2017 Nissan Leaf
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 5 of 17 complaints (29%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Visibility & Lighting include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 36 in 2016 to 17 in 2017.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | vs. 2017 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 650 | 650 | 650 | 700 | 700–750 | |
| Combined MPGe | 114 | 112–114 | 112 | 112 | 104–112 | |
| City / Highway MPGe | 126 / 101 | 124–126 / 101 | 124 / 101 | 125 / 100 | 114–124 / 94–99 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Complaints filed | 110 | 36 | 17 | 66 | 254 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 8 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 4 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2017 Nissan Leaf have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2017 Nissan Leaf?
Airbags & Restraints: 5 of 17 NHTSA complaints (29%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Nissan Leaf get?
EPA rates it 112 MPGe combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2017 Nissan Leaf?
EPA estimates $650 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (1)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Front-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Midsize Cars | 124 MPGe | 101 MPGe | 112 MPGe | $650 | 0 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM · Campaign 23V296000 · Apr 27, 2023
Defect: 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."
Consequence: 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.
AIR BAGS · Campaign 17V253000 · Apr 17, 2017
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.