVING PROBLEMS ON DIFFERENT CHARGING STATIONS CONTACT NISSAN 06/13/13 AND WAS ADVISED TO TAKE TO THE DEALER AND 6/14/13 LEFT THE CAR AT DEALER COMMONWEALTH NISSAN THAT DID NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM AND CLAIM VEHICLE IS WORKING AS DESIGNED THEY WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE PROBLEM AND NEXT DAY 06/15/13 HAD PROBLEM AGAIN UNABLE ME TO DRIVE HOME AND NEED TO RESTART CHARGE COUPLE TIMES UNTIL GET ENOUGH CHARGE TO DRIVE HOME ON 6/17/13 TOOK THE CAR AGAIN TO DEALER COMMONWEALTH NISSAN AND THEY BEFORE LOOK THE CAR SAID THE PROBLEM IS THE CHARGING STATION ON MY HOUSE THEY RESET THE VEHICLE AND PUT TO CHARGE ON THEIR CHARGING STATION AND PROBLEM ALSO HAPPEN PROVING THE PROBLEM IS THE VEHICLE THEY GAVE THE KEYS BACK SAYING THEY ORDER A CHARGING PORT DID NOT GAVE ME ANY DATE OR IDEA WHEN THE PART WILL ARRIVE HANDLE ME THE KEY OF A DEFECTIVE CAR THAT CAN LEAVE ME STRAND ON THE STREET ANYTIME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10519929June 15, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE 101 FREEWAY IN CAMARILLO, CA ON THE WAY TO WORK. CAR SUDDENLY FLASHED MULTIPLE CONFLICTING DIAGNOSTIC CODES (TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND REDUCED POWER TO THE CAR AND PUT IT IN TURTLE MODE. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE FROM THE MIDDLE LANE (OF THREE LANES) TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND CALLED NISSAN SERVICE. POWER WAS ONLY AVAILABLE TO THE DASHBOARD AND CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO FORWARD OR REVERSE. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AFTER CALLING NISSAN ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE. DEALER REPLACED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL PRESSURE SENSOR AND RETURNED CAR BACK TO ME AFTER CAR WAS IN SERVICE FOR THREE DAYS. CAR DROVE FINE FOR TWO DAYS ON VERY SHORT TRIPS. MY WIFE DROVE THE CAR AGAIN AND IT DIED AGAIN ON HIGHWAY 33 IN OJAI IN TOWN. SHE HAD NO POWER TO MOVE THE CAR OUT OF TRAFFIC. SHE POWERED DOWN THE CAR AND POWERED IT BACK UP AND WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT POWER WAS RESTORED. SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT BACK HOME (ABOUT A MILE) AND WE HAD NISSAN ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOW IT BACK TO THE DEALER. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NOW FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. DEALER IS IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE FACTORY TO GET A NEW COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS THE POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM TO OTHER CAR COMPONENTS. HOWEVER, DEALER CANNOT GIVE US AN ESTIMATED DELIVERY DATE OF THE PART. IT SEEMS THEY MAY HAVE TO GET IT FROM JAPAN. DEALER IS VERY FRIENDLY BUT IS NOT ABLE TO GET CAR FIXED IN A TIMELY MANNER. I ALSO AM CONCERNED THAT THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT IF THE PROBLEM HAPPENS AGAIN, EITHER MY WIFE OR I WILL GET INTO AN ACCIDENT ON THE FREEWAY. CAR WAS IS JUST A MONTH OLD WHEN THIS STARTED WITH NO OTHER APPARENT PROBLEMS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0