Nissan Leaf Complaints (2011)

95 consumer complaints on file.

#11655282April 17, 2025
SEATS, AIR BAGS
Car throws a B1018 DTC, which is for the passenger seat occupancy sensor. The seat occupancy sensor failing poses a major safety risk, as it causes the airbags to not deploy properly in the event of a crash. This is a very well known issue for the 2011-2012 LEAF, and the only option Nissan gives to fix this is a full seat replacement, which is cost prohibitive at over $3000. Previously, a recall was issued for 2013-2016 LEAFs for a similar issue, but the 2011-2012 was not included in that recall.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11650398March 25, 2025
AIR BAGS
Air bag sensor fault, passenger seat warning on dashboard. Confirmed sensor failure at repair shop. Notified by Nissan that sensors are DISCONTINUED parts. No alternative solution suggested. This means all airbags in this vehicle are disabled. Car has less than 40,000 miles and has years of service life left. How is Nissan allowed to discontinue supply of an essential safety component?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11602884July 17, 2024
AIR BAGS, SEATS
Please see thread: [XXX] My 2011 Nissan Leaf's OCS has failed randomly. I pulled the code via an Bluetooth OBD reader and the LeafSpy Pro app installed on my phone: B1018-00 09 AIR BAG Occupant Sens [Unit Fail] SRC-41. I took the car to a local dealership and was quoted over $4k for a full seat replacement with no ETA as the part is on back order. There is no option to simply replace the OCS alone and there is no workaround from Nissan to re-enable the passenger airbag without paying the $4k for the new seat. Opened a case with Nissan Consumer Affairs who advised they could do nothing for me. The repair is more expensive than the value of the vehicle. Because Nissan offers no workaround other than paying $4k for a new seat, consumers are incentivized to bypass the airbag sensor using a 3rd-party box (see here [XXX] rather than properly repair it. This is a safety issue and Nissan should do the right thing in making the repair affordable or making an official way to bypass the sensor/enable the airbags. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11591749May 31, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
When applying brakes, at a point in the pedal travel the vehicle deceleration goes from too little to vastly too much. This makes the vehicle challenging to drive in traffic without colliding into the vehicle in front and not stopping so quickly as to cause the trailing vehicle to collide. The dealer has confirmed the behavior. There is a TSB to supposedly address the problem, and a receipt is attached of that TSB software update being applied. However, this has not changed the behavior. This is at least partially a software issue, since the vehicle blends physical brakes with EV regenerative braking.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11546502September 25, 2023
SEATS, AIR BAGS
Supplemental air bag warning light started blinking on 9/24/2023. It blinks regardless of whether the front passenger seat is occupied. The OCS sensor for the passenger seat failed. This should have been covered by a recall. The dealer wants over $3,000.00 to replace the seat cushion. I declined the repair. Dealer assured me that driver air bag isn't affected, so I'll operate the car without a front passenger. Dealer Estimate: Denied Repair Step Step Total: $3,687.14 Correction: inspected system, dtc b1018 for occupant sensor unit failure is present. Cleared dtc, when sitting in passenger seat, dtc came back on. Inspected continuity to passenger seat occupant sensor and found ok at this time. Diagnosis says replacement of passenger occupant sensor assembly (lower seat assembly) Labor: $588.00
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11532380July 14, 2023
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Vehicle doesn't slow down when taking foot of the acceleration pedal. Same both power settings. It will continue to move at slow speed on level ground. It behaves as though the minimum pedal.motor speed is too fast. My concern.is that it might get very fast without any pedal. Thank you.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11528019June 20, 2023
AIR BAGS
My airbag sensor light went off for no reason. I took it into the dealership and was told that it would cost $3,700 to get it repaired/replaced since the seat needs to be removed. I am concerned that this safety issue is not taken care of and have read that many 2011 Leaf's are having this same issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11525249June 4, 2023
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
On 05/28/23 while i was trying to park my 2011 Nissan Leaf in a parking lot, the car accelerated unexpectedly and hit a pole and fence and scratched an already parked car. Applying break did not slow down my car. I own this car since 2011 and never had an experience like this.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11524494May 30, 2023
AIR BAGS
The airbag warning light has come on. An independent shop and the dealer say the repair is $4500 or more -- greater than the value of the vehicle, because Nissan only sells the complete passenger seat as a repair part, and requires the airbag be paired with the car at the dealer. I ask that this situation be resolved by Nissan making just the seat cushion available as a repair part, as they have for recalls of airbags on other model year cars. The SAFETY problem is that Nissan's refusal to sell a repair part, leads to a FISCAL INCENTIVE TO BYPASS THE AIRBAG. See also NHTSA #: 08V-521
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11480818August 23, 2022
AIR BAGS, SEATS
Air bag occupant sensor in front passenger seat failure causing air bag system shut off. DTC Code: B 1018 Description: Air Bag Occupant Sensor (Unit Fail). Well documented common failure of this critical safety component on the Nissan Leaf Forum. Sensor is not available to replace the defective part and a recall campaign was issued by Nissan, but doesn't cover 2011-2012 models. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The system scan revealed the DTC Code. Code returns after code clearing. Component has not been inspected by manufacturer. Air Bag Warning indicator lamp and Air Bag Off X 2 lamp illuminated.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11473727July 13, 2022
AIR BAGS
Passenger airbag sensor is not working. When car is turned on and driving, the dashboard continually displays a red flashing warning light indicating an airbag malfunction. There is also a message that the passenger air bag is off. Newer Nissan Leaf models have had the same problem and have been recalled, but not the 2011 year. It should be recalled. Estimated cost to fix is $3000. Seat bottom was replaced in 2016.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11464595May 13, 2022
AIR BAGS
Airbag light comes on when it should not. Vehicle disables the passenger airbag because it has code B1018. Airbag should not disable when an adult is sitting in the passenger seat. Code can be reset, but will come back any time someone sits in the passenger seat, regardless of size.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11437896October 23, 2021
AIR BAGS, SEATS
The air bag sensor unit failed. The car only has 5271 miles on it and it was stored in a warm garage since 2011. This failure isn't due to use so it must be a manufacturing defect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434534September 27, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that the Telematics Control Unit, which locates the nearest charging station, was inoperable and could not be upgraded. Additionally, the 12 Volt battery would not charge, and the doors would not unlock to open. The windows would not roll up, and the gear shifter would not shift out of park into neutral. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. However, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000. The VIN was unavailable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11413946April 26, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2011 NISSAN LEAF VEHICLES IS DEFECTIVE AND AFFECTS THE PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF THE PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG. I HAVE A FAULTY OCS SYSTEM FOR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR AND I WILL NEED TO SCRAP THE CAR RATHER THAN PAY THE 4-6 THOUSAND DOLLAR COST OF A NEW PASSENGER SEAT.M I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESET THE ODBC CODE BUT NOW ITS NOT ALLOWING ME TO DO THAT ANYMORE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11413725April 25, 2021
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP ON A CITY STREET TO TURN LEFT ON MY WAY HOME THE ENGINE LOST POWER EVEN AS I PUSHED THE ACCELERATED PEDAL MORE TILL THE CAR ALMOST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN. ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL ACCELERATION POWER AFTER I PREPARED TO PULL OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11406264April 3, 2021
AIR BAGS
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR IS NOT WORKING. WHEN CAR IS TURNED ON AND DRIVING, THE DASHBOARD CONTINUALLY DISPLAYS A RED FLASHING WARNING LIGHT INDICATING AN AIRBAG MALFUNCTION. THERE IS ALSO A MESSAGE CONTINUOUSLY DISPLAYING THAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF. NEWER NISSAN LEAF MODELS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED, BUT NOT THE 2011 YEAR. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. ESTIMATED COST TO FIX IS $3000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11385388December 29, 2020
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHING. PASSENGER AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED. DEALER FIX IS A NEED A NEW PASSENGER SEAT AT A COST OF $3,000+. CURRENT FAULT CODE IS B1018. OCCUPANT SENSOR UNIT FAIL. SEAT IS PERFECT AND NO ONE SITS ON IT - IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS A KNOWN IISSUE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11374557November 13, 2020
AIR BAGS
2011 NISSAN LEAF HAS CODE B1018 OCCUPANT SENS(UNIT FAIL) FOLLOWING A CUP OF WATER SPILLED ON FRONT SEAT. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT TIME. ONLY PROPOSED REMEDY IS TO REPLACE FRONT SEAT AND SENSOR FOR ~$2,624. 2013-2016 LEAF WERE RECALLED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 16V244000; PLEASE EXPAND RECALL TO 2011 & 2012 NISSAN LEAF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11341967July 28, 2020
AIR BAGS, SEATS
AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHING. PASSENGER AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED. DEALER FIX IS A NEED A NEW PASSENGER SEAT AT A COST OF $3,000+. CURRENT FAULT CODE IS B1018. OCCUPANT SENSOR UNIT FAIL. NO DAMAGE TO SEAT OR CUSHION. IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. SAFETY ISSUE. SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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