KnownCarProblems2012 Nissan Leaf Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 57 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Leaf, most often about the brakes (39% of complaints, typically around 19,500 miles). It is 8th of 17 Leaf model years by number of complaints.
Most common 2012 Nissan Leaf problems
Brakes
22 complaints · 39%Half of these problems showed up before 19,500 miles.
In may 2015 we brought the car to dealer service center complaining of periodic sensitive and periodic non-responsive brakes at low speed. Dealer could not replicate the issue. No repairs offered. On august 05 2015, brakes completely failed while moving under 15 MPH and the vehicle failed to stop at an intersection.…
This is an all electric vehicle. When applying the brakes at slow speeds the vehicle pulsates. This is a problem with the regenerative braking system since it doesn't happen when the vehicle is fully charged and not regenerating through the braking system.
Electrical
15 complaints · 26%Half of these problems showed up before 12,000 miles. Parts named most often: propulsion system.
Drove car into driveway with slight incline, pressed button to engage car into park, got out of vehicle, plugged in car to charge it. Walked up 2 steps to house, car rolled back nearly striking 9 year old. Rushed to the car to try to stop it. Car stopped when rolled back across street and into neighbors yard / rock.…
When I drive the car into my driveway on a slight incline and I get out of the car while its in drive and the car is on, the car remains stable and does not move. The car is extremely quiet. If I plug the charger into the car, the car immediatelty drops out of drive and into neutral causing the car to roll backward.
Air bags
11 complaints · 19%Despite an adult occupying the front passenger seat, the passenger airbag disabled indicator came on. This happened with two different full sized adults. Dealer could not recreate the problem and refused to attempt a repair.
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Leaf. While starting the vehicle in a parking lot, the air bag indicator illuminated and continued to flash. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and the computer system was reset. The technician also diagnosed that the side air bag sensor and cushion needed to be…
Speed control
4 complaints · 7%The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Leaf. The contact was parking the vehicle with his foot on the brake pedal when the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The vehicle went over a curb and crashed into a bush. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostics and the manufacturer sent an engineer to inspect the vehicle. The…
Driver and driver's young child were in vehicle. The driver was approaching an intersection and slightly increased speed to cross intersection. Accelerator pedal dropped to the floor, resulting in sharp acceleration at full power towards the next intersection. The next intersection contained other vehicles and a…
Seat belts
3 complaints · 5%With the car parked and all seats upright, I found the center rear seatbelt retractor locked. It was not possible to use the seatbelt. I folded the seat down, then back up, and it was locked tighter. My local Nissan dealer replaced the belt free of charge the next week. The service manager said that they service…
Visibility and wipers
3 complaints · 5%The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that the windshield washer sprays the rear edge of the hood and not the glass. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileage was 2,500. The…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2012 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 2012 Nissan Leaf
- What are the most common problems with the 2012 Nissan Leaf?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (22 complaints, typically around 19,500 miles); electrical (15 complaints, typically around 12,000 miles); air bags (11 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Leaf have?
- NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Nissan Leaf. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
- Is the 2012 a bad year for the Nissan Leaf?
- It is 8th of 17 Leaf model years by number of complaints, with 57 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.