WHEN MOVING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK YOU MUST DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. I'VE HAD 3-4 TIMES WHERE AS SOON AS THE GEAR SELECTOR MOVES TO "D" THE BRAKE PEDAL SOFTENS AND SINKS IN AND THE CAR ROLLS FORWARD UNTIL THE BRAKES ENGAGE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. SO FAR I'VE HAD TIME TO STOP BEFORE HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BUT I'M WOR…
2012 nissan Leaf brakes problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Crashes
3
Avg fix
$450
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
BRAKES GRAB AND LURCH THE CAR TO A STOP. THIS OCCURS ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC AND THUS IS DANGEROUS. A DRIVER FOLLOWING CLOSE BEHIND WILL BE SURPRISED BY THE VERY RAPID DECELERATION. IT HAPPENS OFTEN, ALWAYS AT SPEEDS BELOW ABOUT 10 - 15 MPH, BUT NOT EVERY TIME I BRAKE, AND IT IS UNPREDICTABLE. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN WIDELY REPORTED ON BLOGS. I HAVE INFORMED MY NISSAN SERVICE …
THE CAR CONTINUES TO BRAKE EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NO LONGER PRESSED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE ABS KICKS IN. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AFTER SOMEONE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME. I DID NOT WANT TO COMPLETELY STOP AS I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO APPLY FULL BRAKES EVEN WHEN I NO LONGER WANTED TO STOP AND NO LONGER PRESSED THE BRAKE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES TOTAL, ALWAYS …
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, but it looks to be the same problem. It is dangero…
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2012 nissan Leaf?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $450 for brakes repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to brakes?
No active recalls currently cover brakes issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
Some links on this page are affiliate links.