Research · Midsize Cars · 3 NHTSA variants

2023 Nissan LeafRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 22 owner complaints for the 2023 Nissan Leaf. Most complaints involve vehicle speed control (8) and electrical system (5). The EPA rates it 109–111 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
109–111mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Jul 2023
Owner complaints
22
Top: vehicle speed control
Fuel cost / yr
$700est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

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

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

Service brakes

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 LEAF vehicles. The right-hand brake tubes may have been damaged during production and could corrode, possibly causing a hole in the brake line and a brake fluid leak.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported May 22, 2023NHTSA 23V362000

Equipment: owners

Free remedy

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 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 Feb 2, 2023NHTSA 23V048000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

22 complaints filed with NHTSA · Dec 2022 – Oct 2026
  1. Vehicle speed control8
  2. Electrical system5
  3. Visibility/wiper3
  4. Power train2
  5. Fuel/propulsion system2
  6. Service brakes2
  7. Forward collision avoidance2
  8. Back over prevention1
  9. Steering1

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
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
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

Vehicle speed control

8 reports5 crashes
“My Nissan Leaf entered turtle mode on the freeways 8 times over the course of about a week and a half. This causes the car to slow itself down, and severely limit acceleration. The first time was on August 16th, 2026. This is incredibly dangerous, especially on the interstate. No one expects a car to be going 35mph on I-10, or any highway, therefore, this could have easily caused a severe rear end accident. I took it to Nissan of Mission Hills in Los Angeles for inspection after the first 4 times, they claimed that they couldn’t touch it without permission from corporate, and the next day said everything is fine. Due to severe safety concerns, I didn’t want to be driving it any longer and had to give it up for bank repossession. I have attached the photo of the slip from the dealer that did not fix the issue and a photo of the warning light.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 4, 2026Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11762055

Electrical system

5 reports1 crash
“I am requesting information regarding the scope of Nissan's high-voltage battery safety recall 25V-655 (Nissan campaign R25C8) and whether early-production 2023 Nissan LEAF vehicles have been evaluated for the same potential defect. Vehicle information: Vehicle: 2023 Nissan LEAF SV Plus VIN: [XXX] Assembly plant: [XXX] Manufacture date: September 2022 Battery: 60+ kWh lithium-ion Battery ID reported by LeafSpy: N5M10318 Current mileage: Approximately 36,000 miles According to Nissan's XXX recall filing, Nissan identified 19,077 affected 2021–2022 LEAF vehicles using its production records. My vehicle was manufactured at the same Smyrna facility approximately four months after the currently identified recalled vehicle production period. I am concerned about whether the high-voltage battery installed in my vehicle may share cells, components, or manufacturing characteristics with the affected battery population. On XXX, I contacted Nissan Consumer Affairs to request clarification. Nissan established Case #XXX. During subsequent correspondence, Nissan repeatedly stated that the information I requested was unavailable. On October 8, Nissan specifically advised that…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2026Electrical systemODI 11772361

Visibility/wiper

3 reports
“Backup camera image intermittently goes out and just shows a mostly black image. It appears to match a previous recall that does not yet cover our model year (2023): 24V071000. The image can sometimes be restored by slamming the hatchback shut, but it is not a permanent fix.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or other, Visibility/wiperODI 11729340
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
Electric motor
Transmissions
Automatic (A1)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Electricity
EV range
212 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
12399111$700—
LEAF SV
Auto (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive
12198109$700—
  • LEAF
    Auto (A1)
    123 city · 99 hwy · $700/yr
    111
    mpg comb.
  • LEAF SV
    Auto (A1)
    121 city · 98 hwy · $700/yr
    109
    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

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 (60 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 28, 2026Vehicle 18405Vehicle 18406
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

2023 Leaf questions

How many recalls does the 2023 Nissan Leaf have?

3 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 2023 Nissan Leaf problems?

Owners filed 22 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are vehicle speed control (8), electrical system (5), visibility/wiper (3). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2023 Nissan Leaf get?

The EPA rates the 2023 Nissan Leaf at 109–111 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

How safe is the 2023 Nissan Leaf?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2023 Nissan Leaf 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026