Model research hub
Nissan LEAF
The Nissan Leaf is an all-electric car built since 2010 that was a hatchback until 2025, when the third generation became a crossover. Its recall and complaint counts peak in 2019 (5 recalls, 253 complaints) and 2020 (6 recalls, 164), it is cleanest in 2017 (2 recalls, no complaints), and the 2026 model is rated 103 to 121 mpg-equivalent.
What the Nissan Leaf is and who buys it
Wikipedia (opens in a new tab) describes the Leaf as a battery electric car produced by Nissan since 2010, offered only as a 5-door hatchback until 2025, when it became a crossover SUV. It has long been the low-price entry to electric driving, and Electric Car Wiki (opens in a new tab) frames the trade-off directly: rivals like the Tesla Model 3 (272-333 miles) and Chevrolet Bolt (247 miles) provide longer ranges for a slightly higher cost, and the Leaf's slower charging can be a drawback on long trips. It suits a buyer with a predictable commute and home charging.
The three generations
Wikipedia's generation list runs first generation (ZE0, 2010), second generation (ZE1, 2017) and third generation (ZE2, 2025). On this site the 2015 to 2017 model years are late first generation, the 2018 to 2025 years are the second, and the 2026 model is the third. The second generation started with a 147-horsepower motor and a 40-kWh battery, as the 2018 Leaf page shows, and gained the long-range Leaf Plus for 2019, covered on the 2020 Leaf page. The 2022 Leaf page covers a model that came in more than $6,000 below the model before it in some cases.
Best and worst Leaf model years
Federal data separates the years. The 2019 Leaf has 5 recalls and 253 complaints, the most complaints of any year, and the 2020 has 6 recalls, the most recalls, with 164 complaints. The 2015 has 4 recalls and 110 complaints, the 2018 has 4 and 66, and the 2021 has 4 and 54. The 2016 has 4 recalls and 36 complaints, and the 2017 is the cleanest at 2 recalls and none. The 2023 has 3 recalls including a brakes campaign, and the 2026 has 2, covering the electrical system and seat belts.
Used-buyer guides agree on the early years. REREV (opens in a new tab) says the worst Nissan Leaf years are 2011 and 2012 and that among first-generation cars the 2014 is much more reliable than the 2011 and 2013. Engine Patrol (opens in a new tab) lists 2015, 2011, 2013 and 2012 as the worst model years and calls the 2017, the last first-generation year, a very reliable car.
Strengths and weaknesses
The strengths are the low price and running cost. The 2026 Leaf is rated 103 to 121 mpg-equivalent combined with a yearly fuel cost of $650 to $750, and Kelley Blue Book base prices are $31,535 for the S Plus, $35,775 for the SV Plus and $40,535 for the Platinum Plus. The weaknesses are charging speed and technology: Electric Car Wiki calls the Leaf's tech functional but dated compared with cutting-edge rivals, and several second-generation years carry recalls for batteries that may overheat during Level 3 quick charging, on the 2020 and 2022 pages. Range on a used car depends on battery health, so check that before price.
The 2026 crossover
The third generation is the first Leaf that is not a hatchback. EV Care (opens in a new tab) says it is best for mass-market buyers wanting Nissan's value proposition with modern EV essentials, and lists active thermal management among its strengths. See the 2026 Leaf page for trims and rivals.
Questions buyers ask
Which Nissan Leaf years should I avoid?
REREV (opens in a new tab) says the worst Nissan Leaf years are 2011 and 2012, and Engine Patrol (opens in a new tab) adds 2013 and 2015. In federal data the 2019 has the most complaints (253) and the 2020 the most recalls (6).
Is the Nissan Leaf a hatchback or a crossover?
Both, by generation: Wikipedia says it was offered only as a 5-door hatchback until 2025, when it became a crossover SUV.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Nissan LEAF is built around 160-kW electric motor, 75-kWh battery, rated at 214 horsepower across its subcompact electric crossover body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 3 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe 2026 LEAF seats 5 and is a Subcompact electric crossover.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2026 LEAF.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Nissan LEAF
The redesigned 2026 LEAF moves from a hatchback to a crossover body. S+, SV+ and Platinum+ share the same 214-horsepower motor and 75-kWh battery; EPA range falls from 303 miles on S+ to 288 on SV+ and 259 on Platinum+ as wheel size and equipment increase.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
7 indexed Nissan LEAF model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Nissan LEAF | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Nissan LEAF | 2025 record → | |
| 2023 Nissan LEAF | 2023 record → | |
| 2022 Nissan Leaf | 2022 record → | |
| 2020 Nissan Leaf | 2020 record → | |
| 2018 Nissan Leaf | 2018 record → | |
| 2015 Nissan Leaf | 2015 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Nissan LEAF.
The Nissan Leaf is a battery electric car produced by Nissan since 2010. It was offered exclusively as a 5-door hatchback until 2025, when it became a crossover SUV model. The term "LEAF" serves as a backronym to leading environmentally-friendly affordable family car.
- Safety
- The Leaf was chosen as one of the Top 10 Tech Cars by the US IEEE in 2018. In 2022, the Leaf was chosen as the 'Best Family Electric Car' at the UK Carbuyer’s Best Used Car Awards.
Source: Nissan Leaf (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Nissan LEAF at a glance
- Production
- October 2010 – present
- Model years
- 2011–present
- Class
- Compact car, Compact/Small family car (C-segment, C) (2010–2025), Subcompact crossover SUV (2025–present)
- Body style
- 5-door hatchback (2010–2025), 5-door coupe SUV (2025–present)
- Layout
- Front-motor, front-wheel-drive
- Predecessor
- Nissan Altra, Nissan Hypermini
Nissan LEAF generations
The Nissan LEAF has been redesigned in 2017, 2025, gaps of 7, 8 years, an average of 7.5 years between generations. The current generation (third generation, ZE2) began in 2025.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | ZE0 | 2010–2017 | The first generation Nissan Leaf was in production from 2010 to 2017. |
| Second generation | ZE1 | 2017–2025 | In October 2017, for the 2018 model year, Nissan launched the new generation Leaf in Japan, and deliveries in North America and Europe began in February 2018. |
| Third generation | ZE2 | 2025–present | The third-generation Leaf was previewed as the Nissan Chill-Out concept on 29 November 2021. |
Recent recalls (2 campaigns across the latest model years)
- July 2026, Seat Belts:Rear/Other:Retractor. Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 LEAF vehicles. The outer rear seat belt automatic locking retractors (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent a child restraint system (CRS) from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with… Consequence: An improperly secured child restraint system may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
- March 2026, Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery. 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. Consequence: A short circuit in a high voltage battery module increases the risk of a fire.
Year by year
The Nissan LEAF across 12 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Nissan LEAF | 103–121 | $650–$750 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2025 Nissan LEAF | 109–111 | $700 | 2 | 5 stars | ||
| 2024 Nissan LEAF | 109–111 | $700 | 2 | 5 stars | ||
| 2023 Nissan LEAF | 109–111 | $700 | 2 | 3 | 5 stars | |
| 2022 Nissan Leaf | 104–111 | $700–$750 | 3 | 4 | 5 stars | |
| 2021 Nissan Leaf | 104–111 | $700–$750 | 3 | 4 | 54 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Nissan Leaf | 104–111 | $700–$750 | 3 | 6 | 164 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Nissan Leaf | 104–112 | $700–$750 | 3 | 5 | 253 | |
| 2018 Nissan Leaf | 112 | $700 | 1 | 4 | 66 | |
| 2017 Nissan Leaf | 112 | $650 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2016 Nissan Leaf | 112–114 | $650 | 2 | 4 | 36 | 4 stars |
| 2015 Nissan Leaf | 114 | $650 | 1 | 4 | 110 | 4 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Nissan LEAF, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Electric range, miles | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 2 to 3 | 110.0 to 112.0 | 181 to 281 | Labels: LEAF 75kWh (18 inch alloy Wheels), LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels), LEAF 75kWh (19 inch Wheels); Size classes: Small Station Wagons | Labels: LEAF, LEAF SV; Size classes: Midsize Cars |
| 2022 to 2023 | 3 to 2 | 107.5 to 110.0 | 188 to 181 | Labels: LEAF, LEAF SV | Labels: Leaf (40 kW-hr battery pack), Leaf (62 kW-hr battery pack), Leaf SV/SL (62 kW-hr battery pack) |
| 2019 to 2020 | 108.0 to 107.5 | ||||
| 2018 to 2019 | 1 to 3 | 112.0 to 108.0 | 151 to 188 | Labels: Leaf (40 kW-hr battery pack), Leaf (62 kW-hr battery pack), Leaf SV/SL (62 kW-hr battery pack) | Labels: Leaf |
| 2017 to 2018 | 107 to 151 | ||||
| 2016 to 2017 | 2 to 1 | 113.0 to 112.0 | 96 to 107 | Labels: Leaf | Labels: Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack), Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) |
| 2015 to 2016 | 1 to 2 | 114.0 to 113.0 | 84 to 96 | Labels: Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack), Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) | Labels: Leaf |
Buying used
What the Nissan LEAF recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | electrical system (propulsion system); seat belts (rear/other) | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2023 | 3 | equipment (other); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); vehicle speed control | None |
| 2022 | 4 | equipment (other); vehicle speed control; back over prevention (sensing system); 1 more | None |
| 2021 | 4 | equipment (other); vehicle speed control; back over prevention (sensing system); 1 more | None |
| 2020 | 6 | back over prevention (sensing system); visibility (glass, side/rear); equipment (other); 2 more | None |
| 2019 | 5 | back over prevention (sensing system); equipment (other); vehicle speed control; 1 more | None |
| 2018 | 4 | back over prevention (sensing system); equipment (other); vehicle speed control | None |
| 2017 | 2 | air bags; equipment (other) | None |
| 2016 | 4 | air bags (sensor); air bags (frontal); air bags; 1 more | None |
| 2015 | 4 | service brakes; air bags (sensor); air bags; 1 more | None |
Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside
- 2026, campaign 26V-188 (Mar 2026): electrical system (propulsion system). A short circuit in a high voltage battery module increases the risk of a fire.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 373 | 54% | 2019 (172) |
| service brakes | 133 | 19% | 2015 (85) |
| unknown or other | 98 | 14% | 2019 (47) |
| fuel/propulsion system | 97 | 14% | 2019 (34) |
| engine | 34 | 5% | 2019 (8) |
| power train | 34 | 5% | 2020 (13) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Nissan LEAF trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S PLUS | FWD | AC Electric Motor | 174 | 261 | 4,187 | – | – | $31,535 |
| SV PLUS | FWD | AC Electric Motor | 214 | 250 | 4,231 | – | – | $35,775 |
| PLATINUM PLUS | FWD | AC Electric Motor | 214 | 250 | 4,369 | – | – | $40,535 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Nissan LEAF model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | AC Electric Motor | 174–214 | 4,187–4,369 | – | – |
| 2025 | 2 | AC Electric Motor | 147–214 | 3,509–3,900 | – | – |
| 2024 | 2 | AC Electric Motor | 147–214 | 3,509–3,900 | – | – |
| 2023 | 2 | AC Electric Motor | 147–214 | 3,509–3,900 | – | – |
| 2022 | 5 | AC Electric Motor | 147–214 | 3,516–3,943 | – | – |
| 2021 | 5 | AC Electric Motor | 147–214 | 3,501–3,930 | – | – |
| 2020 | 5 | AC Electric Motor | 147–214 | 3,538–3,946 | – | – |
| 2019 | 6 | AC Electric Motor | 147–214 | 3,433–3,853 | – | – |
| 2018 | 3 | AC Electric Motor | 147 | 3,433–3,508 | – | – |
| 2017 | 3 | AC Electric Motor | 107 | 3,323–3,405 | – | – |
| 2016 | 4 | AC Electric Motor | 107 | 3,256–3,391 | – | – |
| 2015 | 3 | AC Electric Motor | 107 | 3,243–3,328 | – | – |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Nissan LEAF.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | – | – | 80 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2025 | – | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2024 | – | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2023 | – | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2022 | – | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2021 | – | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2020 | – | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Nissan LEAF: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | not available | electrical system, seat belts |
| 2025 | not available | ||
| 2024 | not available | ||
| 2023 | 3 | not available | equipment, brakes, Vehicle Speed Control |
| 2022 | 4 | not available | equipment, Vehicle Speed Control, backup camera, electrical system |
| 2021 | 4 | 54 | equipment, Vehicle Speed Control, backup camera, electrical system |
| 2020 | 6 | 164 | backup camera, visibility/wipers, equipment, Vehicle Speed Control |
| 2019 | 5 | 253 | backup camera, equipment, Vehicle Speed Control, electrical system |
| 2018 | 4 | 66 | backup camera, equipment, Vehicle Speed Control |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | airbags, equipment |
| 2016 | 4 | 36 | airbags, equipment |
| 2015 | 4 | 110 | airbags, brakes, equipment |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Nissan LEAF model years 2022, 2023, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Nissan LEAF?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Nissan LEAF model year: recall counts across the 10 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about 3.8 recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Nissan LEAF by model year?
2026: electrical system, seat belts. 2023: equipment, brakes, Vehicle Speed Control. 2022: equipment, Vehicle Speed Control, backup camera, electrical system. 2021: equipment, Vehicle Speed Control, backup camera, electrical system. 2020: backup camera, visibility/wipers, equipment, Vehicle Speed Control. 2019: backup camera, equipment, Vehicle Speed Control, electrical system.
Q03Why do some Nissan LEAF model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Nissan LEAF model years 2022, 2023, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Brakes, tires and steering, Climate and electrical.
Compared with
Models this Nissan LEAF is most often compared with.
Nearest Nissan models
Other Nissan models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 LEAF come in?
The 2026 Nissan LEAF (subcompact electric crossover) comes in 3 trims: S+, SV+, Platinum+.
Q02What are the 2026 LEAF trims?
The 2026 Nissan LEAF trims are S+, SV+, Platinum+, listed from the entry S+ up to the top Platinum+.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 LEAF use?
The 2026 Nissan LEAF is built around 160-kW electric motor, 75-kWh battery, rated at 214 horsepower across its subcompact electric crossover body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 LEAF have?
The 2026 Nissan LEAF is rated at 214 horsepower (160-kW electric motor, 75-kWh battery).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 LEAF?
The 2026 Nissan LEAF is offered with FWD.