Most common 2015 Nissan Leaf problems
Share of the 110 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 →
2015 Nissan Leaf recalls (4)
Equipment › Other › Owners/service/other manual
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City…
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano,…
Service brakes
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 LEAF vehicles manufactured November 19, 2012, to July 31, 2015. During very cold temperatures, the relay inside the electronic brake booster may freeze, requiring the driver to exert more effort to slow the vehicle down.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Intelligent Brake Control Unit software, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2015 Nissan Leaf:
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.
What 2015 Nissan Leaf owners say
Brakes all 85 →
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Leaf. While in the driveway of the residence, the contact started the vehicle with his foot on the brake pedal; however, the vehicle rolled. The contact depressed the brake pedal to the floor, but the vehicle continued rolling until it struck a rock wall. The failure occurred without warning. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. There were no injuries sustained. There was no Police report filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle was diagnosed with an electrical failure, and that the brake booster had failed. The vehicle was not repaired due to a dealer not being in the area where the contact resides. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V119000 (Service Brakes) as a possible solution however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH, the engine temperature warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact depressed the brake pedal and pulled up the parking brake; however, both failed to operate as needed. The contact made a right turn safely and ran onto a curb to bring the vehicle to a stop. The contact drove safely to the destination. The warning lights disappeared. The failure recurred twice within two weeks with no warning light illuminated. The contact notified the manufacturer and was informed that a previous recall had been performed. The vehicle had been towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the battery warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the residence and the battery was re-charged. The vehicle was restarted however, the failure recurred several times. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle but could not determine the cause for the failure. The contact then took the vehicle to Port City Nissan (120 Spaulding Turnpike, Portsmouth, NH 03801, [phone]) to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the firmware update needed to be performed. The dealer performed the software update however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The electronic braking system seems to have randomly failed due to some electrical glitch. Mechanically the braking system works fine but during this incident the ABS system kicked in causing the car to shutter and the brake petal went to the floor with 0 braking power. Was forced to put the car in Park and apply the emergency brake in the middle of the road in traffic to ensure it would stop. Cycled the car on and off multiple times to see if that would help reset the car but the problem persisted. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Putting other drivers on the road at risk if we were not able to stop the car could have caused property damage and personal injury to others on the road and my family who was in the car. …
Air bags
Tl* the contact owned a 2015 Nissan Leaf. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a front end three vehicle collision. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed to a towing yard where it was deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. There was one injury that did not require medical attention. The contact suffered from back pain and pain to the right hand and thumb pain. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
The passenger air bag turns on at random times when a passenger (over 140 pounds) is in the seat. This happens randomly, but consistently. We've tried different configurations; getting in the seat after the car has started, hoping up and down (trying to trigger the weight sensor), changing occupants, un-buckling and re-buckling the seat belt. Nothing seems to make the issue go away. Car is at the dealership, so far they have no leads.
2015 Nissan Leaf engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | FWD | 126 / 101 / 114 MPGe | 84 mi |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2015 Nissan Leaf a good car?
Based on 110 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2015 Leaf rates avoid: 2.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the Leaf at the same age. It is one of the Leaf years we suggest avoiding. 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 2015 Nissan Leaf?
The brakes — 85 complaints, 77% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock › abs warning light. Next are the electrical system (18) and air bags (8).
How many recalls does the 2015 Nissan Leaf have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2015 Nissan Leaf, the most recent from April 26, 2023 (owners/service/other manual). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the 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 2015 Nissan Leaf problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 29,000 miles; 81% 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.