Research · Midsize Cars · 3 NHTSA variants

2022 Nissan LeafRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 96 owner complaints for the 2022 Nissan Leaf. Most complaints involve electrical system (62) and fuel/propulsion system (20). The EPA rates it 104–111 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
104–111mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest Oct 2025
Owner complaints
96
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$700est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

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

Electrical system: traction battery

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.

Electrical systemReported Oct 1, 2025NHTSA 25V655000

Back over prevention: camera

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2022 LEAF vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Back over preventionReported Feb 2, 2024NHTSA 24V071000

Vehicle speed control

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.

Vehicle speed controlReported Jul 17, 2023NHTSA 23V494000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

96 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 2022 – Oct 2026
  1. Electrical system62
  2. Fuel/propulsion system20
  3. Power train11
  4. Service brakes8
  5. Engine7
  6. Vehicle speed control3
  7. Forward collision avoidance3
  8. Visibility/wiper2
  9. Exterior lighting1

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
7
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
3
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

62 reports1 crash
“Vehicle experienced total electrical propulsion loss while driving on a public highway and had to be towed. Dealer diagnosis confirmed Diagnostic Trouble Code P33ED-00 per Nissan Bulletin NTB26-032. This is related to the open federal battery recall R25C8; the recall remedy failed. Nissan authorized a high-voltage traction battery replacement under Powertrain Authorization #[XXX]. The vehicle has been held disabled at the dealership (Nissan of Everett, Washington) since [XXX] because it is unsafe to operate, and no replacement parts are available. Nissan North America agreed in writing (Intent Letter dated June 29, 2026, Case #[XXX]) to repurchase the vehicle but has not completed the buyback. The safety risk is a sudden, total loss of motive power while driving on public roads.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 12, 2026Power train, Electrical systemODI 11770700

Fuel/propulsion system

20 reports1 crash
“I am submitting this complaint regarding a manufacturer‑performed recall on my 2022 Nissan LEAF that resulted in a complete loss of charging capability immediately after Nissan applied its software update. Prior to the recall, the vehicle operated normally and had no charging issues. Following the recall intervention, the vehicle became unable to charge at all. This failure occurred directly and immediately after Nissan’s recall action. At the dealership, battery replacement was initially presented as a potential remedy. However, Nissan corporate assigned the case to a third‑party administrator, and it became clear that no repair option — including battery replacement — was available. Ultimately, Nissan proceeded with a buyback of the vehicle. This outcome raises a significant fairness concern. The vehicle is only four years old, and a battery replacement should reasonably be available to consumers when a manufacturer‑initiated recall causes the battery system to fail. Treating a four‑year‑old electric vehicle as irreparable — and offering repurchase as the only remedy — is not consistent with reasonable consumer expectations, especially when the failure was…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2026Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11766095

Power train

11 reports1 crash
“My car all of a sudden lost drive power while I was driving up Parleys Canyon on I-80. My car started slowing down in traffic rapidly and I had to make emergency maneuvers to get to the side of the road. After the incident the car had trouble accelerating and couldn't keep up with traffic to get it to the shop. This is an active recall and Nissan refuses to fix the battery.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 31, 2026Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11760989
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
Electric motor
Transmissions
Automatic (A1)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Electricity
EV range
226 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 27, 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 (40 kW-hr battery pack)
Auto (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive
12399111$700—
Leaf (62 kW-hr battery pack)
Auto (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive
11897108$700—
Leaf SV/SL (62 kW-hr battery pack)
Auto (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive
11494104$750—
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Nissan LEAF (40 KWh Battery) 5 HB FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
10.7%
Overall
5 / 5
Nissan LEAF PLUS (62 KWh Battery) 5 HB FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
10.7%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 27, 2026Vehicle 16812Vehicle 16813
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

2022 Leaf questions

How many recalls does the 2022 Nissan Leaf have?

4 safety recalls as of Oct 27, 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 2022 Nissan Leaf problems?

Owners filed 96 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (62), fuel/propulsion system (20), power train (11). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2022 Nissan Leaf get?

The EPA rates the 2022 Nissan Leaf at 104–111 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2022 Nissan Leaf?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2022 Nissan Leaf 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 27, 2026