Problems · NHTSA complaints

2022 Nissan Leaf problems

Owners filed 96 complaints about the 2022 Nissan Leaf with NHTSA between Jan 2022 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (62).

Complaints
96
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  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
  10. Air bags1
  11. Other / unknown28

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20224
20234
20248
202531
202649

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

62 reports1 crash1 related recall
“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

Service brakes

8 reports5 crashes
“I was at a red light on a slight decline with my foot on the regular brake. I am 99% certain the Epedal was on. Something startled me and I took my foot off the regular brake, but the Epedal should have held the car still. It didn't, and I rolled into a Jeep SUV, smashing in the front of my car where the charging port is. Progressive Insurance says my car is totalled. The airbags did not deploy, and no one was hurt, but my passenger, an 89-year old with a recent hip replacement, could have been compromised. I am researching Black Box retrieval options, but they appear to cost more than my deductible. There were no warnings that the system was faulty.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 20, 2026Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11745363

Engine

7 reports
“"2022 Nissan Leaf 40 kWh (VIN: [XXX], ~41,570 miles) lost motive power at highway speed on [XXX]. Vehicle entered turtle mode and shifted into neutral while traveling on the freeway, requiring me to coast to an off-ramp (I was completely unable to use the accelerator nor move the car into Park). Vehicle was inoperable and required towing. This followed a similar incident on [XXX], where the vehicle entered turtle mode 7 miles from home despite showing 120 miles of indicated range. LeafSpy diagnostics confirm 8 weak battery cells with a 261 mV spread. Open recall NHTSA 25V-655 is unresolved. This is a safety defect, not normal degradation. I am attaching photos that show significant variance in mileage--at one point, I had 95 miles, and within 7 miles, it had gone to 0 miles and after another 8 miles, it entered turtle mode. 3 miles after that, the car essentially shut off and went into neutral.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2026Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11744732

Vehicle speed control

3 reports1 crash1 related recall
“in reduced traction environments vehicle will accelerate a full throttle without driver input to accelerator pedal. The issue is repeatable. though it seems to happen under multiple conditions. Vehicles acceleration is often opposite of the direction selected on shifter. [XXX]”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2025Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11647140
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

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