ABS/VDC CAN DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Nissan Leaf brakes problems
severe 22 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
4crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 22 brakes complaints filed for the 2013 Nissan Leaf, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Nissan Leaf in our records for brakes problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
Brakes accounts for 27% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering brakes on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Nissan is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign on Certain 2013-2015 LEAF vehicles to reprogram the Electrically-driven Intelligent Brake Control Unit.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Nissan is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign on Certain 2013-2015 LEAF vehicles to reprogram the Electrically-driven Intelligent Brake Control Unit.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN: ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN INTELLIGENT BRAKE CONTROL UNIT, ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, NEEDS TO BE REPROGRAM. MODEL 2013-15 LEAF.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has compiled Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) and Low Tire Pressure Warning System (LTPWS) information for: - Basic diagnosing of TPMS/LTPWS systems - Radio frequency interference causing a "No Data" (C1708, C1709, C1710, C1711) condition - Sensor leaks - Moving TPMS/LTPWS wheel assemblies from one vehicle to another and TPMS/LTPWS sensor registration - Air pressure changes with altitude and ambient temperatures - Aftermarket tire sealers - Aftermarket wheels - Inflating/deflating tires with TPMS/LTPWS sensors See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2013 Nissan Leaf report a pattern of sudden, unpredictable brake failures occurring between 15,500 and 85,000 miles. The most alarming cases involve complete loss of braking power during normal driving—at city speeds, on highways, and in traffic—with the brake pedal either locking solid initially then losing all pressure, or simply going limp to the floorboard without resistance. In several cases, repeated hard pumping or slamming the pedal finally triggers a response, but only to lock all four wheels at once, skidding the vehicle without ABS modulation.
Cold weather appears to trigger or worsen failures, particularly after overnight parking in sub-10°F temperatures, when the brake pedal becomes soft and mushy. Owners also report intermittent failures that resolve temporarily after powering the vehicle off and back on, making diagnosis difficult—several dealers found no mechanical fault despite confirmed brake loss.
Diagnostic trouble codes cited include C118A 0109 (ABS/E-driven int brake system) and C1A61 0109 (brake motor power supply). Nissan's documented fix is replacement of the brake booster controller or brake motor control unit at $2,000–$2,300 plus labor. However, one owner reports the dealer said they had never seen this failure pattern and needed to consult Nissan engineers.
Several owners note they'd already had brake recall work done (campaign NV16V119000) before the failure recurred, suggesting the prior repair did not permanently resolve the underlying problem.
Same Nissan Leaf brakes reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Brake pedal becomes immovable/stuck then loses pressure
Brake pedal locks solid and unresponsive, then after aggressive attempts suddenly goes to floor with no resistance or pressure. Results in loss of braking power even after restart.
When: 50,000 miles; occurs at city/stop-and-go speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal will not depress; Pedal suddenly goes to floor without driver input; No resistance or feedback at pedal; Brakes ineffective after pedal release; Wheels lock when pedal finally responds
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan replaced entire brake booster controller (brake brain) with factory part from Kentucky
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan recall for brake issue; replacement brake booster controller; referred to engineers
Complete brake system loss with no fault codes found
Total loss of brake function at highway and city speeds with no warning. ABS, traction control, and regenerative braking cease. Diagnostic testing by dealerships finds no mechanical fault.
When: 25,000–50,000 miles; occurs during normal driving at various speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes completely unresponsive; No ABS modulation; No traction control; No regenerative braking; Brake pedal goes to floor with no resistance; Warning lights illuminate (brake light, ABS light, hazard light); No beep or warning before failure
Codes mentioned: C118A 0109 (ABS E-DRIVEN INT BRAKE SYSTEM BRC-124), C1A61 0109 (BRAKE MOTOR POWER SUPPLY BR-46), CAN BUS error
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers found no mechanical issue or could not determine cause; one quoted $2,300 for parts and testing; brake master cylinder and control system bus replacement ordered but not installed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some vehicles subject to recall NV16V119000 but problem recurred post-recall; Nissan EV customer relations involved; electric brake control unit cost $2,000–$2,300 with $480 installation; Nissan refused warranty coverage out of warranty period
Brake failure after cold soak/low temperature
Brakes become unresponsive or very soft after vehicle sits overnight in cold weather, particularly in winter conditions around 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Pedal travel increases significantly.
When: Cold weather conditions (below 10°F); after overnight parking
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal very soft; Pedal travel halfway to floorboard; Complete brake failure on cold starts; Strange clicking and electronic noise from brakes; Brakes function normally after restart/warm-up
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to retrieve fault codes or duplicate failure; no repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle not included in NHTSA campaign 16V119000; manufacturer notified
Intermittent brake loss during driving with delayed recovery
Brakes fail suddenly during normal driving at various speeds without warning. Function returns after power cycling (turning vehicle off and back on). Occurs multiple times per owner.
When: Various speeds (25–40 mph); multiple recurrences over months or years
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes unresponsive mid-drive; Reduced braking ability on some occasions; Red brake warning light illuminates; Normal function returns after power-off and power-on; No warning before failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to identify cause or replicate fault; some owners attempted repairs that dealership said 'resolved' the issue without finding the root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Prior recall repair (P5327 or NV16V119000) did not prevent recurrence; Nissan EV support case opened but no resolution documented
Brake pedal pulsing and tire lock-up on initial brake application
When brakes first applied after parking, pedal rapidly pulses and sinks inches toward floorboard, causing all four wheels to lock simultaneously. Accompanied by loud grinding or mechanical noise.
When: Upon initial brake application after vehicle is parked and powered off
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal rapidly pulses downward; Pedal sinks several inches without driver pressure; All four tires lock immediately; Loud noise resembling mechanical grinding or drywall screwgun; All dashboard warning lights illuminate; Issue recurs periodically (reported 11 months later after prior visit)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to find problem during diagnosis; issue resolved after second visit but no root cause identified
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific response documented; dealer unable to diagnose
Brake lock-up and skidding at highway speeds
Brakes lock suddenly while driving at freeway speeds, causing tires to skid. Loss of control occurs when attempting normal braking maneuvers during heavy traffic or lane changes.
When: Highway and freeway speeds (40–50 mph); during traffic maneuvers
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes lock instead of modulating; Vehicle skids uncontrollably; ABS fails to prevent lock-up; Tires lock and vehicle slides
Excessive brake grab at low speed in cold weather
Brakes apply too aggressively at low speeds in cold conditions, causing vehicle to jerk or stop suddenly. Creates safety hazard for following traffic.
When: Cold weather conditions; low-speed stops during approach to intersection
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes grab too quickly; Vehicle jerks during gentle braking; Sudden hard stop unexpected by following drivers; Occurs consistently during cold weather
Brake failure triggered by road obstacles or bumps
Brakes fail or become very weak when vehicle encounters bumps or obstacles in road. At low speeds, brakes require pumping to re-engage. At higher speeds, brakes may lock instead of modulate.
When: Variable speeds; triggered by road surface irregularities
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes give out when hitting bumps; Brake loss at low speeds requires pumping to re-engage; Brakes lock at city/highway speeds with medium pressure; Brakes remain engaged even after foot removed; Vehicle slides after releasing brake pedal
Repairs/costs cited: Brake pads inspected multiple times and found fine
Brake fluid leakage
Brakes fail due to brake fluid leak discovered during dealer diagnosis.
When: 15,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake failure without warning
Repairs/costs cited: Brake fluid replaced; unknown other repairs performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified
Brake warning lights with hard pedal requirement
ABS light and red brake light remain on continuously. Driver must apply hard pressure to brake pedal to stop vehicle effectively.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light stays on; Red brake light stays on; Brake pedal requires hard pressure to function
Synthesized from 22 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Nissan leaf. While driving 50 MPH, the vehicle failed to stop when the brake pedal was depressed. As a result, the contact crashed into the preceding vehicle. The front driver's air bag deployed. The vehicle was towed to an independent facility. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA…
Oct 2017, leaf pulled out of parking lot from shopping trip ok, drove pass 1 stop sing ok (right turn, stopped) then lost brake function at up coming right light stop, no ABS, no traction control, no normal brake feedback, no 'engine brake' (simulation or re-generative braking), without any noticeable warning such as beeping sound. Panic, tried to press 'park' no reaction, the car feel like…
Brake failure on a city street. The electric brake control unit failed while the car was in motion in a straight line. I was able to stop the car without an accident. The hazard light, warning light, brake light and ABS light were all illuminated. I recycled power to the car but the error did not reset. I took the car to the Nissan dealership in murray utah for an assessment. Nissan said…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Nissan leaf. While driving 40 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle did not stop. The contact engaged the push start button and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to Nissan of elk grove in elk grove, california, but the source of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The…
Have experienced multiple times where at low speeds, if the car encounters bumps in the road, the brakes give out and you have to pump a time or two to get the brakes to engage. There are other times at city/highway speeds where if the brakes are pushed medium to medium-hard the brakes seem to lock on and even when removing my foot from the brake pedal, the brake doesn't disengage and the car…
I was driving on the freeway in heavy traffic, so I was only traveling at approximately 45-50 MPH. I was switching lanes when the car I was moving behind sudden slowed (it did not stop). I quickly hit my brakes so I could slow down as well, but my car's brakes locked-up and the car started to skid. I let-off the brakes but the car continued the skid and stopped. I was very lucky to not have been…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Nissan leaf. After hitting an obstacle in the road, the power brakes ceased to function without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
Had brakes trouble with your 2013 Nissan Leaf?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the brakes problem on the 2013 Nissan Leaf?
It's a meaningful issue. 22 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 13,000 and 48,000 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,000; a quarter make it past 48,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Nissan/Leaf.
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.