2019 Nissan Leaf Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2019 Nissan Leaf ranks 1st worst out of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 259 complaints, mostly electrical (68%). It carries 5 recalls, making it an Avoid year relative to other Leaf model years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 16 Leaf years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 259
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 108
- 118 city / 97 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2019 Nissan Leaf problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System177 (68%)
- Other49 (19%)
- Fuel System34 (13%)
- Engine14 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain13 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers13 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (5%)
- Brakes10 (4%)
- Lane Departure2 (1%)
- Seat Belts2 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the Level 3 quick-charge battery overheating, tied to recall 24V700000, with some saying no repair parts were available for over a year.
- Some drivers experienced the battery capacity dropping suddenly during highway driving, triggering 'turtle mode' and power throttling with a dashboard warning.
- Windshield wipers reportedly stopped working or worked intermittently, sometimes leaving the windshield foggy and reducing visibility in rain.
- One owner reported airbags deploying after the vehicle ran over debris on the highway, with no front collision or sudden speed loss.
- Owners noted the seat belt warning chime did not sound when the front seat belt was unbuckled.
2019 Nissan Leaf recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 24V700000Sep 19, 2024Electrical System25,704 vehicles
Electrical system:propulsion system:charging:module:software
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
Risk: A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 3, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R24B2, P4A38, and P5A22.
- NHTSA 24V071000Feb 2, 2024Collision Avoidance & Cameras57,914 vehicles
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2022 LEAF vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23D7.
- NHTSA 23V494000Jul 17, 2023Engine66,159 vehicles
Vehicle speed control
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.
Risk: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A6.
2019 Nissan Leaf fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 118 MPG
- Highway
- 97 MPG
- Combined
- 108 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $700
- 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.
2019 compared with other Leaf years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Nissan Leaf reliable?
- NHTSA data ranks the 2019 Leaf as the worst of 16 model years, with a Complaint Index of 100 and 259 complaints, so it is labeled Avoid relative to other Leaf years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2019 Nissan Leaf?
- The Electrical System accounts for 68% of complaints (177 of 259), with a median mileage at failure of 86,000 miles.
- Does the 2019 Nissan Leaf have a battery recall?
- Yes. Recall 24V700000 covers 2019-2020 Leaf vehicles with a Level 3 quick-charge port where the lithium-ion battery may overheat; Nissan is updating battery software.
- How many recalls does the 2019 Nissan Leaf have?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2019 Nissan Leaf, covering the electrical system, cameras, engine, and HVAC.
- How does the 2019 Leaf compare to other Leaf years?
- Its Complaint Index of 100 is the highest of all 16 model years tracked, higher than 2020 (87) and 2022 (93), which are also rated Avoid.