Nissan Leaf Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2019 draws 11.22 complaints per run and the 2016 2.06, a 5.4-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 78.2% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 439 complaints, typically at 4.9 years.

Nissan Leaf years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Nissan Leaf — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2025	1.17	7	6	too new
2021	1.67	55	33	too new
2020	3.22	164	51	yes
2019	11.22	258	23	yes
2018	5.33	64	12	yes
2016	2.06	35	17	yes
2015	7.43	104	14	yes
2014	3	30	10	yes
2013	5	75	15	yes
2012	4.9	49	10	yes
2011	7.25	87	12	yes

ROWS 11·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2019 Leaf asks a median $11,995, against $11,500 for a 2020, the next model year: about the same, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 5 Nissan Leaf years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2019, 2015, 2013; the three worth hunting are 2016, 2020, 2013.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Nissan Leaf — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	69	7.5%	covered
1 year	78	16%	covered
2 years	54	21.8%	covered
3 years	66	29%	you pay
4 years	135	43.7%	you pay
5 years	186	63.9%	you pay
6 years	151	80.3%	you pay
7 years	83	89.3%	you pay
8 years	38	93.5%	you pay
9 years	17	95.3%	you pay
10 years	17	97.2%	you pay
11 years	13	98.6%	you pay
12 years	8	99.5%	you pay
13 years	4	99.9%	you pay
14 years	1	100%	you pay

ROWS 15·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 21.8% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 78.2% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 9% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

On the Nissan Leaf, the early trouble is Unknown Or Other and Vehicle Speed Control — reported at around 4 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Electrical System at 4.9 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Nissan Leaf — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Electrical System	439	4.9 yrs	5	8
Service Brakes	215	4.5 yrs	27	—
Unknown Or Other	117	4 yrs	6	5
Fuel/propulsion System	109	5.1 yrs	3	1
Air Bags	84	6.1 yrs	6	—
Power Train	45	4.8 yrs	1	1
Vehicle Speed Control	43	4 yrs	13	—
Engine	40	5.1 yrs	2	3

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Leaf's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 4.69 for the Leaf.

FIG.05·Nissan Leaf — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Leaf	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Toyota Camry	20,039	161	1983–2026
Honda Accord	24,369	415	1981–2026
Dodge Challenger	1,696	77	1981–2026
Toyota Prius	12,873	109	2001–2026
Hyundai Elantra	9,090	117	1992–2026
Nissan Altima	15,657	148	1993–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Nissan Leaf

Recalls55 campaigns Fuel economy121 mpg best Common problems962 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space24 cu ft Used prices1,060 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2011–2026

Frequently asked questions

Is the Nissan Leaf reliable?

By complaints per production run it is worse than typical: 4.69 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Leaf years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2019, 2015, 2013. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2016, 2020, 2013. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Leaf problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 4.9 years, followed by Service Brakes.

Will the warranty cover Leaf problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 21.8% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 9% of the complaints here.

Is the Leaf more reliable than the Toyota Camry?

Yes: 4.69 complaints per production run for the Leaf against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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