Model year
2016 Nissan LEAF
NHTSA lists 4 recalls and 36 complaints for the 2016 Nissan LEAF (recall file dated Oct 23, 2026; complaint file dated Oct 23, 2026). The components listed on the most complaints are SERVICE BRAKES (16), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (11), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (8). NHTSA lists 1 investigation. NHTSA rated the 5 HB FWD 4 stars overall. EPA rates it 112–114 MPGe combined and 29.6–30.0 kWh/100 mi depending on configuration (fuel economy file dated Sep 29, 2026). EPA's annual fuel-cost figures for these configurations are $650, 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
23V296000 · Apr 26, 2023
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 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…
17V253000 · Apr 13, 2017
AIR BAGS
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
16V436000 · Jun 15, 2016
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
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…
16V244000 · Apr 26, 2016
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016…
Complaints
36 distinct complaints. Crash flag on 1, fire flag on 1, injury field 0, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 · possibility 0.109 | NHTSA photo |
Fuel economy
| Configuration | Fuel | City | Hwy | Comb | kWh/100 mi | Range | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack) · Automatic (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive | Electricity · EV | 126 | 101 | 114 | 29.6 | 84 | $650 |
| Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) · Automatic (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive | Electricity · EV | 124 | 101 | 112 | 30.0 | 107 | $650 |
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 2016 Nissan LEAF at NHTSA. Complaint narratives stay on NHTSA's site and are not copied here.