The 2020 Nissan Leaf is associated with 162 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 6 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Electrical System, accounting for 84 reports (52% of total complaints). EPA records certify all-electric efficiency of 104 to 111 MPGe with an estimated driving range of 149–226 miles across 3 certified vehicle configurations.
Key Data Findings
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 162 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 6 campaigns
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Electrical System (84 / 52%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 1 crash / 0 fire / 0 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 104–111 MPGe (3 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 (40 kW-hr battery pack) 100% Electric | Electric Motor | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (A1) | 123 MPGe | 99 MPGe | 111 MPGe | 149 mi | $700 / yr |
| Leaf (62 kW-hr battery pack) 100% Electric | Electric Motor | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (A1) | 118 MPGe | 97 MPGe | 108 MPGe | 226 mi | $700 / yr |
| Leaf SV/SL (62 kW-hr battery pack) 100% Electric | Electric Motor | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (A1) | 114 MPGe | 94 MPGe | 104 MPGe | 215 mi | $750 / 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 2020 Nissan Leaf provides an official EPA-rated driving range of up to 226 miles on a single battery charge.
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
| (40 KWh Battery) 5 HB FWD | | | | | 10.7% |
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2020 Nissan Leaf models.
View complete 2020 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 2020 Nissan Leaf problems & component breakdown (28 categories) →
Affected Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Defect Summary: 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.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 3, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R24B2, P4A38, and P5A22.
Affected Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Defect Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2022 LEAF vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23D7.
Affected Component: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Defect Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the
driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.
Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A6.
View all 2020 Nissan Leaf recalls & campaign history (6 campaigns) →