Nissan Leaf problems
81 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 7 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
In 2017 I brought in my Nissan leaf to be serviced for a recall notice for the ocs sensor. Before then, the ocs sensor seemed to be working fine but I figured I should perform the service for safety. This last year the ocs sensor has stopped working completely. Now I have a red…
I put the car in park as I was pulling in without turning it off to grab trash from the curb and take it to the car, but the car keep accelerating. I jumped in and slammed on the bricks but it hit the brick wall to the house. I see more recent years were recalled for "unintended…
On nov 18. 2016, my wife was driving Nissan leaf 2013 on the highway under a rainy day, the vehicle suddenly gradually stopped (highway 680 to highway 580 at california state). My wife couldn't make it move even press accelerator until she stopped the engine and restarted…
While driving, the right front airbag light activated, indicating that the airbag was off. This occurred and continues to occur, regardless of the passenger's weight, or the absence of a passenger. Nissan serviced the vehicle once before with a "software update" that did nothing…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2013 Nissan Leaf reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 81 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Nissan Leaf is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2013 Nissan Leaf?
On the NHTSA data, the 2013 Nissan Leaf does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2013 Nissan Leaf?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 22 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 31,990 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The brakes is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 31,990 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Nissan Leaf has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Nissan Leaf?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 81 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $450, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.