Nissan Leaf Complaints (2011)

95 consumer complaints on file.

#10469924August 9, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2011 NISSAN LEAF ELECTRIC VEHICLE, PURCHASED ON 8/6/2011, LOST A BATTERY CAPACITY BAR ON 06/21/2012 - 10 MONTHS, 15 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE. THIS IS A 15% LOSS OF BATTERY CAPACITY. NISSAN ADVERTISES AN EXPECTED 80% CAPACITY REMAINING AFTER 5 YEARS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD MY BATTERY IS "NORMAL," AND SO IS THE LOST CAPACITY. I DISAGREE AND BELIEVE THE BATTERIES NISSAN IS USING IN THIS CAR ARE UNFIT FOR THE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN MY LOCAL AREA OF PHOENIX, AZ. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469926August 9, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
LOST FIRST BATTERY CAPACITY BAR AFTER ONE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. THIS RESULTS IN A 15% LOSS IN CAPACITY. DIFFICULTIES ARE OCCURING TO ACHIEVE DRIVING DISTANCES AND HABITS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR. VEHICLE WILL SOON NO LONGER FUNCTION AS AN FORM OF TRANSPORTATION IF RANGE CONTINUES TO DIMINISH. THE CAPACITY LOSS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE BATTERY AND IS UNACCEPTABLE TO LOOSE A LARGE AMOUNT IN A SHORT TIME FRAME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469729August 8, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY NISSAN LEAF HAS EXPERIENCED A 1 CAPACITY BAR LOSS FOR IT'S LITHIUM-ION BATTERY, REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF AVAILABLE MILES TO DRIVE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS PREMATURE AND THAT THIS IS IN RELATION TO LIVING IN A HOT WEATHER CLIMATE AREA (SUMMER MONTHS). NISSAN HAS BEEN INFORMED BY ME OF THIS CONDITION. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INSTANCE, IF POSSIBLE, PLEASE SEE ATTACHED SITE: HTTP://MYNISSANLEAF.COM/WIKI/INDEX.PHP?TITLE=REAL_WORLD_BATTERY_CAPACITY_LOSS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10469914August 8, 2012
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE PROBLEM IS THE BATTERY, WE WHERE TOLD BY NISSAN THAT THERE WOULD BE A SLOW LOSS OF CAPACITY AND UP TO 20% LOSS AT 5 YEARS. THIS IS ONLY IN HOT CLIMATES LIKE ARIZONA, TX AND CA. THE CAR SHOULD HAVE HAD A BATTERY COOLING SYSTEM. *TR NOW AFTER PAY $40,000 FOR THE CAR IN THE FIRST YEAR MY DRIVING RANGE IS DOWN SO MUCH IN MY SECOND YEAR THE CAR WILL BE WORTHLESS TO DRIVE OR SELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464541July 7, 2012
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, I PURCHASED A 2011 NISSAN LEAF FROM MY LOCAL DEALER. EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT UNTIL ABOUT A MONTH AGO WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 20 MPH OR SO WHEN THE POWER SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD INSTANTLY WENT OFF BUT THE RADIO+TOUCHSCREEN REMAINED ON. THE CAR CAME TO A CRAWL AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND RESTART WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. IT WAS A LITTLE SCARY TO SAY THE LEAST. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM AND LEFT A VOICE MAIL FOR THE SERVICE DEPT. SINCE IT WAS SATURDAY BUT NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK. I KIND OF SHRUGGED IT OFF THAT DAY THINKING IT MIGHT HAVE JUST BEEN A QUIRK SO I DIDN'T FOLLOW UP WITH THE DEALER. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AGO, I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT GOING AROUND 10 MPH AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND TOOK IT IN THE NEXT DAY. THEY'VE HAD THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND SAID THAT NISSAN TOLD THEM TO DRIVE IT AND TRY REPRODUCING THE PROBLEM. I DIDN'T EXPECT THEM TO REPRODUCE IT SINCE IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN WEEKS. AS EXPECTED, THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE IT SO I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR BACK SINCE THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I AM TAKING THE LEAF BACK TOMORROW TO START DRIVING AGAIN BUT DEFINITELY HAVE CONCERNS SINCE MY WIFE ALSO DRIVES THE CAR AND WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE WOULD DO IN A SHUT-OFF WHILE DRIVING SITUATION. LUCKILY, THE PAST TWO INCIDENTS WERE NOT IN HIGH SPEEDS AND I WAS ABLE TO REACT QUICKLY. MY WORST NIGHTMARE WOULD BE IF WE GOT REAR ENDED DUE TO INSTANTLY LOSING POWER. I HAVE CALLED NISSAN DIRECTLY TO LET THEM KNOW ABOUT MY CAR BUT NO ONE HAS CALLED ME BACK. I ASSUME THEY WERE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER. I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT I AM BEING HANDED THE CAR BACK AT A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461319June 12, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ABOUT 50 MPH. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED QUICKLY, AND I HAD TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE PRETTY HARD TO SLOW DOWN QUICKLY. BUT AS SOON AS I DID THAT, SOME CRAZY EMERGENCY/AUTOMATIC BRAKE SYSTEM KICKED INTO OVERDRIVE AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES LIKE 10 TIMES HARDER THAN I DID, AND CAUSED MY CAR TO PRACTICALLY STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO GET HIT BY A CAR, BUT LUCKILY I DIDN'T. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY, AND CLEARLY A DEFECT IN SOME BRAKING OR COMPUTER SYSTEM. I HAVE ALSO HAD A SIMILAR THING HAPPEN WHEN I AM DRIVING SLOWER (LIKE 30 MPH), BUT THE EFFECT IS NOT AS DANGEROUS OR INTENSE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND THEY UPDATED SOME COMPUTER UPGRADES THAT WERE NOT RELATED TO THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER LEAF OWNERS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS, AND YET NISSAN DOES NOT SEEM TO RECOGNIZE THIS AS A PROBLEM. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE PEOPLE GET HURT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458995May 19, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE APPLICATION IS AT TIMES VERY INCONSISTENT. ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS (<40MPH) SOMETIMES A LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATION CREATES A DISPROPORTIONAL BRAKE FORCE. THIS RESULTS IN SUDDEN INVOLUNTARY STOPS OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY THE HEADS OF PASSENGERS AND DRIVER BEING JERKED FORWARD. THE ISSUE DOES NOT OCCUR ALL THE TIME BUT IS REPRODUCIBLE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444875January 23, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I NOTICED THE BRAKING DEFECT SOON AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF MY LEAF. SIMILARLY TO THE OTHER RESPONDENTS, THE CONTINUANCE TO BRAKING AFTER THE PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED OCCURS AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS, ON THE FREEWAY, AND AT ALL SPEEDS IN BETWEEN. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DISCERN ANY PARTICULAR SITUATION THAT SEEMS TO 'CAUSE' THE PHENOMENON. I HAVE EXPRESSED MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS TO TWO SEPARATE NISSAN DEALERSHIP SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES (AT DOWNTOWN NISSAN OF LOS ANGELES, AND UNIVERSAL CITY NISSAN) WHO BOTH SAID IT WAS THE FIRST THEY'D HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. NEITHER SEEMED INCLINED TO LOOK INTO MY CLAIM IN ANY WAY. THE FACT THAT A SERIOUS FREEWAY COLLISION HAS BEEN REPORTED ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER LESS SERIOUS OCCURRENCES DETAILING THE SAME PROBLEM INDICATES THAT THERE IS INDEED A PROBLEM. IS NISSAN WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS BEFORE THEY DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? I REALLY LOVE THE CAR, EXCEPT FOR THIS BRAKING PROBLEM, BUT I REALLY HATE NISSAN FOR IGNORING SOMETHING POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING UNTIL SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437414November 27, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE BRAKING LIGHTLY AND NOT SUDDEN TO TURN INTO A SHOPPING CENTER, THE LEAF APPLIED FULL BRAKES AND DID NOT RELEASE THE BRAKES UNTIL THE CAR WAS GOING ABOUT 10 MPH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435269November 11, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BORROWED A LEAF FROM A CO-WORKER TO DRIVE OVERNIGHT. I PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY (NOT BY A PLUG) AND PLUGGED THE 110V CHARGER INTO AN EXTENSION CORD TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. I AWOKE AT MIDNIGHT TO A STRONG BURNED PLASTIC/OZONE TYPE SMELL IN MY BEDROOM, WHICH IS ABOVE THE GARAGE. I WENT TO THE GARAGE AND FOUND THE EXTENSION CORD WAS OVERHEATING, MELTING THE PLASTIC INSULATION FROM THE WIRING. I DISCONNECTED IT, OPENED DOORS FOR A WHILE TO AIR OUT THE HOUSE AND WENT BACK TO BED. GLAD I HAD ENOUGH BATTERY TO GET TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING. MY CONCERN IS THAT I ASSUMED THE CAR CHARGER WAS SELF REGULATING SO IT WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM USING AN EXTENSION CORD. AS A BORROWER, I DIDN'T READ AN OWNER'S MANUAL OR ANY INFORMATION WARNING ME TO AVOID AN EXTENSION CORD. I'M VERY STRONG AUTO-TECHNOLOGY BASED, YET STILL MADE THIS DUMB MISTAKE. IT WAS DARK, I WAS IN A HURRY TO GET HOME, QUICKLY PLUGGED IT IN AND WENT INSIDE. IF I WASN'T SLEEPING NEAR THE GARAGE, I ASSUME IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED THIS PATH OF OVERHEATING UNTIL THE WIRE BURNED THRU OR A FIRE OCCURRED. I ASSUME IF SOMEONE PLUGS IT DIRECTLY INTO OLD WIRING IN A HOUSE, IT COULD OVERHEAT THAT WIRING TOO. I EXPECT MANY PEOPLE COULD DO THE SAME THING AS I DID SINCE NO ONE HAS A PLUG OUTSIDE, AND NO ONE IN CALIFORNIA CAN ACTUALLY GET A CAR IN THEIR GARAGE BECAUSE ITS FILLED WITH STUFF. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AS IT WAS MARVELOUS TO DRIVE. BUT THIS CHARGING ISSUE NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT CLOSELY SINCE WE ARE BEGINNING TO READ STORIES OF HOUSE FIRES WITH EVS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428350October 3, 2011
EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE
ALTHOUGH APPARENTLY WORKING AS DESIGNED, THE PEDESTRIAN WARNING SOUND ON THE NISSAN LEAF IS INAUDIBLE TO ANY WITH MODERATE HEARING PROBLEMS, INCLUDING A GREAT MANY OF THE ELDERLY. THE PITCH IS TOO HIGH. LIVING IN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY, THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10422865September 1, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I HAVE DEFINITELY NOTICED THE BRAKING ASSIST DISPLAYING A MIND OF ITS OWN, THOUGH NEVER ON THE FREEWAY AS YET. SOMETIMES I JUST TAP THE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES APPLY MUCH MORE THAN I WAS PUSHING. OTHER TIMES THE BRAKES APPLY NORMALLY, BUT DO NOT RELEASE IMMEDIATELY AFTER RELEASING THE PEDAL. NISSAN...SOMETHING IS UP HERE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415888July 26, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN DRIVING AT 60 MPH DOWN THE FREEWAY, I HIT THE BRAKES HARD TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I DECELERATED TO ABOUT 30MPH WHILE VEERING TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING THE OTHER CAR. TO INFORM THE RAPIDLY APPROACHING CAR BEHIND ME, I TAPPED MY BRAKES ABOUT 4-5 TIMES A SECOND TO FLASH MY TAILLIGHTS. AT THAT POINT THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND MY CAR RAPIDLY DECELERATED EVEN THOUGH I HAD REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. AFTER ABOUT 1/3-1/2 SECOND, THE BRAKES RELEASED AND I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND CONTINUE DRIVING. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE FORUMS AND MY LOCAL EV GROUP, IT TURNS OUT THAT TWO OTHER PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR BRAKING BEHAVIOR WHERE THE CAR DECELERATED RAPIDLY EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT PRESSED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415264July 26, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS ON THE FREEWAY TRAVELING APPROPRIATELY 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AND IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SWERVED IN TO MY LANE AND BRAKED HARD IN FRONT OF ME. WITH NO PLACE TO GO ON EITHER SIDE OF ME, I WAS FORCED TO BRAKE FAST AND HARD. THE ABS KICKED IN AS EXPECTED BUT ONCE I HAD DECELERATED TO A POINT WHERE I KNEW A COLLISION WAS NOT IMMINENT AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR CONTINUED BREAKING VERY HARD. IT TOOK THE BETTER PART OF A SECOND WITH MY FOOT NOW COMPLETELY OFF THE BRAKE BEFORE THE BRAKES ACTUALLY RELEASED. IN THIS TIME, THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP AND HIT ME HARD, CAUSING INJURY TO TWO PEOPLE IN THE CAR WHO WERE NOT BELTED IN. THIS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDABLE IF THE LEAF HAD NOT FAILED TO DECREASE THE BRAKING EFFORT WHEN I RELEASED PRESSURE AND THEN ULTIMATELY TOOK MY FOOT COMPLETELY OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT FELT AS IF SOMETHING LIKE THE BRAKE ASSIST FUNCTION WAS MALFUNCTIONING... *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10415124July 25, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
I WAS ACCELERATING AFTER GETTING ON THE FREEWAY HEADING NORTH AND SLIGHTLY UPHILL I MIGHT HAVE BEEN PEAKING AT 55MPH WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SLAMMED HIS BRAKES ON. I DID THE SAME AND I HEAR MY TIRES SCREECHING , I PRESUMED THAT THEY WERE LOCKING. HOWEVER I DID MAINTAIN MY DIRECTION AND DIDN'T SEEM TO LOOSE CONTROL. WHEN I REALIZED I WOULD NOT REAR-END THE TRUCK I LEFT MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. I WAS ALARMED WHEN MY TIRES WERE STILL LOCKED AND REMAINED LOCKED FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A VERY LONG HALF SECOND. BY THAT TIME I THINK I WAS UNDER 20 MPH ON A FREEWAY AND I WAS DARN LUCKY NOBODY WAS REAR-ENDING ME! I THINK THIS IS A DEFECT IN THE BRAKING RESPONSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Nissan Leaf