The 2016 Nissan Leaf is associated with 36 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 4 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Service Brakes, accounting for 15 reports (42% of total complaints). EPA records certify all-electric efficiency of 112 to 114 MPGe with an estimated driving range of 84–107 miles across 2 certified vehicle configurations.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 36 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 4 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Service Brakes (15 / 42%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 1 crash / 1 fire / 0 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 112–114 MPGe (2 variants)
Data Note: Compiled directly from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
| Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack) 100% Electric | Electric Motor | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (A1) | 126 MPGe | 101 MPGe | 114 MPGe | 84 mi | $650 / yr |
| Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) 100% Electric | Electric Motor | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (A1) | 124 MPGe | 101 MPGe | 112 MPGe | 107 mi | $650 / yr |
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.
Electric Range & Charging: The 2016 Nissan Leaf provides an official EPA-rated driving range of up to 107 miles on a single battery charge.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| 5 HB FWD | | | | | 10.9% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as No and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as No in official NHTSA records for tested 2016 Nissan Leaf models.
View complete 2016 Nissan Leaf crash test & safety breakdown →
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2016 Nissan Leaf problems & component breakdown (14 categories) →
Affected Component: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Defect Summary: 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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A1.
Affected Component: AIR BAGS
Defect Summary: 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.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Affected Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Defect Summary: 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.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
View all 2016 Nissan Leaf recalls & campaign history (4 campaigns) →