2018 Nissan Leaf Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Nissan Leaf.

20172019
Complaints
111
per 10K Sold
75.4
US Sales
14,715
Crashes
19
Fires
3
Injuries
5
Fatalities
Recalls
4

Worst 2018 Nissan Leaf Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#117 complaints

Brakes

Avg mileage:11,089 mi
Crash-related:5
#215 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:35,230 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#312 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:5,373 mi
Crash-related:4
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Nissan Leaf.

Brakes
17
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
Avg Miles
11,089
Electrical Faults
15
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
35,230
Unintended Acceleration
12
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
5,373
Fuel System
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
9
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
18,500
Engine Problems
6
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
13,000
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
18,500
Steering Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
6,005
Body Structure
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward-Collision Avoidance Issues
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
1
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electronic Stability Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Nissan Leaf. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2018 Nissan Leaf

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~1,417,635 vehicles.

24V071000Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
~57,914 affected

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."

23V494000Unintended Acceleration
~66,159 affected

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.

23V048000Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
~64,732 affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 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."

19V654000Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
~1,228,830 affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Other Nissan Leaf Years

2018 Nissan Leaf — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2018 Nissan Leaf reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2018 Nissan Leaf has 111 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Brakes with 17 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2018 Nissan Leaf?
Top reported problems: Brakes (17 complaints, avg 11,089 mi); Electrical Faults (15 complaints, avg 35,230 mi); Unintended Acceleration (12 complaints, avg 5,373 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Nissan Leaf?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 16,698 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2018 Nissan Leaf?
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Nissan Leaf include 19 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2018 Nissan Leaf have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,417,635 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2018 Nissan Leaf?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

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.

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