KnownCarProblems2011 Nissan Leaf Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 95 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Leaf, most often about the air bags (37% of complaints, typically around 59,000 miles). It is 5th of 17 Leaf model years by number of complaints.
Most common 2011 Nissan Leaf problems
Air bags
35 complaints · 37%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles.
Passenger airbag system disabled by occupant sensor failure. This happened on startup. Dtc b1018 air bag occupant sens [unit fail] I want model year 2011 Nissan Leaf to be added to the existing recall for models 2013 Nissan Leaf.
The airbag warning light and danger symbol began flashing recently. Took the car to the dealership and they said the airbag sensor in the seat failed and needed to be replaced and the airbags would not function until the repair was completed. This vehicle has under 60,000 miles on it and the repair part costs nearly…
Electrical
29 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 20,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
The Nissan Leaf is a 100% battery operated vehicle. There is a built-in battery capacity indicator that is displayed as 12 indicator bars. Each bar represents a % of the batteries capacity to hold a charge. Nissan claims that gradual capacity loss is normal and that driver should expect to have 80% of their capacity…
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…
Brakes
20 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 15,500 miles.
When depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle goes from a soft braking to a jolting stop at speeds below 20 MPH. The vehicle jerks severly when braking and I am also very concerned this will be a problem on wet roads and I'm worried about being rear-ended as it stops suddenly. I experience this everyday that I drive…
My Nissan Leaf has never been in an accident of any sort, and has never even been driven over a curb. It is less than 18 months, and less than 15,000 miles. Front the day I got it, I felt that at times when I pressed the brakes on it, that they would slip, or not grab for a 1/2 second, but thought this might have been…
Seats
7 complaints · 7%Passenger seat airbag on/off switch sensor needs replacement according to Nissan dealer. Passenger airbag "off" light is flashing even with 125 pound passenger in seat. Nissan couldn't tell me whether or not passenger airbag was really on or off. Quoted $2400 to replace the passenger seat airbag switch and seat…
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.
Speed control
5 complaints · 5%I have run into what I believe is a small design flaw. Scenario: 1) Leaf is parked in condo parking garage with gentle uphill slope on parking space. 2) startup sound is turned off. 2) forget the Leaf is still plugged in to av l2 evse. 3) put foot on brake, push start button. 4) shift into reverse, not looking at dash…
Two months ago I was braking moderately when the car shuttered, there was a bump and the car began coasting. I saw that it had popped into n (neutral) even though I didn't touch the gear shift. I tried to put it back into d (drive) but it wouldn't respond. I pushed the car to the side of the road and tried several…
Fuel system
5 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles.
2011 Nissan Leaf, have taken it multiple dealers and done the update(s) required by Nissan, which actually made matters worse, regen is not working like had prior to the p3227 update. The biggest issue with the Nissan Leaf is the battery capacity and advertised claims. Currently charging 100% and getting less than 60…
I recently purchased a 2011 Nissan Leaf vehicle from a private party. I quickly noticed that my battery capacity was at 5 bars and the vehicle has 73300 miles. I also noticed the EV system warning light was on. I took the car to my local Nissan dealer and let them know that I was going to need a new battery but wanted…
Other or unspecified
4 complaints · 4%My car requires me to wait after pushing the start button before I can shift into drive or reverse. If I do not wait, then the car skips d or r and shifts into the neutral even when I select the gear shifter to r or d. I have explained this situation to my local austin Nissan dealer on 5/28/15. It was explained to me…
2011 Nissan Leaf, have taken it multiple dealers and done the update(s) required by Nissan, which actually made matters worse, regen is not working like had prior to the p3227 update. The biggest issue with the Nissan Leaf is the battery capacity and advertised claims. Currently charging 100% and getting less than 60…
Body and structure
3 complaints · 3%Parts named most often: body.
After stopping at an intersection, looking both ways and not seeing anybody, I started going through and crossing the street, then I suddenly come face-to-face with a pedestrian only inches from the side of the car! I almost hit someone, and the experience left me quite rattled. The problem is the pillar at the front…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Nissan Leaf recalls
NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Front occupant classification system mat
Summary
Preliminary evaluation (pe) 19-015 was opened as a result of defect petition (dp) 19-002 which alleged that model year (my) 2011 and 2012 nissan leaf were affected by the same defect addressed in an earlier recall, NHTSA safety recall 16v-244, but were not included in the scope of that recall.NHTSA 16v-244 involved a defect in the occupant classification system, a system intended to suppress deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag under certain specific conditions. Although the dp19-002 analysis determined the allegation that earlier my leaf vehicles should have been included in 16v-244 was not founded, the office of defects investigation nonetheless granted the petition and commenced
Front occupant classification system mat
Summary
A defect petition (see dp19-002) was received july 23, 2019 alleging that the occupant classification system (ocs) sensor (mat) in model year (my) 2011 nissan leaf vehicles is defective and affects the proper deployment of the passenger front air bag. The petitioner provided a list of potentially related NHTSA reports and noted a nissan recall involving later my leaf vehicles with ocs defect. Nhtsa is granting the petition and opening a preliminary evaluation in response, please see pe19-015.since receiving the defect petition, the office of defects investigation (odi) has determined that the my 2011 and 2012 leaf share a common ocs design, both using the same sensor mat for passenger presen
Questions about the 2011 Nissan Leaf
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Nissan Leaf?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (35 complaints, typically around 59,000 miles); electrical (29 complaints, typically around 20,000 miles); brakes (20 complaints, typically around 15,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Nissan Leaf have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Nissan Leaf. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Nissan Leaf?
- It is 5th of 17 Leaf model years by number of complaints, with 95 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.