Model year
2012 Nissan LEAF
NHTSA lists 0 recalls and 57 complaints for the 2012 Nissan LEAF (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are SERVICE BRAKES (22), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (14), AIR BAGS (11). NHTSA lists 3 investigations. NHTSA rated the 5 HB FWD 5 stars overall. EPA rates it 99 MPGe combined and 34 kWh/100 mi (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $750, based on 15,000 miles and 55% city driving.
- 2011 95 complaints
- 2012 57 complaints
- 2013 81 complaints
- 2014 34 complaints
- 2015 110 complaints
- 2016 36 complaints
- 2017 17 complaints
- 2018 67 complaints
- 2019 260 complaints
- 2020 167 complaints
- 2021 57 complaints
- 2022 96 complaints
- 2023 22 complaints
- 2024 5 complaints
- 2025 7 complaints
- 2026 2 complaints
Recalls
No recalls are listed for this name in the matched NHTSA file.
Complaints
57 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 6, fire flag on 0, injury field 6, deaths field 0. A complaint can be counted under more than one component. The injury and death figures are the file's numbers (the highest value on each complaint, then added), not a separate verified count of people.
Investigations
| Action | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| DP19002 | Front Occupant Classification System Mat · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION | Aug 16, 2019 | Oct 16, 2019 |
| PE19015 | Front Occupant Classification System Mat · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL; AIR BAGS; AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION | Oct 9, 2019 | Jun 1, 2020 |
| DP22005 | Pedestrian alert sounds · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM | Jan 27, 2023 | Aug 7, 2023 |
Safety ratings
| Variant | Overall | Front | Side | Pole | Rollover | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 HB FWD | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 · possibility 0.11 | NHTSA photo |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf · Automatic (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive | Electricity · EV | 106 | 92 | 99 | 34.0 | 73 | $750 |
Open this model year in the fuel-cost calculator. The calculator starts with no fuel price filled in.
Check a vehicle
This page is not a VIN lookup. NHTSA's recall tool checks a specific vehicle: nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's page for this model year is 2012 Nissan LEAF at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.