Worst 2013 Nissan Leaf Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Brakes
Electrical Faults
Airbags
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2013 Nissan Leaf.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 32 | 7 | — | 32,414 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 18 | — | 1 | 16,904 mi | |
| Airbags | 17 | 2 | — | 25,686 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 2 | — | 111,686 mi | |
| Fuel System | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Wipers & Visibility | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Engine Coolant Hoses And Fittings | 1 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2013 Nissan Leaf. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2013 Nissan Leaf
5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~4,509,888 vehicles.
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."
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 LEAF vehicles manufactured November 19, 2012, to July 31, 2015. During very cold temperatures, the relay inside the electronic brake booster may freeze, requiring the driver to exert more effort to slow the vehicle down.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.
Other Nissan Leaf Years
2013 Nissan Leaf — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2013 Nissan Leaf reliable?
What are common problems with the 2013 Nissan Leaf?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2013 Nissan Leaf?
How safe is the 2013 Nissan Leaf?
Does the 2013 Nissan Leaf have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2013 Nissan Leaf?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Leaf reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2013 Nissan Leaf
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $4.99