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 ↗2016 Nissan Leaf brakes problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Nissan Leaf have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the brakes, typically surfacing around 20,000 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 →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
| Model year | brakes complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Leaf | 17 |
| 2013 Leaf | 22 |
| 2014 Leaf | 15 |
| 2015 Leaf | 63 |
| 2016 Leaf (this page) | 14 |
| 2018 Leaf | 12 |
| 2019 Leaf | 5 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 14 brakes complaints filed for the 2016 Nissan Leaf, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
No new NHTSA brakes complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Fourteen 2016 Nissan Leaf owners describe brake failures ranging from complete loss of braking to delayed engagement requiring full pedal pressure. The most common scenario: driver applies normal brake pressure, vehicle does not decelerate, driver must push pedal to floor before brakes engage—often only after multiple pump attempts. Failures occur on city streets, at stop lights, and on downhill roads at speeds from 25 to 35 mph, though some owners report it at low speeds only. A few describe shuddering and ABS-like sounds before loss of braking.
Failures also happen at startup with low 12V battery charge, where brakes simply do not work despite no dashboard warning. One owner reported a loud crack sound on the brake pedal before total failure.
The intermittent nature creates a diagnostic nightmare. Several owners say brakes work normally during dealer inspection, leaving technicians unable to reproduce the issue. When failure codes do appear, they point to electrically driven intelligent brake system errors. Nissan dealerships have identified failed brake control assemblies and actuator assemblies as the cause, quoting $3,000–$5,000 for replacement parts and labor. One dealership confirmed another Leaf on the East Coast had the same repair. However, some owners report Nissan and dealers refused further investigation or acknowledged never hearing of the problem, leaving cars unfixed and parked unused.
Same Nissan Leaf brakes reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Brake loss under load / intermittent brake failure
Brake pedal depressed but vehicle fails to decelerate normally, requiring full pedal pressure to floor to engage service brakes. Occurs during active driving at various speeds on city streets, stop lights, stop signs, and downhill roads. Shuddering sensation reported. May recover spontaneously or after restart.
When: Occurs randomly during operation; some cases at low speeds, others at 25-35 mph; affects vehicles from 13,700 to 93,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depressed with no response or delayed response; Pedal must be pushed to floor to engage brakes; Vehicle coasts through intersections; Shuddering or ABS-like sound on brake application; Loss of braking force on first contact, resolves on re-application; Affects both regenerative and non-regenerative braking modes
Codes mentioned: Brake system control light illuminated, ABS indicator light illuminated, Error codes for electrically driven intelligent brake system
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships replaced brake control assembly and actuator assembly; replacement parts cost $2,792–$4,099 plus $700–$900 labor. One owner at 42,537 miles required $5,000 repair; another dealership quoted $3,854 for same components.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan Case #27170321, Case #33554796; Nissan USA acknowledged at least one matching failure on East Coast vehicle with same repair solution; however, one dealership reported Nissan of America stated they had not heard of the issue
Brake failure at power-on with low 12V battery charge
Brakes do not operate when vehicle is started or shortly after startup, specifically when 12V battery charge is low but vehicle still powers on. No warning light on dashboard in some cases. Loss of vacuum assist noted.
When: At startup or immediately after startup; occurs during low 12V battery state of charge; as early as 13,700 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes inoperative at startup; No dashboard warning light alerting driver; Loss of brake vacuum assist; pedal requires hard pressure; Brakes do not engage despite pedal depression; Condition occurs only during low 12V battery charge state
Codes mentioned: Brake system control light (when illuminated)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner's dealership replaced 12V battery, resolving the issue.
Brake failure with loud crack sound on pedal pump
Loud crack or popping sound on first brake pedal application followed by complete brake failure. Brake pedal loose. Loss of all braking capability. May recover spontaneously after extended period.
When: At low speed (30 mph reported); timing uncertain
Symptoms owners cite: Loud crack sound on first brake pump; Brake pedal feels loose; All braking capability lost immediately following sound; Brake pedal goes to floor with no resistance; Vehicle will not engage brakes; Condition may recover after one hour
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
I haven't had an accident due to the brakes not working, but I have had similar issues that others are reporting. I've learned to not follow close at all. Mine is only at low speeds that I've noticed the lack of brakes. Seems random, cannot determine a specific speed or conditions that are common. It has happened since the beginning. Only at 13700 miles currently.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Nissan leaf. While driving in reverse, the brakes failed to engage when the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was towed to premier Nissan of metairie (located at 6636 veterans memorial blvd, metairie, la 70003, (504) 455-5800) to be diagnosed, but a failure code could not be found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and…
Vehicle is 2016 Nissan Leaf. Odometer reading 42,537. On August 28, 2022 in a shopping center parking lot under fair weather conditions and temperatures in the 80s, upon starting car, brake system control light and ABS indicator light both illuminated. Pulled car back into parking spot. Brakes did not work. Used emergency brake to stop vehicle. 9/11/2022 Inspection by Melloy Nissan. [XXX],…
No brakes at startup. No previous problems. Drove 20 miles night before. Brake pedal went to floor while backing out of garage.
During conditions of low 12v battery charge, the vehicle will occasionally start, go into a drive mode ("r" or "d") but the brakes will not operate. I stress that this only happens when the 12v battery has low charge, but not too low that the vehicle will refuse to start. I am not the only person to report this. Note the comment about brakes failing in this posting:…
Brake stopped working while I was driving on san thomas expressway in santa clara city in california; I immediately switched to "park" and also used manual brake, eventually I managed to stop it; since it's blocking a lane, police came and towed the car to the dealership. Mileage is estimate since the car is still being repaired in the dealership.
While approaching an intersection in a busy area of san diego county, the brakes failed on my Nissan leaf. The brake shuddered under my foot, much like anti-lock brakes do when they're engaged. After I felt the shuddering, the brake pedal went down but the vehicle did not decelerate as it normally would in response to braking. I tried the brake pedal a few times with no response, but the…
Had brakes trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Nissan Leaf?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 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 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most brakes failures cluster between 13,700 and 30,000 miles, with the median around 20,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,700; a quarter make it past 30,000. 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/2016/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.