INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire SERVICE PROCEDURE as it contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair. Nissan Bulletins are intended for use by qualified technicians, not 'do-it-yourselfers'. Qualified technicians are properly trained individuals who have the equipment, tools, safety instruction, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. NOTE: If you believe that a described condition may apply t
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Nissan Leaf brakes problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $450 · see brakes across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$450
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 12 brakes complaints filed for the 2018 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
Brakes accounts for 19% 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.
AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped with a lane camera (see Figure 1) SERVICE INFORMATION If the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) warning light or is blinking (but not illuminated steadily) or the customer states it is blinking, and there are no related DTCs, inspect the windshield. A blinking AEB warning light may occur under the following conditions: When contamination or foreign material adhere to the lane camera viewing window on the windshield. When driving while it is snowing or when frost forms on the lane camera viewing window on the windshield. When the lane camera viewing window on the windshield is temporarily fogged up. Fig
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe two broad brake failure patterns in the 2018 Leaf: unexpected activation and unexpected loss.
Unexpected activation centers on the automatic emergency braking system. Several owners report the AEB slamming on brakes at highway speeds (65 mph, 30 mph) with no traffic, pedestrians, or obstacles anywhere nearby. One owner experienced this twice on the Richmond Bridge alone; another reports multiple instances per month on city streets. A dealer told one owner that Nissan had fielded similar complaints and that his dealership alone had four comparable cases. One incident involved hard braking that nearly caused a loss of vehicle control.
Unexpected loss manifests differently. Two owners stopped at red lights describe their vehicles accelerating forward despite feet firmly on the brake. Both pumped the brake repeatedly with no response, only regaining control after maneuvering out of traffic lanes. A third owner reports a delay between pressing the brake and actual deceleration while using e-pedal in Eco Mode, with no engagement of automatic emergency braking despite a vehicle braking hard in close proximity. A fourth owner experienced brake power dropout—roughly one to two seconds—when wheels hit bumps or potholes during moderate braking, requiring hard pedal pressure to restore.
The e-pedal itself has two separate failure modes: it disengages unexpectedly after prolonged stops at traffic lights (VCM fault), and it disengages during hard parking lot maneuvers, both causing the vehicle to roll forward.
One owner reported an AEB disable warning with simultaneous erratic battery fluctuation in cold weather.
Dealers have not diagnosed root causes in most cases.
Same Nissan Leaf brakes reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
E-Pedal Disengagement While Stationary
Vehicle Control Module detects a fault and abruptly disengages one-pedal (e-pedal) mode while the vehicle is stopped, causing the vehicle to roll forward without warning. No prior alert is given before the disengagement occurs.
When: After vehicle has been at standstill for over one minute; multiple instances reported
Symptoms owners cite: VCM fault warning appears; E-pedal mode disengages unexpectedly; Vehicle rolls forward involuntarily; No prior warning before disengagement
Delayed Braking Response During E-Pedal/Eco Mode Transitions
When transitioning from regenerative braking (e-pedal active) to mechanical braking, a noticeable delay occurs before the vehicle decelerates. Driver reports pressing brake pedal firmly with audible foot contact but no immediate braking felt.
When: During transition between regenerative and mechanical braking in Eco Mode with e-pedal active
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal depression does not produce immediate braking; Delay between brake input and vehicle deceleration; Vehicle continues forward despite brake pedal pressure; Automatic emergency braking does not activate in response
Unexpected Automatic Emergency Braking Activation
Automatic emergency braking system activates and applies hard braking without driver input or any visible obstruction, collision threat, or traffic nearby. Multiple owners report sudden violent braking at highway speeds with no explanation.
When: Various conditions including highway driving at 30-65 mph, city streets, underground parking
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden violent braking without driver input; Brakes engage with no vehicles or pedestrians nearby; AEB warning lights appear on dashboard; Vehicle may lose control or nearly cause secondary collision; Accelerator disengages during braking event
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer suspected automatic emergency braking system fault; no resolution provided despite multiple service visits
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealers reported multiple similar cases at individual locations; dealership required liability waiver before returning vehicle; manufacturer unable to identify cause or provide fix
Brake Power Loss Over Road Irregularities
When brakes are applied at moderate speed (40 mph) and a wheel encounters bumps or potholes, braking power is lost momentarily. Brake pedal drops approximately one inch and requires hard pedaling to restore braking. A 'NOT AVAILABLE' message may appear on the dashboard.
When: At 40-45 mph when wheels encounter bumps, potholes, or road dividers during braking
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of braking power during braking on rough road surfaces; Brake pedal drops approximately 1 inch; Requires hard pressure to restore braking; 1-2 second duration of reduced braking; Possible 'NOT AVAILABLE' message on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Occurred 4-5 times; dealer found no issues upon inspection; owner suspects regenerative braking system failure during suspension compression
E-Pedal Disengagement During Hard Steering Input
When steering wheel is turned fully left or right while in parking lot and using e-pedal mode, the one-pedal braking system disengages entirely. Vehicle suddenly rushes forward despite foot remaining off accelerator pedal, creating collision risk with parked vehicles.
When: During parking lot maneuvers with full steering input while e-pedal active
Symptoms owners cite: E-pedal braking disengages during hard steering; Vehicle accelerates forward unexpectedly; No braking response despite accelerator not depressed; Occurs multiple times during ownership
Complete Brake Failure at Standstill
While stopped at traffic light with foot firmly on brake pedal, vehicle suddenly accelerates forward. Repeated hard brake pedal applications produce no braking response. Vehicle continues moving until driver can maneuver out of line and brakes finally engage.
When: While stopped at red light; occurred on May 12, 2018
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates forward while foot is on brake; Multiple brake pedal pumps produce no response; Complete loss of braking power; Vehicle finally stops after significant forward travel; Driver foot remains on brake throughout event
Repairs/costs cited: Front right bumper damaged; rear left bumper of other vehicle damaged in collision
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan stated no black box (data recording device) available for incident investigation
Automatic Emergency Braking Malfunction with Battery Fluctuation
AEB system disables itself (warning light flashes) without any collision event or driver action, occurring simultaneously with erratic battery state-of-charge fluctuations (73% to 8% to 14% to 70% to 60% within brief period) in cold weather conditions.
When: Around 45-degree weather; during freeway driving
Symptoms owners cite: AEB disabled warning light flashes; No collision or jerky movements to trigger AEB; Battery state-of-charge fluctuates erratically; No driver setting changes made
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The incident occurred at a stop sign where I was waiting behind one other vehicle. The vehicle ahead of me accelerated from the stop sign to turn into traffic, but abruptly slammed on their brakes. I had began accelerating up to the stop sign and was unable to stop before impacting the car in front of me. As soon as I saw the vehicle was braking, I immediately slammed on the brake pedal. Braking…
On the street we use to leave our neighborhood, there is one section of the cement that is a little taller than the one before it.intermittently, the automatic breaking will be set off in this spot for no reason. It is alarming! We are also worried it will happen on a busy street and cause an accident.
Around 45 degree weather, while driving on the freeway, a warning light indicating the AEB had been turned off started flashing on my dashboard without any collision, jerky movements, sudden stops, or changes to settings. At the same time this happened, my electric battery mileage started to fluctuate erratically (73% to 8% to 14% back to 70% and finally to 60%). This is extremely concerning…
Had brakes trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Nissan Leaf?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $450.
At what mileage does the brakes typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, brakes issues most often appear around 17,250 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2018/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.