2020 Nissan Leaf Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
87/100
#3 most-complained of 16 Leaf years
The 2020 Nissan Leaf ranks 3rd worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 87 and 165 complaints, mostly electrical system issues (73% share). It carries 6 recalls, including an unresolved battery overheating recall for Level 3 fast charging.
- Complaints
- 165
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 108
- 118 city / 97 hwy
Top 2020 Nissan Leaf problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System121 (73%)
- Fuel System34 (21%)
- Other23 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain13 (8%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (7%)
- Engine10 (6%)
- Brakes3 (2%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (2%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (1%)
- Airbags1 (1%)
What owners report
- Backup camera images intermittently disappear or fail while in reverse, sometimes tied to a wiring harness fault.
- High-voltage battery reportedly overheats during Level 3 DC fast charging, with owners told to avoid fast charging until a remedy is issued.
- Owners report the recall remedy for the battery overheating issue remains unavailable for extended periods after notification.
- Rear defroster stops working entirely, requiring dealer part replacement.
- Automatic emergency braking failed to engage in one instance, resulting in a rear-end collision.
2020 Nissan Leaf recalls
6 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.
2020 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.
2020 compared with other Leaf years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2020 Nissan Leaf reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2020 Leaf ranks 3rd worst among 16 model years with a complaint index of 87, making it an Avoid year relative to other Leaf model years.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2020 Nissan Leaf?
- The Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 73% of complaints (121 of 165), with a median mileage at failure of 29,000 miles.
- Does the 2020 Nissan Leaf have a battery recall?
- Yes, recall 24V700000 covers 2019-2020 Leaf vehicles with Level 3 quick charging ports where the lithium-ion battery may overheat during fast charging; the remedy is a phased software update.
- How many recalls does the 2020 Nissan Leaf have?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2020 Nissan Leaf, covering electrical system, camera, engine, HVAC, and visibility components, with no do-not-drive recalls.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Nissan Leaf?
- The 2020 Nissan Leaf gets an EPA combined rating of 108 MPG-equivalent (118 city, 97 highway) with an estimated annual fuel cost of $700.