2021 Nissan Leaf Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#6 most-complained of 16 Leaf years
The 2021 Nissan Leaf has a Complaint Index of 67 and ranks 6th worst out of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 55 complaints, 5 fires, and 4 recalls, with the Electrical System (battery/fire) the dominant problem area at 60% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 55
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 5
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 108
- 118 city / 97 hwy
Top 2021 Nissan Leaf problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System33 (60%)
- Other13 (24%)
- Fuel System9 (16%)
- Engine6 (11%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras6 (11%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (11%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (5%)
- Airbags2 (4%)
- Brakes1 (2%)
- Lane Departure1 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report the high-voltage battery catching fire shortly after Level 3 DC fast charging, sometimes while parked at home.
- Some describe the battery igniting or smoking even at low speeds shortly after leaving a charging station.
- Several owners tied fire and charging failures to recall 25V655000, noting lithium deposits reducing battery health and blocking Level 1 charging.
- One owner reported a dashboard message reading 'Service EV system - Unable to restart after power off' that recurred after dealer service and left the car unable to start.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in two separate crashes involving front-end and side impacts.
- Owners noted the rearview camera image became distorted or was lost, tied to recall 24V071000.
2021 Nissan Leaf recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 25V655000Sep 30, 2025Electrical System19,077 vehicles
Electrical system:propulsion system:charging:module:software
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 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: Owners are advised not to use Level 3 quick charging until the remedy is completed. Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 16, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R25C8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 4, 2025.
- 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.
2021 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.
2021 compared with other Leaf years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2021 Nissan Leaf reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2021 Leaf a Complaint Index of 67, ranking it 6th worst among 16 model years of the Leaf, so it earns a Caution verdict relative to other years.
- What problems does the 2021 Nissan Leaf have?
- NHTSA lists 55 complaints for the 2021 Leaf, 60% involving the Electrical System, mainly battery-related fire incidents, with a median failure mileage of 35,000 for that category.
- Does the 2021 Nissan Leaf have a battery fire recall?
- Yes. Recall 25V655000 covers 2021-2022 Leaf vehicles with a Level 3 quick charging port because the lithium-ion battery may overheat during fast charging; owners are advised not to use Level 3 charging until repaired.
- How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Leaf have?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2021 Leaf, covering the Electrical System, Collision Avoidance & Cameras, Engine, and HVAC/defroster instructions.
- How does the 2021 Leaf compare to other years?
- The 2021 Leaf's Complaint Index of 67 is lower than the 2019 Leaf (100, Avoid) and 2020 Leaf (87, Avoid), but higher than the 2017 Leaf (13, Best) and 2024 Leaf (7, Best).