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severe Owners of the 2015 Nissan Leaf have filed 63 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 34,000 miles at roughly $450 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See brakes across all vehicles →
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Leaf | 20 |
| 2012 Leaf | 17 |
| 2013 Leaf | 22 |
| 2014 Leaf | 15 |
| 2015 Leaf (this page) | 63 |
| 2016 Leaf | 14 |
| 2018 Leaf | 12 |
| 2019 Leaf | 5 |
Of the 63 brakes complaints filed for the 2015 Nissan Leaf, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
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.
Cumulative share of the 11 mileage-bearing brakes complaints filed against the 2015 Nissan Leaf by each odometer reading. Median failure: 19,000 mi.
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
Of the 8 model years of Nissan Leaf we track for brakes problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 63.
Brakes accounts for 59% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 5 categories tracked.
If the brake relay fails, longer distances or additional brake effort would be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
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 ↗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.
Owners of 2015 Nissan Leafs describe brake failures ranging from complete loss of pedal pressure to delayed or soft responses requiring hard floor-level effort to stop. The most common failure mode is the brake pedal losing all resistance and sinking to the floor while the vehicle continues moving—sometimes for hundreds of feet—despite the operator's foot fully on the pedal. Many incidents occur at low speeds (5–40 mph) during startup, gear changes, or initial braking, though some occur at highway speeds. Warning lights (brake, ABS, traction control) frequently illuminate, accompanied by buzzing, clicking, grinding, or pulsing sounds from the engine compartment.
The failure is often intermittent: brakes work normally on the next drive or after the vehicle sits for 30 minutes to hours, yet reoccur unpredictably. Some failures are tied to cold weather (below freezing), while others happen in warm conditions. Dealers often cannot reproduce the fault and return the vehicle marked safe or claim it's a one-time fluke. Diagnostic codes point to the Intelligent Brake Control Unit or CAN communication failures. Repair costs run $4,300–$8,000 for unit replacement; some owners pay the full amount while others receive partial or full Nissan coverage. The NHTSA recall 16V119000 exists but does not cover all affected VINs, leaving many owners without recourse.
Same Nissan Leaf brakes reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2018
Brake pedal loses all resistance and travels to the floor with no braking power. Vehicle requires emergency brake or prolonged manual effort to stop. Often accompanied by warning lights (brake, ABS, traction control) and audible buzzing, clicking, or grinding sounds from brake system.
When: Varies; occurs both at startup and while driving. Some instances tied to cold weather (0-29°F), but also reported in warm conditions. Incidents occur across mileage range from 3,000 to 82,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal goes to floor with no resistance; Vehicle continues to move despite brake pressure; Brake warning light, ABS light, and traction control warning lights illuminate; Buzzing, clicking, grinding, or pulsing sounds from engine compartment or brake pedal area; Vehicle creeps or lunges forward/backward when placed in gear despite foot on brake
Codes mentioned: Intelligent Brake System malfunction codes, CAN communication failure codes, ABS system codes, Brake booster codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers diagnose failure as Intelligent Brake Control Unit (IBCU) malfunction requiring replacement. Costs reported: $4,329–$8,000+ for unit and wiring harness replacement. Some owners charged full cost; others had Nissan cover 80% or provide full warranty coverage. One owner cited $5,500 Nissan contribution with $1,500 owner cost. Another reported $553 after 80% Nissan coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V119000 (Service Brakes recall) exists but does not cover all affected VINs. Some owners not notified of recall applicability. Nissan customer service initially offers no guidance or claims no knowledge of issue. Dealers frequently cannot reproduce failure and return vehicle marked 'safe' or claim it's a 'fluke.' Some repairs covered under warranty; others require full owner payment despite acknowledged manufacturing defect.
Brakes fail completely or significantly during one driving event but restore function after vehicle sits for 30 minutes to hours or is restarted. Failure is not permanent and can recur unpredictably on subsequent drives.
When: Can occur at any time during vehicle operation or immediately after startup. Reported at mileage ranging from low miles to 55,000+ miles. Some instances correlate with cold temperatures.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake system warning lights illuminate then clear; Pedal loses pressure and goes to floor; Vehicle unresponsive to brake input; Grinding or clicking sounds; After sitting or restarting, brakes function normally until next failure
Codes mentioned: CAN communication codes, Intelligent Brake System codes, Electronic Brake Control Unit communication failure codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers often unable to diagnose because failure clears before inspection. Owners report replacing 12V auxiliary battery (cited cost $388–$450) without resolving issue. Ultimate fix reported as Intelligent Brake Module replacement, cost varying.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers state 'unable to reproduce' or 'fluke' and return vehicle as safe. Nissan customer service does not provide clear guidance. One owner replaced intelligent brake module at own expense and reported problem resolved thereafter.
Vehicle creeps, lunges, or rolls forward or backward immediately after startup or when shifted from Park to Reverse/Drive despite operator's foot firmly on brake pedal. Brake pedal may lack resistance or depress to floor. Issue often occurs without prior warning.
When: Upon vehicle startup or immediate gear shift from Park. Reported at various temperatures and mileages. Some instances occurring in parking lots, driveways, and garages.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle moves despite brake pedal fully depressed; Brake pedal may feel soft or offer no resistance; Emergency brake may be ineffective or only partially effective; Vehicle lunges forward or backward until operator uses emergency brake or presses harder; Grinding, clunking, or chattering noises during braking attempts; Multiple warning lights illuminate
Codes mentioned: 12V battery failure codes (though battery voltage often tests adequate), Intelligent Brake System codes, Brake system communication codes
Repairs/costs cited: One owner cited $1,200 repair cost (including $450 battery replacement) at dealership. Others required towing and full brake system diagnostic. Intelligent Brake Control Unit replacement has been recommended by dealers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan has not issued a recall covering all instances. Dealers attribute some failures to 12V battery but replacements do not consistently resolve issue. Some owners declined repair due to high cost relative to vehicle value.
Brake system fails or significantly degrades when ambient temperature is at or below freezing (0–29°F). Brakes may recover function as vehicle warms or when ambient temperature rises. Issue may be triggered by extended parking in cold conditions.
When: Occurs when outdoor temperature is 0–29°F, often after overnight parking or parked periods. Brakes may restore function when vehicle warms up or temperature rises later in day.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal loses resistance in cold conditions; Brake and ABS warning lights illuminate; Clicking or buzzing sound from brake system; Severe reduction in braking power; Vehicle may roll backward on slopes despite brake application; Warnings clear and brakes function normally when temperature rises or vehicle warms
Codes mentioned: ABS codes, Brake system warning codes, Electronic brake control module codes
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair noted in narratives for cold-weather-specific issue. Dealers have replaced 12V batteries and conducted system diagnostics without identifying root cause tied to temperature.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan customer service did not provide clear guidance when contacted. Owners noted online discussions suggesting cold-weather brake failure recall may exist but does not cover all VINs. No specific manufacturer service bulletin or recall targeting cold-weather issue mentioned in these narratives.
Brakes respond slowly, require excessive pedal pressure or full floor depression to achieve stopping power, or engage only after multiple pump cycles. Response may feel grabby or inconsistent, with ABS engaging unexpectedly.
When: Can occur at startup, during normal driving, or after parking overnight. Reported across various mileage and temperature ranges.
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal requires harder pressure than normal to engage; Pedal travels further than usual before braking effect felt; ABS engages without skid conditions present; Grinding, squealing, or squeaking from brake pedal or system; Inconsistent braking feel trip to trip; Brake warning lights may or may not illuminate
Codes mentioned: ABS system codes, Brake booster codes, Electronic brake control module codes
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to diagnose in most cases when tested. One owner cited brake sensor replacement recommendation. Workaround reported: pressing and releasing pedal multiple times resets system temporarily.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers frequently unable to replicate and return vehicle stating 'no issue found' or 'needs brake sensor replacement.' No specific manufacturer guidance provided for intermittent slow-response failures.
Synthesized from 63 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
I brought the car in for brake safety recall in 2017. On oct 31st, 2018 with 56,320 miles the brakes failed in driveway twice in cold weather. On nov 1 the brakes were working again with warmer weather. I drove to the dealership. Ran tests, found nothing wrong. I was told it was a low 12 volt battery even though I had replaced the battery 24 months prior (now 3rd battery in 3 years). I was…
Whenever you brake and hit a bump or pothole the brakes disengage launching you forward causing a huge danger of hitting other cars, people or other objects
Was driving the car in a neighborhood setting only going 20 mph, ABS light turned on the dashboard, traction control light or some other light regarding traction came on as well, brakes failed. Had to use parking brake to stop the vehicle.
Brake warning lights on dash may turn on at startup sometimes, and pressing brakes cause grinding noise (like anti lock activated). Located in san jose, ca, weather is about 50-90 degrees f. Nissan keeps on saying there's no issue, and it's a $4k fix to replace the whole brake system, and will not look at the issue. Have gone to several dealerships, no help.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Nissan leaf. While driving 35 MPH and attempting to park, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The brakes failed to respond after the ABS warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake sensors needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was…
While driving normally, yellow brake warning lights came on but I arrived home without incident. Next time I drove, the warning lights were all off, but suddenly the brakes failed almost completely. I pushed the pedal to the floor and heard a grinding/clicking sound, and barely any stopping power. I was only going 25 mph, and was able to stop after 5 seconds of high foot pressure. At the same…
I was driving fown the highway and the car in front of me stopped. I was going 45 MPH. I was two car lengths behind him. I hit the brakes and the car wouldn't stop. I then slammed the brakes and the car slowed down, but I ended up rear ending him. It felt like my car was on ice, but the roads were clear. It was 29 degrees outside.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Nissan leaf. The contact stated that while driving at 5 MPH and attempting to park, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard causing the contact to crash into a brick wall. The brakes failed to respond. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was to be diagnosed and repaired.…
The morning of november 9th, 2018 I attempted to start the vehicle after having been parked overnight in our garage. When I pressed the brake pedal, I did not feel any resistance. After pressing the on button, I felt the pedal resist and vibrate. I heard a grinding sound from behind the pedal and warning lights illuminated for brakes and ESC. The vehicle would not start so I had it flatbed towed…
Much like other complaints here, just after starting the car and putting it into reverse from a parking spot, pressing the brake pedal did not slow the car down, even with the pedal fully depressed. Only after letting the brake up and pressing it again did it work. Fortunately I didn't hit anyone or anything and was able to get the brakes to work in time. The next time I went to start the car,…
It's a meaningful issue. 63 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
Across the 43 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 19,000 and 50,000 miles, with the median around 34,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 19,000; a quarter make it past 50,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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.
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover brakes issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.