YearToAvoid

2015 Nissan Leaf Brakes Problems

Brakes account for 85 of 110 total complaints (77%) on the 2015 Nissan Leaf, the highest share of any model year. NHTSA also lists a related recall (16V119000) for the electronic brake booster, and owners report failures at a median mileage of 32,500.

Brakes complaints
85
77% of 110
Crashes reported
7
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
32,500 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Brake pedal travels to the floor with little or no stopping power, sometimes leading to low-speed collisions while parking.
  • Complete or intermittent loss of braking on the highway, with ABS, brake, or traction control warning lights coming on at the same time.
  • Owners describe needing to use the parking or emergency brake to stop after the regular brakes stopped responding.
  • Some report the brake failure happening in cold temperatures, with the car feeling like it was on ice on clear roads.
  • Grinding or rumbling noises from the brakes precede a loss of braking force, with function sometimes returning after the car sits for a while.

When 2015 Nissan Leaf brake complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 23, 2015, latest Sep 1, 2026.

2015 Nissan Leaf brakes complaints: complaints filed per quarter72015 Q12016 Q32018 Q22019 Q32021 Q12022 Q32024 Q12025 Q3
85 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2018 Q4 (7).

Brakes recalls for the 2015 Nissan Leaf

  1. NHTSA 16V119000Feb 29, 2016Brakes46,859 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: If the brake relay fails, longer distances or additional brake effort would be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    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.

Brakes complaints by Leaf model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20101 (100%)
  2. 201122 (23%)
  3. 201223 (40%)
  4. 201332 (40%)
  5. 201418 (53%)
  6. 201585 (77%)
  7. 201616 (44%)
  8. 20172 (12%)
  9. 201820 (30%)
  10. 201910 (4%)
  11. 20203 (2%)
  12. 20211 (2%)
  13. 20228 (9%)
  14. 20232 (10%)
  15. 20240 (0%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Are brakes a common complaint on the 2015 Nissan Leaf?
Yes. Brakes make up 85 of the 110 total complaints filed for the 2015 Leaf, or 77% of all complaints, the highest share among all Leaf model years listed.
Is there a brake recall for the 2015 Nissan Leaf?
Yes. NHTSA recall 16V119000 covers 2013-2015 Leaf vehicles built between November 19, 2012 and July 31, 2015, addressing an electronic brake booster relay issue that can occur in very cold temperatures. Nissan's remedy is a free software reprogram of the Intelligent Brake Control Unit.
At what mileage do brake problems typically show up on the 2015 Leaf?
NHTSA data shows a median mileage of 32,500 at the time of brake-related failure for the 2015 Leaf.
Have brake issues on the 2015 Leaf led to crashes?
NHTSA lists 7 crashes and 2 injuries associated with brake complaints on the 2015 Leaf, with no fires reported.

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.