2019 Nissan Leaf Reliability Report

Rapid swings in battery charge are the main driving failure here. One dealer diagnosed a cell imbalance across multiple cells after the reading jumped up and down while driving. Another report describes charge falling about 40% in a minute on long cold uphill climbs and recovering past the crest, getting worse each winter. Separate complaints describe an uncommanded full-throttle surge while rocking out of snow and a clunk when pulling away from a stop. Most remaining filings concern the delayed fast-charge battery remedy.

Backup camera blackouts lead this category. The screen goes black or shows the previous image in reverse, often intermittently, so dealers cannot reproduce the fault. Several owners say their VIN is not covered by a camera recall. Wipers also stop working, with one dealer blaming a bent arm and refusing warranty coverage. Other complaints describe a defroster that will not clear a fogged windshield in traffic, a rear hatch window that shattered on a normal close, and climate settings hidden while using Android Auto.

Sudden brake loss is the most serious report. Drivers describe a pedal with little or no resistance after an e-pedal disconnect or T/M system malfunction warning, sometimes with ABS and check engine lights. One driver had to use the emergency brake and crashed into a garage. Other complaints say the e-pedal fails to slow the car, letting it creep forward without throttle, or that stopping distances with the larger battery feel much longer. The electronic parking brake also may not engage automatically as the manual describes.

Power cuts in extreme cold are the only driving failure reported here. In one case at about -10 degrees F, a cold-battery warning appeared and power dropped while the car was climbing a steep hill at about 50 mph. The other two complaints concern the fast-charge battery recall and Nissan's slow response. One owner who imported the car to Canada says it cannot pass a safety inspection or be registered while the recall stays open with no remedy.

The backup camera intermittently loses its picture, leaving a blank screen while reversing. Owners say the fault returns after a recall repair, and dealers cannot find it because it comes and goes. One owner paid for an earlier repair that did not solve it. Another reports a blank screen at about 10,000 miles and says the dealer could not do the recall repair because parts were unavailable. Losing the camera makes reversing harder in a car with limited rear visibility.

Unexpected speed changes cause both complaints. In one, the car lurches forward at low speed while entering a garage on a nearly empty battery, the brakes fail to stop it, and the crash causes an injury. In the other, charge falls from 80-90% to 10% in under 30 seconds at highway speed. Turtle mode then limits the car to about 40 mph in 55 mph traffic. The charge rebounds once stopped, but the power limit stays on.

No audible chime sounds when a front seat belt is unbuckled, according to both complaints. Dealers say the car is designed this way. One owner points to federal standards that call for an audible signal lasting four to eight seconds and a visual alert lasting at least one minute when the driver's belt is off. These filings describe a missing warning feature rather than a belt failure, and neither reports a crash or injury.