KnownCarProblems2015 Nissan Leaf Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 110 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Nissan Leaf, most often about the brakes (77% of complaints, typically around 32,500 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Leaf model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2015 Nissan Leaf problems
Brakes
85 complaints · 77%Half of these problems showed up before 32,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock.
Brakes were not functional after starting the vehicle. The brakes pedal would depress without resistance to the floor. The car was able to be be placed in drive and attempting to use the brakes to stop was useless. Had to place car in park and hold e brake. Brake malfunction light was present. Issue occurred multiple…
I was driving fown the highway and the car in front of me stopped. I was going 45 MPH. I was two car lengths behind him. I hit the brakes and the car wouldn't stop. I then slammed the brakes and the car slowed down, but I ended up rear ending him. It felt like my car was on ice, but the roads were clear. It was 29…
Electrical
18 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 31,000 miles. Parts named most often: 12v/24v/48v battery.
While I was accelerating to 60mph from a stop light on US 287 and isabelle road in boulder county, colorado, the car continued to accelerate uncontrolled to over 70. Accelerator pedal seemed to not work at all. I braked and slowed down but it was fighting the maximum acceleration. I tried pumping the brakes and kept…
When the 12-volt battery failed on my 2015 Nissan Leaf, the car would still turn on and would move forward without pushing on the accelerator. The brakes did not work either. This happened to me both in a grocery store parking lot at night and then the next morning on a residential street. Similarly, when it turned…
Other or unspecified
9 complaints · 8%The occupant classification system (ocs) is designed to classify the size and weight of the front seat passenger and, under certain conditions, automatically turn off the passenger air bag. The ocs system is designed to only deploy the front passenger airbag when the front passenger seat is occupied by an adult. In…
I was driving in somewhat heavy traffic in an urban setting at 25mph when, unexpectedly, I had great difficulty applying the brakes to stop at an intersection. It took considerable effort, including swerving, to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of me, and I pulled into a parking lot as soon as I was able, again…
Air bags
8 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 11,000 miles.
The passenger air bag turns on at random times when a passenger (over 140 pounds) is in the seat. This happens randomly, but consistently. We've tried different configurations; getting in the seat after the car has started, hoping up and down (trying to trigger the weight sensor), changing occupants, un-buckling and…
My driver side inflator failed. The dealer initially advised me to "keep driving the car until the part comes in after labor day." https://www.advantagenissan.com/ I cited my concerns with takata and the dealer assured me that this car did not have takata air bags. Regardless, a failed air bag activator and the dealer…
Speed control
8 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 5,000 miles.
Whenever we come to a stop for a traffic light or a stop sign, and the speed of the car is < 3 miles , we noticed that when we apply brakes, they do not get applied immediately. There is a sudden surge in acceleration before the car comes to a complete stop. This is very noticeable especially when we apply brakes to…
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Leaf. While merging onto a highway at 55 MPH, the accelerator pedal became stuck which resulted in unintended acceleration. The contact was able to regain control by depressing the brake pedal. Prior to the failure, the vehicle experienced the same failure without warning. The vehicle…
Transmission
3 complaints · 3%Car goes into turtle mode, losing all power. Has happened a few times, each time has been coming off a highway or heading up a steep hill and then traveling at low speeds. When car is turned off and on, codes reset. I have a reader for the OBD, it is showing fault p2138 000a EV/ hec acc pedal pos sens 1,2, err…
Engine
3 complaints · 3%The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Leaf. While driving 20 MPH, the vehicle suddenly stalled and failed to restart without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was…
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the engine temperature warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact depressed the brake pedal and pulled up the parking brake; however, both failed to operate as needed. The contact made a right turn…
Stability control
3 complaints · 3%I was driving in somewhat heavy traffic in an urban setting at 25mph when, unexpectedly, I had great difficulty applying the brakes to stop at an intersection. It took considerable effort, including swerving, to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of me, and I pulled into a parking lot as soon as I was able, again…
My car was parked in the driveway of my house. I turned it on like I do normally and I then I see the red brake warning indicator lights and the ABS warning indicator lights on the dashboard. I didn't think too much of it as I was rushing to get somewhere. My driveway is sloped down so when I put it on drive, I had to…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2015 Nissan Leaf recalls
Equipment: owners/service/other manual
Risk: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed may 26, 2023. Owners may contact nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is r23a1.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 leaf vehicles. The owner's manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard number 103, "windshield defrosting and defogging systems."
Air bags
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began june 7, 2017. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 leaf and 2014, 2016 and 2017 sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
Air bags: occupant classification
Risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet city express owners will be notified by general motors. Dealers will reprogram the air bag control unit (acu) and ocs electronic control unit (ecu) in altima, maxima, murano, rogue, and sentra vehicles, and replace the ocs ecu in leaf, nv200, nv200 taxi, pathfinder, infiniti q50, jx35, and qx60 and chevrolet city express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on may 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, infiniti customer ser
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 nissan maxima, 2013-2016 nissan altima, nv200, leaf, sentra, and pathfinder, 2014-2016 nissan nv200 taxi, infiniti qx60, qx60 hybrid, and q50 hybrid, 2014-2017 nissan rogue and infiniti q50, 2015-2016 nissan murano, murano hybrid, and chevrolet city express, 2014-2015 nissan pathfinder hybrid, and 2013 infiniti jx35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger occupant classification system (ocs) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Brakes: service brakes
Risk: If the brake relay fails, longer distances or additional brake effort would be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the intelligent brake control unit software, free of charge. The recall began on march 28, 2016. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 leaf vehicles manufactured november 19, 2012, to july 31, 2015. During very cold temperatures, the relay inside the electronic brake booster may freeze, requiring the driver to exert more effort to slow the vehicle down.
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
Questions about the 2015 Nissan Leaf
- What are the most common problems with the 2015 Nissan Leaf?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (85 complaints, typically around 32,500 miles); electrical (18 complaints, typically around 31,000 miles); other or unspecified (9 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2015 Nissan Leaf have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 26, 2023 (equipment). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2015 a bad year for the Nissan Leaf?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Leaf model year since 2000, with 110 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.