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Nissan Leaf Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2011 to 2026, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Nissan Leaf model years through 2024, 2011, 2012 and 2024 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2014 and 2020 have the most (6). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Nissan Leaf: Key Facts

Model years with data
16 (2011–2026)
Distinct recall campaigns
20
Fewest recalls
2011, 2012 and 2024 (0)
Most recalls
2014 and 2020 (6)
Most recalled system
Equipment (11)
5-star overall rating
2011, 2012, 2020 and 5 more years

Nissan Leaf Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Nissan Leaf — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2011–2026
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2026 Recent: still collecting recalls 2 Not rated Electrical system, Seat belts
2025 Recent: still collecting recalls 0 5 stars None on record
2024 0 5 stars None on record
2023 3 5 stars Equipment, Service brakes, hydraulic, Vehicle speed control
2022 4 5 stars Back over prevention, Electrical system, Equipment
2021 4 5 stars Back over prevention, Electrical system, Equipment
2020 6 5 stars Back over prevention, Electrical system, Equipment
2019 5 Not rated Back over prevention, Electrical system, Equipment
2018 4 Not rated Back over prevention, Equipment, Vehicle speed control
2017 2 Not rated Air bags, Equipment
2016 4 4 stars Air bags, Equipment
2015 4 4 stars Air bags, Equipment, Service brakes
2014 6 4 stars Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment
2013 5 4 stars Air bags, Electrical system, Equipment
2012 0 5 stars None on record
2011 0 5 stars None on record

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20262 recalls
  2. 20250 recalls
  3. 20240 recalls
  4. 20233 recalls
  5. 20224 recalls
  6. 20214 recalls
  7. 20206 recalls
  8. 20195 recalls
  9. 20184 recalls
  10. 20172 recalls
  11. 20164 recalls
  12. 20154 recalls
  13. 20146 recalls
  14. 20135 recalls
  15. 20120 recalls
  16. 20110 recalls

Nissan Leaf: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Nissan Leaf recalls are equipment (11), air bags (9), back over prevention (8), electrical system (7) and vehicle speed control (6). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA has an overall star rating for 12 of these 16 model years, and 2011, 2012, 2020 and 5 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.

FAQ: Nissan Leaf Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Nissan Leaf?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2011, 2012 and 2024 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.

Which Nissan Leaf model years have the most recalls?

2014 and 2020 have the most, with 6 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Leaf", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy