2012 Nissan Leaf problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (21) · Air Bags (9) · Electrical System (8)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Nissan Leaf model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
42 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (129)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · NTB09-131C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Air Bags 2024-09-19 · NTB19-071D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dtc b00a0-00 stored this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin. if you confirm dtc b00a0-00 (occupant detection sensor unit) is stored, and ocs zero point reset cannot be performed, (continued on the next page)
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-107G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB13-027D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
can communication – network diagnostic flow chart this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Electrical System 2024-05-21 · NTB10-066C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
can communication codes – diagnostic tips and guidelines this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 129 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-02-21 · Electrical System“high voltage battery keeps shorting out stalling while driving on interstate almost got hit by 18 wheeler a few times it's a very unsafe car to drive and i keep smelling something like an odor from the battery i've been trying to get help to do the door ship nissan consumer affairs and seem to be getting nowhere and they're letting me drive a car w…”
2024-07-23 · Air Bags“dealer is mike erdman nissan merritt island fl 32953 airbag warning light flashing red on console. paid $260 for diagnostic check on july 21, 2024. they cannot fix it as an airbag sensor on the passenger side seat is malfunctioning and the entire passenger side seat must be replaced and part is not available or is no longer in stock. they may be ab…”
2023-08-28 · Air Bags“my nissan leaf is showing a warning sign that front passenger side airbag is disabled. i see that this is a common complaint from many 2011-12 nissan leaf owners. i would like to add my name to the list of owners who had a similar complaint and please update if you make nissan do a recall for this issue.…”
2023-08-19 · Engine“car stops completely due to a defective battery should be recalled by dealer manufacturer …”
2023-06-27 · Service Brakes“the brakes on the vehicle jerk alot when going under 15, causing everyone in the vehicle to get jerked forward multiple times and are touchy resulting in almost being in an accident. airbag sensor for front passenger also no longer works and nissan refuses to repair any defect…”
2023-04-01 · Air Bags“the passenger occupancy sensor has failed and as a result the passenger airbag is now permanently off, as indicated on the console. the dashboard airbag and general error lights are now constantly flashing as well. the dealer indicated the failure is the mat in the seat, obd code b1018, and there is no repair for this failure. i see there are mutip…”
2022-07-13 · Seats“i believe my newly purchased 2012 nissan leaf is suffering from the same passenger-side airbag faulty sensor problem that has been documented in nhtsa case id: 11234415. i am experiencing the same flashing warning lights when i operate the vehicle. there are no signs of damage or tampering with the passenger-side seat. i will do my best to make t…”
2022-03-01 · Service Brakes“when applying the brakes at low speed the brakes grab suddenly causing the car to lurch to a stop. the problem is intermittent, and therefore difficult to predict, but occurs frequently. this behavior is an ongoing hazard to the driver and passengers while also increasing the risk of a rear end collision if someone is following too closely.…”
2021-08-28 · Service Brakes“as i am approaching a stop, and the car is under ~15mph, and i touch the brakes, the will grab strongly and slam the car to a stop; people in the car lurch forward, and the driver behind me is surprised by the sudden stop and has to slam on their brakes. i notice there are 2 campaigns for this issue, one just before my vin, and one after my vin, b…”
2021-08-25 · Vehicle Speed Control“multiple times when i have been driving, the accelerator pedal has stayed in the depressed position when i remove my foot from the pedal after going up to about 35 mph when i brake, the accelerator pedal stays in the depressed position and the vehicle resumes acceleration as soon as i remove my foot from the brake. today the only way i was able to …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.