2016 Nissan Leaf Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
27/100
#12 most-complained of 16 Leaf years
The 2016 Nissan Leaf has 36 NHTSA complaints, 4 recalls, and a complaint index of 27, ranking 12th of 16 model years with a "Good" verdict. Brakes are the top problem area, cited in 44% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 36
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 113
- 125 city / 101 hwy
Top 2016 Nissan Leaf problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes16 (44%)
- Electrical System13 (36%)
- Fuel System8 (22%)
- Airbags3 (8%)
- Engine3 (8%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (8%)
- Steering2 (6%)
- Other1 (3%)
- Structure & Body1 (3%)
What owners report
- Brakes reportedly fail to stop the car despite hard pedal pressure, sometimes preceded by an ABS-like sound, leading to collisions or reliance on the manual/emergency brake.
- Owners describe the brake pedal going loose with a loud crack sound, followed by a temporary total loss of braking that later self-resolves.
- Some owners report the brake system control light and ABS indicator illuminating simultaneously while brakes stop working, requiring the emergency brake to stop the vehicle.
- Electrical system complaints include the car shutting off unexpectedly at highway speeds, including one report of the main EV battery failing at 75% charge and the vehicle stopping mid-lane.
- Owners describe a "Low Battery Mode" warning appearing even when the battery is fully charged, causing sudden deceleration; dealer replacement of a capacitor and battery cells did not always fix the issue.
- Steering complaints mention a plastic-feeling sticking sensation and sound during gentle turns, causing momentary binding and the need to overcorrect the wheel.
2016 Nissan Leaf recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 23V296000Apr 26, 2023Other94,343 vehicles
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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Risk: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
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. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A1.
- NHTSA 17V253000Apr 13, 2017Airbags30,038 vehicles
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.
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.
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.
- NHTSA 16V436000Jun 15, 2016Airbags4,355 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.
Risk: If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
2016 Nissan Leaf fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 125 MPG
- Highway
- 101 MPG
- Combined
- 113 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $650
- 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.
2016 compared with other Leaf years
Frequently asked questions
- How many complaints does the 2016 Nissan Leaf have?
- NHTSA lists 36 complaints for the 2016 Nissan Leaf, with a complaint index of 27, giving it a "Good" verdict relative to other Leaf model years.
- What is the biggest problem area for the 2016 Nissan Leaf?
- Brakes are the top problem area, making up 44% of complaints, followed by the electrical system at 36% and the fuel system at 22%.
- Does the 2016 Nissan Leaf have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 Nissan Leaf, covering airbag inflators, an airbag wiring harness connector, defroster instructions, and a software reprogramming issue. None are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2016 Leaf compare to other Leaf years?
- The 2016 Leaf ranks 12th worst of 16 model years with data, with a complaint index of 27. Years like 2019, 2020, and 2022 rank worse with "Avoid" verdicts, while 2017, 2024, and 2025 rank better as "Best."
- Was there a fire or crash reported for the 2016 Nissan Leaf?
- NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 1 fire reported for the 2016 Nissan Leaf, with no injuries or deaths recorded.