Most common 2012 Nissan Leaf problems
Share of the 57 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan Leaf complaints by model year
Best Leaf years: 2017, 2024, 2014. Years to avoid: 2019, 2020, 2022, 2015, 2011. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2012 Nissan Leaf:
Front Occupant Classification System Mat
Preliminary Evaluation (PE) 19-015 was opened as a result of Defect Petition (DP) 19-002 which alleged that model year (MY) 2011 and 2012 Nissan Leaf were affected by the same defect addressed in an earlier recall, NHTSA Safety Recall 16V-244, but were not included in the scope of that recall.NHTSA 16V-244 involved a defect in the Occupant Classification System, a system intended to suppress deployment of the…
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Front Occupant Classification System Mat
A defect petition (see DP19-002) was received July 23, 2019 alleging that the occupant classification system (OCS) sensor (mat) in model year (MY) 2011 Nissan Leaf vehicles is defective and affects the proper deployment of the passenger front air bag. The petitioner provided a list of potentially related NHTSA reports and noted a Nissan recall involving later MY Leaf vehicles with OCS defect.
What 2012 Nissan Leaf owners say
Brakes all 22 →
As I am approaching a stop, and the car is under ~15mph, and I touch the brakes, the will grab strongly and slam the car to a stop; people in the car lurch forward, and the driver behind me is surprised by the sudden stop and has to slam on their brakes. I notice there are 2 campaigns for this issue, one just before my VIN, and one after my VIN, but it looks to be the same problem. It is dangerously strong and difficult to control.
When applying the brakes at low speed the brakes grab suddenly causing the car to lurch to a stop. The problem is intermittent, and therefore difficult to predict, but occurs frequently. This behavior is an ongoing hazard to the driver and passengers while also increasing the risk of a rear end collision if someone is following too closely.
Electrical system
I believe my newly purchased 2012 Nissan LEAF is suffering from the same passenger-side airbag faulty sensor problem that has been documented in NHTSA case id: 11234415. I am experiencing the same flashing warning lights when I operate the vehicle. There are no signs of damage or tampering with the passenger-side seat. I will do my best to make the vehicle available for inspection upon request. I am worried that the faulty senor, if unfixed, might be shutting off the whole airbag deployment safety system. If it is doing that, Nissan MUST recall these vehicles for repair! A previous owner took the vehicle to the dealership that originally sold the car and their service center reported that the problem was a known issue. [NOTE: Date of Incident in this report refers to date of purchase of the vehicle, NOT the date that the problem began to occur. …
High voltage battery keeps shorting out stalling while driving on interstate almost got hit by 18 wheeler a few times it's a very unsafe car to drive and I keep smelling something like an odor from the battery I've been trying to get help to do the door ship Nissan consumer affairs and seem to be getting nowhere and they're letting me drive a car with a high voltage battery problem that obviously has a short in it help me
Air bags
Dealer is Mike Erdman Nissan Merritt Island Fl 32953 Airbag warning light flashing red on console. Paid $260 for diagnostic check on July 21, 2024. They cannot fix it as an airbag sensor on the passenger side seat is malfunctioning and the entire passenger side seat must be replaced and part is not available or is no longer in stock. They MAY be able to locate an entire seat Nissan Leaf 2012 somewhere, but if they do (and they said probably not) it will cost $4000.00. The seat is no longer made by Nissan and after market seats would not meet safety standards (they said). There is a published complaint list of well over 2000 Nissan Leaf owners regarding 2011 and 2012 Leaf owners who say there should be a safety recall as this issue has been known by Nissan and the 2013 and later models had safety changes installed for this issue but no safety recall was made for 2011 and 2012 models. …
I believe my newly purchased 2012 Nissan LEAF is suffering from the same passenger-side airbag faulty sensor problem that has been documented in NHTSA case id: 11234415. I am experiencing the same flashing warning lights when I operate the vehicle. There are no signs of damage or tampering with the passenger-side seat. I will do my best to make the vehicle available for inspection upon request. I am worried that the faulty senor, if unfixed, might be shutting off the whole airbag deployment safety system. If it is doing that, Nissan MUST recall these vehicles for repair! A previous owner took the vehicle to the dealership that originally sold the car and their service center reported that the problem was a known issue. [NOTE: Date of Incident in this report refers to date of purchase of the vehicle, NOT the date that the problem began to occur. …
2012 Nissan Leaf engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | FWD | 106 / 92 / 99 MPGe | 73 mi |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Nissan Leaf a good car?
Based on 57 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Leaf rates average: 14% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Leaf at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Nissan Leaf?
The brakes — 22 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (15) and air bags (11).
How many recalls does the 2012 Nissan Leaf have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2012 Nissan Leaf. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan Leaf?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2017, 2024 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2020, 2022, 2015 and 2011. See the full Nissan Leaf years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Nissan Leaf problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 14,000 miles; 86% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.