Research · Midsize Cars · 2 NHTSA variants

2017 Nissan LeafRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 14 owner complaints for the 2017 Nissan Leaf. Most complaints involve air bags (3) and electrical system (3). The EPA rates it 112 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
112mpg
EPA · 1 version
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
2campaigns
Latest Apr 2023
Owner complaints
14
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$650est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

2 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Equipment: owners

Free remedy

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."

EquipmentReported Apr 26, 2023NHTSA 23V296000

Air bags

Free remedy

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.

Air bagsReported Apr 13, 2017NHTSA 17V253000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

14 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2017 – Apr 2024
  1. Air bags3
  2. Electrical system3
  3. Fuel/propulsion system3
  4. Visibility/wiper2
  5. Service brakes2
  6. Forward collision avoidance1
  7. Power train1
  8. Vehicle speed control1
  9. Structure1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Leaf model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
201195
201257
201381
201434
2015110
201636
201714
201867
2019260
2020167
202159
202296
202322
20245
20257
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

3 reports
“Airbag light flashing. Airbag might not deploy in event of accident. Nissan service stated "code B00A0 triggered in SRS control unit. Failure within OCS circuit. Recommends replacement of OCS SENSORS and Control Unit." Stated my VIN is not included in all the other OCS recalls.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 23, 2024Air bagsODI 11584827

Electrical system

3 reports
“HELLO! I HAVE MY 2017 NISSAN LEAF SV WITH 30KWH BATTERY IN AT NISSAN OF TROY, MAINLY DUE TO TWO PROBLEMS. THIS IS A 2017 NISSAN LEAF WITH 30KWH BATTE HELLO! I HAVE MY 2017 NISSAN LEAF SV WITH 30KWH BATTERY IN AT NISSAN OF TROY, MAINLY DUE TO TWO PROBLEMS. THIS IS A 2017 NISSAN LEAF WITH 30KWH BATTERY WITH A DC-FC FAST CHARGE PLUG THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY ROUGHLY 15X FASTER THAN 6.6K LEVEL2/3 CHARGERS. THE KEY TWO PROBLEMS ARE AS FOLLOWS: A. DCFC FAILS TO CHARGE ON 2017 NISSAN LEAF AND CAUSES J1772 TO BE UNABLE TO CHARGE IT ANYMORE SUBSEQUENTLY GETTING A CHARGE IN A PINCH LEADS TO REALLY NEEDING A TOW TRUCK!! B. THE RANGE ON THE BATTERY DROPS DRASTICALLY ON A REGULAR DAY TO DAY DRIVE... THE OTHER DAY I LEFT FOR A 4.5MILE TRIP WITH 17MILES ON GOM AND BY TIME I DROVE 2 MILES RANGE WENT DOWN TO 11MILES. BEFORE I WAS 1/2 WAY LOW BATTERY INDICATOR WENT OFF AND ~1.5MILES TO HOME VERY LOW BATTERY KICKS IN. - I BELIEVE THE CAR GOM ALWAYS OVER ESTIMATES THE RANGE TO WHAT I'M ABLE TO DRIVE. IT CAN NEVER DRIVE UP TO THE SUGGESTED RANGE SO I MUST HAVE EITHER A BAD BATTERY OR A FAULTY BATTERY MANAGEMENT MODULE OF SOME SORTS ???”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 13, 2021Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11387954

Fuel/propulsion system

3 reports
“A SUDDEN LOSS OF PROPULSION WITH OUT AN AUDIBLE WARNING. THE VEHICLE OPERATES AT CREEP SPEED. I NOTICE IT BECAUSE THE CAN NOT ACCELERATE. A MOMENT OF CONFUSION SETS IN IN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS GOING ON. A TELL TALE LIGHT OF A TURTLE COMES ON. I HAVE TO WORK MY WAY THROUGH TRAFFIC TO PULL ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS A CONCERN ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. THE TELL TALE LIGHT GOES AWAY AFTER CYCLING THE POWER BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND STARTING IT ALL OVER. IT GIVES ME THE IMPRESSION THAT THE TROUBLE WENT AWAY. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED ONCE A YEAR. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. IT IS NOW HAPPENING ONCE A WEEK IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS. SOMEONE CAN GET HURT IN THE WORST CASE SCENARIO. I BELIEVE THE WARNING LIGHT SHOULD REMAIN ON UNTIL THE ISSUE IS RESOLVED. I NOTICED THE ISSUE HAPPENS WHEN THE CLIMATE IS HOT AND I AM DRIVING WITH THE AC ON. THE BATTERY TEMPERATURE IS IN THE SAFE ZONE. NISSAN DIDN'T TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. I TOOK A PICTURE OF IT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2020Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11364521
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

1 version rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
Electric motor
Transmissions
Automatic (A1)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Electricity
EV range
107 mi (EPA)

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Leaf
Auto (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive
124101112$650—
  • Leaf
    Auto (A1)
    124 city · 101 hwy · $650/yr
    112
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2017 Nissan Leaf as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 11824
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Tire rotation6,000–8,000 mi6–12 monthsEVs wear tires faster (weight, torque)
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–4 yearsRegen braking spares the pads, not the fluid
Battery coolantPer manualPer manualIntervals vary widely by maker
12V battery—3–5 years
  • Tire rotation6,000–8,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–4 years
  • Battery coolantPer manual
    Per manual
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2017 Leaf questions

How many recalls does the 2017 Nissan Leaf have?

2 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2017 Nissan Leaf problems?

Owners filed 14 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (3), electrical system (3), fuel/propulsion system (3). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2017 Nissan Leaf get?

The EPA rates the 2017 Nissan Leaf at 112 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (1 version rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026