Used Nissan Leaf 2018-2024 reliability

Unlike its predecessor, the Leaf is shaped like a normal car with a significant nose and front overhang; this largely so it complies with pedestrian impact legislation in the event of an accident. However, not all of its front end is visible from the driver’s seat, so check for any minor scuffs on the bodywork and any damage to the wheels, as the Leaf will mostly have been used in urban scenarios and in tight city centre parking spaces.

When test-driving a used electric vehicle, make sure you monitor the dash to see how quickly the battery is depleted and ensure that it can be charged fully, just so you have a rough idea of battery condition.

VIN stored in the vehicle system may not match the actual VIN of the vehicle

This may lead to a situation where the driver can see information related to a different vehicle resulting in a data security breach. The issue can be fixed for free at a Nissan dealership.

Vehicle Control Module (VCM) causing unintended acceleration

In rare and specific circumstances, there have been reports of unintended acceleration after switching off the cruise control. You can contact your local Nissan dealer to fix this and you will not need to pay for anything regarding the recall.

The welded joint on the park lock actuator plate has the potential to fail during usage

The part in question may be of poor quality and can be replaced free of charge at a Nissan dealer.

Slow rapid charging times

Early examples of the second-generation Leaf had an issue where drivers were unable to rapid charge their cars as quickly as anticipated, particularly if the vehicle had already been rapidly charged earlier in the day. This was due to programming that limited the rate of charge to the battery if the internal temperature of the pack reached a pre-set threshold, in order to prolong the life of the batteries inside. This threshold has since been raised, improving the speed of charging.

The Nissan Leaf is one of the more reliable electric cars. It finished in second place out of 18 cars in the electric car reliability category of our latest survey, with a score of 95.6%. That places it below the Mini Electric, but above nearly all of its rivals, including the Cupra Born, MG4 and Volkswagen ID 3.

Only 11% of the Leafs in the survey had a problem, with the main areas being sourced to the brakes, interior trim and non-motor electrics. Those faults didn’t cause any breakdowns, and 60% of the affected cars were put right in a day or less.

In the car brand reliability section of our survey, Nissan finished in a disappointing 28th place out of 31 manufacturers. That's above Vauxhall and MG, which fared even worse, but below nearly all of its other rivals, including Kia, Renault and Skoda.

Used Nissan Leaf: owners' reliability data

In our latest Reliability Survey, the 2018-2024 Nissan Leaf had a mixed reliability record according to owners, with varied experiences in dealer service. Some owners praised the car for being generally dependable, with no major faults reported even after years of ownership. However, a notable number of owners reported issues with the car's electrical systems, including warning lights activating without clear cause. One owner mentioned a recurring issue with the car's charging system that was difficult to diagnose and repair.

Experiences with Nissan dealerships were similarly mixed. While some owners noted quick and efficient service, others found the repair process frustrating and time consuming. A few complained about high repair costs for relatively minor issues, as well as a lack of clear communication from the service team.

In summary, the Leaf is seen as reliable by many, but persistent electrical faults and inconsistent dealer experiences have raised concerns for some.

If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.