Nissan Leaf electrical problems, 2016–2026
438 of the 729 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Nissan Leaf 2016–2026 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). The loudest years: 2019 (177), 2020 (123), 2022 (61). Filed under the same heading across these years: 11 manufacturer bulletins, 4 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Nissan Leaf electrical problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the electrical system | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 100% | — | 3 TSBs · 1 recall | the year → |
| 2025 | 3 | 43% | — | 5 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 2 | 40% | — | 11 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 3 | 15% | — | 32 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 in depth | 61 | 64% | — | 48 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2021 | 32 | 57% | — | 49 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2020 in depth | 123 | 74% | 18k | 54 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 177 | 68% | 82k | 65 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2018 | 18 | 27% | — | 64 TSBs · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2017 | 4 | 24% | — | 37 TSBs · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2016 | 13 | 36% | — | 42 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the electrical system. Nothing here is a rate.
When the electrical complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2019: 4 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2022: 9 · 2023: 20 · 2024: 29 · 2025: 204 · 2026: 156
Across the model years, half of the 50 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 14,000 and 65,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Received a notification from Nissan Corporation that my 2019 Leaf is the subject of a safety recall concerning risk of lithium ion battery fire during Level 3 charging. The notice explains that the vehicle's lithium-ion battery may experience "excessive lithium deposits within certain battery cells which could increase electrical…
On 7/19/2024 while charging the car at Chargepoint Johns Creek, I heard a "clunk" sound as if something had popped off from beneath the body of the Leaf. At the same time, the charging emergency stopped. Smoke started to come out from under the Leaf. There was a smell as if something was melting, making me feel dizzy and nauseous.
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V700000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V700000 (Electrical System) and 24V071000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
The contact owns a 2022 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V655000 (Electrical System); however, the contact was informed by the dealer that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
What is on file about the electrical system, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- Mar 25, 2026 · 51 vehicles
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 LEAF vehicles. The high voltage battery may have internal damage that can cause a short circuit within the battery module.
- 25V655000 CriticalSep 30, 2025 · 19,077 vehicles
- 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.
- 24V700000 CriticalSep 19, 2024 · 25,704 vehicles
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
- 16V436000 HighJun 15, 2016 · 4,355 vehicles
- 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.
NHTSA investigation
- DP22005 Pedestrian alert soundsopened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023
- NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
11 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year
- Mar 30, 2026
- TELEMATICS SERVICE INFORMATION HINT: This bulletin applies to vehicles equipped with a 4G network compatible TCU. TCUs compatible with 3G network only are no longer supported. SERVICE INFORMATION The APPLIED VEHICLES that come equipped with a factory installed SOS switch, located near the overhead map lamp, also come equipped with a wireless communication device called a Telematics Communication U
- Jan 13, 2026
- EFFICIENCY DISPLAYS LOWER THAN EXPECTED, BUT ACTUAL DRIVING RANGE OK IF YOU CONFIRM The efficiency display in the meter appears to be lower than what would be expected for the mileage that was driven, but the vehicle’s actual driving range, or distance driven, is correct for the initial state of charge, AND CONSULT 4 (C4) indicates that a “Part number after reprogramming” is available for the A/C
- Oct 17, 2025
- *****Dealer Announcement***** To ensure continued customer satisfaction and confidence, Nissan is conducting a Dealer Quality Action on certain model year 2026 Nissan LEAF vehicles identified in Service Comm and DBS National Service History. On affected vehicles, Remote Rear Defrost, Front Wiper Deicer, and Heated Door Mirrors may be unavailable via the smartphone app when the Defrost and Deicer s
- Oct 2, 2025
- PROCESS FOR 12V BATTERY TESTING APPLIED VEHICLES: 2026 LEAF (ZE2) SERVICE INFORMATION Due to changes to the DC-DC control logic, 12V battery testing may take an extra 20 minutes or more. To perform a faster 12V battery test, the DC-DC deactivation process must be completed which deactivates the DC-DC power supply for 1 hour. The 12V battery must be diagnosed or removed within 1 hour or power suppl
- Feb 20, 2025
- AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped with a lane camera (see Figure 1) SERVICE INFORMATION If the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) warning light or is blinking (but not illuminated steadily) or the customer states it is blinking, and there are no related DTCs, inspect the windshield. A blinking AEB warning light may occur under the following condit
- Feb 20, 2025
- INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing. You MUST closely follow the entire SERVICE PROCEDURE as it contains information that is essential to successfully completing this repair.
- Oct 4, 2024
- LANE CAMERA AIMING VEHICLE REFERENCE VALUES NOT IN ESM SERVICE INFORMATION If the lane camera requires aiming, the values in Table A on page 4 must be used. For all other models/model years, consult the Electronic Service Manual (ESM).
- May 21, 2024
- VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
The 8 newest are listed; each model year’s page lists every one filed on that year. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Nissan Leaf years have the most electrical complaints?
2019, 177; 2020, 123; 2022, 61. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2026 (100%).
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the Nissan Leaf?
Yes — 4 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 26V188000 (2026), 25V655000 (2022), 24V700000 (2020), 16V436000 (2016). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do electrical problems show up on the Nissan Leaf?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 38,225 miles across the model years; half of them between 14,000 and 65,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.