Last updated: 2026-10-10

Nissan Leaf

Nissan Leaf Years to Avoid

5 scored model years (2018–2025) · model average 66/100

Skip the 2019 and 2020 Leaf. Owners of both years describe sudden battery charge collapses and long waits for a fast-charging repair, with dealers saying no parts are available. The 2021 is the year to buy, with far fewer complaints per car sold.

Verdict

Avoid
2020 58/1002019 58/100
Buy
2021 70/100
Model average
66/100
See years to avoid ↓See best year ↓See all years ranked ↓

Nissan Leaf Years to Avoid

These model years score significantly below the Nissan Leaf average of 66/100.

#YearScoreRatingRecallsComplaintsTop Issue
1202058/100Mixed6159Electrical System (113)
2201958/100Mixed5251Electrical System (162)

Why These Years Should Be Avoided

58
MixedReliability score: 58 out of 100, rated Mixed

2020 Nissan Leaf

Electrical complaints dominate. Owners say they were told to avoid fast charging until a repair arrives, and dealers report no parts, sometimes for over a year. Others describe sudden capacity loss and turtle mode, with dealers recommending a new pack and no loaner car during the wait.

6 recalls159 complaintsEst. repair:

Top issues: Electrical System (113), Unknown Or Other (14), Power Train (12), Fuel Propulsion System (11), Forward Collision Avoidance (2), Suspension (2)

View full 2020reliability report →
58
MixedReliability score: 58 out of 100, rated Mixed

2019 Nissan Leaf

Owners filed 251 complaints, most of them electrical. Many say they were told not to use the fast-charge port because of a battery fire risk, then waited more than a year with no parts or remedy. Others describe charge plunging into reduced-power turtle mode. One filing reports smoke under the car during a fast charge.

5 recalls251 complaintsEst. repair:

Top issues: Electrical System (162), Unknown Or Other (32), Fuel Propulsion System (17), Power Train (12), Visibility Wiper (10), Service Brakes (5)

View full 2019reliability report →

What Are Common Nissan Leaf Problems?

Leaf electrical problems

322 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2020, 2021

2019: Fast charging is off limits for most of these owners.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

56 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2020, 2021

2019: Most of these filings again describe the long wait for a fix to the fast-charging battery fire risk, and some owners say they were never notified.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

32 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2020, 2021

2019: The fast-charging ban dominates this category.

POWER TRAIN

30 complaints

Most reported in 2020, 2019, 2021

2020: Battery capacity drops suddenly and the car falls into reduced-power "turtle mode." Dealers diagnose defective cells and recommend replacing the pack, and owners report no loaner car while they wait.

SERVICE BRAKES

17 complaints

Most reported in 2018, 2019

2018: Most reports describe phantom braking.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

16 complaints

Most reported in 2019, 2021, 2020

2019: Backup camera blackouts lead this category.

Best Nissan Leaf Year to Buy Instead

70
GoodReliability score: 70 out of 100, rated Good

2021 Nissan Leaf

The 2021 has 51 owner complaints, or 35.8 per 10,000 sold, against 203 for 2019 and 166.3 for 2020. It also has fewer recalls than either. It is not clean: owners report battery fires and a fast-charging wait, so check for open repairs before buying.

Score: 70/100 (Good)4 recalls51 complaints
View full 2021reliability report →
VIN History Report

Found a Safe Year? Check the Specific Car

Even the 2021 Nissan Leaf has 4 recalls on file. A VIN check confirms the recall work on the exact car and shows its accident, title, and service history.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

All Nissan Leaf Years by Generation

Nissan Leaf Reliability Scores by Year

Excellent Good Mixed Risky

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Nissan Leaf years should I avoid?
Avoid the 2019 and 2020 model years. Both sit well below the Leaf's own average. Owners report sudden battery charge collapses, turtle mode, and long waits for a fast-charging repair, with dealers saying parts are unavailable. 2019 has 251 complaints and 2020 has 159.
Which Nissan Leaf year is the best choice?
The 2021 is the best choice among years on the road at least two years. It has 51 owner complaints and 4 recalls, compared with 5 recalls for 2019 and 6 for 2020. Still check for any open battery repair before you buy.
Which Nissan Leaf years have transmission problems?
The data shows no pattern of transmission trouble in any year. Power train complaints mostly trace back to the high-voltage battery, with shutdowns and bad cells. A clunk when pulling away appears in a single 2019 report, which is not enough to call a trend.
Is the 2018 Nissan Leaf a good year?
The 2018 rates good for reliability, with 64 owner complaints and a much lower complaint rate than 2019 or 2020. Its top complaints are electrical, service brakes, and vehicle speed control. It has 4 recalls and one fire report.
Is the 2025 Nissan Leaf the most reliable year?
It rates well, with no recalls and 7 owner complaints, but that does not make it the most reliable. A new model year has had little time to collect complaints. The 2021 is the safer pick with a longer track record.

How we score every Nissan Leaf model year

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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