Reliable Auto DB

2016 Nissan Leaf reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2016 Nissan Leaf has 36 complaints with NHTSA after 11 years, or 4 per year. That is about even with the other Leaf years here. Their median is 4 complaints per year. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Owner's manual, Air bags, and Inflator.

2012 Nissan Leaf
Photo by Vauxford, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

36

Per year

4

Recalls

4

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (16 of 36), then Electrical system (13) and Fuel and propulsion system (8). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports a fire.

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 Leaf has 110 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2017 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2016 Nissan Leaf. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall Owner's manual 2023-04-26 · NHTSA campaign 23V296000
Summary Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Remedy Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A1.
Recall Air bags 2017-04-13 · NHTSA campaign 17V253000
Summary Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
Remedy Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2016-06-15 · NHTSA campaign 16V436000
Summary Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.
Remedy Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Recall air bags, sensor, occupant classification 2016-04-26 · NHTSA campaign 16V244000
Summary Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Remedy Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

Complaints by component (36 total)

Service brakes
16
Electrical system
13
Fuel and propulsion system
8
Air bags
3
Engine
3
Powertrain
3
Steering
2
Structure
1
Crash-flagged

1

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

3201642017620185201922020120214202232023520242202512026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME intermittently AT FIRST ... NOW permanently AND CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED BY NISSAN. IHAD TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WHILE ON THE FWY AT 60MPH, THE DASH LIGHTS FOR ALL BRAKE COMPONENETS CAME UP WITH TIRE AS…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-07-28
  • "When turning left there is a plasticky sticking feeling and sound like a plastic bushing is coming apart. this causes the steering to momentarily bind. this happens most often when making gentle curves on the highway.…"
    Steering · filed 2025-04-10
  • "On January 9, a little after 12:30 pm, on Indian Head Highway (MD route 210) northbound near the Manokeek exit, after limiting drive power owing to battery degradation and cold weather (about 30 F) drive power and power…"
    Steering, Powertrain, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-01-09
  • "On Friday, November 1, at about 3 pm, the brakes failed pulling away from the curb in a forward direction after loading equipment into the vehicle. Really stomping the brakes as though they had a fluid problem did get…"
    Electrical system, Service brakes · filed 2024-11-05
  • "Drove home at 7PM mild day (65-70 degrees). Stopped the car and turned it off for an hour. Had to leave home at 8PM. Turned on the car and backed up the driveway. Tried to stop but break wasn't working.. Pressed all the…"
    Service brakes · filed 2024-04-23

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 Nissan Leaf 5 HB FWD 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack) — Automatic (1-speed) Front-wheel drive 126 101 114 MPG / 84 mi range $650
Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) — Automatic (1-speed) Front-wheel drive 124 101 112 MPG / 107 mi range $650

Specs and fitment

1st generation (ZE0), 2012–2017
Body styles Hatchback
Tire size 205/55R16, 215/50R17 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 17V-253 covers certain 2015-2017 LEAF and certain Sentra vehicles: due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in a crash. Dealers replace the front passenger air bag inflator. The campaign also names Sentra model years, so published totals are shared. Recall 16V-119 covers certain 2013-2015 LEAF vehicles where, during very cold temperatures, the relay inside the electronic brake booster may fail.

Compare

Previous year 2015 Nissan Leaf See every Nissan Leaf model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Nissan Leaf reliable?

The 2016 Nissan Leaf has 36 complaints with NHTSA after 11 years, or 4 per year. That is about even with the other Leaf years here. Their median is 4 complaints per year. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Owner's manual, Air bags, and Inflator.

What are common problems with a 2016 Nissan Leaf?

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (16 of 36), then Electrical system (13) and Fuel and propulsion system (8). Those filings include 1 that reports a crash and 1 that reports a fire.

Is the 2016 Nissan Leaf more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 Leaf has 110 complaints, 11 per year, and the 2017 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has more complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 Nissan Leaf been recalled?

The 2016 Nissan Leaf has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2016 Nissan Leaf?

Owners have filed 36 complaints about the 2016 Nissan Leaf with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Nissan Leaf get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Nissan Leaf is 113 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

Does the Nissan Leaf use engine oil?

Battery-electric versions have no conventional engine oil change; follow the owner's manual for reduction gear and other fluids.

What generation is the 2019 Nissan Leaf?

2nd generation / ZE1 (2018-on).

What tire sizes does a Nissan Leaf use?

Common US sizes include 205/55R16 and 215/50R17 depending on trim.