YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan Leaf Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

47/100

#9 most-complained of 16 Leaf years

The 2012 Nissan Leaf ranks 9th of 16 model years with a Complaint Index of 47 and a "Good" verdict relative to other Leaf years. NHTSA lists 57 complaints, 6 crashes, 6 injuries, and zero recalls, with Brakes as the top problem area.

Complaints
57
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
6 / 0
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
99
106 city / 92 hwy

Top 2012 Nissan Leaf problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes23 (40%)
  2. Electrical System16 (28%)
  3. Airbags11 (19%)
  4. Engine6 (11%)
  5. Other3 (5%)
  6. Seat Belts3 (5%)
  7. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers3 (5%)
  9. Fuel System2 (4%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the brake pedal fails to slow the vehicle and the ABS does not activate, leading to collisions.
  • Some describe the car rolling backward on an incline after shifting to park, in one case nearly striking a bystander and damaging a charging station.
  • Drivers report brakes locking up suddenly during a turn, causing the vehicle to slide into a guard rail.
  • Others describe the brake system feeling soft or unresponsive right before the car surged forward unexpectedly.
  • The airbag warning light illuminates and flashes, with dealers diagnosing a faulty side airbag sensor or cushion that sometimes needs replacement.
  • Some owners report the passenger airbag disabled indicator activating even with an adult seated in the front passenger seat.
2012 Nissan Leaf complaints: complaints filed per month3Jul 2012Apr 2013May 2014Mar 2015Mar 2017Sep 2019Aug 2020Aug 2023
70 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2012 to Feb 2026; peak Aug 2013 (3).

2012 Nissan Leaf recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 Nissan Leaf fuel economy and fuel cost

City
106 MPG
Highway
92 MPG
Combined
99 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$750
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Electricity
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other Leaf years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010No verdict010—
2011Caution6095099
2012Good4757099
2013Caution73815115
2014Good33346114

All Nissan Leaf years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Nissan Leaf reliable?
Among Leaf model years, 2012 ranks 9th of 16 with a Complaint Index of 47 and a "Good" verdict. NHTSA lists 57 complaints, 6 crashes, and 6 injuries, with no recalls filed for this year.
What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Nissan Leaf?
Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 23 of 57 complaints (40%), including reports of the ABS failing to slow the car and brakes locking up. The median mileage at failure for brake complaints was 19,700 miles.
Does the 2012 Nissan Leaf have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2012 Nissan Leaf, including zero do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2012 Leaf compare to other years?
The 2012 Leaf's Complaint Index of 47 is lower than 2011 (60), 2013 (73), 2015 (80), 2019 (100), 2020 (87), and 2022 (93), making it a relatively better year within the model lineup.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Nissan Leaf?
The EPA rates the 2012 Leaf at 99 MPGe combined (106 city, 92 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $750.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.