Every 2013 Nissan Leaf recall
Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.
Equipment · NHTSA 23V296000
Apr 26, 2023Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual
- Problem
- 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."
- Risk
- Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 23V296000 →Air Bags · NHTSA 16V244000
Apr 26, 2016Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Full recall details for 16V244000 →Service Brakes · NHTSA 16V119000
Feb 29, 2016Service Brakes
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- If the brake relay fails, longer distances or additional brake effort would be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Intelligent Brake Control Unit software, free of charge. The recall began on March 28, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full recall details for 16V119000 →Electrical System · NHTSA 14V138000
Mar 25, 2014Electrical System:Software
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Full recall details for 14V138000 →Air Bags · NHTSA 13V069000
Jan 3, 2013Air Bags
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full recall details for 13V069000 →
2013 Nissan Leaf complaints and service bulletins
Owners filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Leaf, reporting 11 crashes, 1 fires, 4 injuries. Nissan has issued at least 143 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.
Most-reported components
- Service Brakes32
- Electrical System18
- Air Bags17
- Unknown Or Other10
- Vehicle Speed Control5
- Fuel/Propulsion System4
Service bulletins by component
- Electrical System (52)
- Equipment (45)
- Power Train (11)
- Wheels (11)
- Air Bags (8)
- Equipment Adaptive/Mobility (8)
Read Nissan Leaf owner complaints and bulletins, every year
NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2013 Nissan Leaf
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in 3 investigations. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.
- Pedestrian alert sounds
DP22005Opened Jan 27, 2023Closed Aug 7, 2023
- Occupant Classification System Failure
EA15004Opened Aug 31, 2015Closed May 2, 2017
- Occupant Classification System Failure
RQ15001Opened Mar 18, 2015Closed Sep 1, 2015
What people reported
Owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Nissan Leaf. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
Crash
“I put the car in park as I was pulling in without turning it off to grab trash from the curb and take it to the car, but the car keep accelerating. I jumped in and slammed on the bricks but it hit the brick wall to the house.”
2013 NISSAN LEAFDec 12, 2024
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11630366
Injury reported
“The left curtain and driver seat airbags were spontaneously deployed while driving. The driver seatbelt pre-tensioner was engaged and locked. There was no collision or abrupt motion. My wife sustained minor abrasions to her left arm and swerved to the right shoulder of the road.”
2013 NISSAN LEAFMay 12, 2023
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11521771
Crash
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 40 MPH, SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT IT FAILED TO FUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S WIFE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF ANY WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED.”
2013 NISSAN LEAFSep 16, 2019
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11255885
Crash
“I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A ONE-WAY STREET AT AROUND 25-30 MPH AND NEEDED TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO STOP QUICKLY. I HIT THE BRAKES WITH ALL THE FORCE I COULD WITH MY LEG---THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE AND THE CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME.”
2013 NISSAN LEAFFeb 26, 2019
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11182659
Injury reportedCrash
“I WAS INVOLVED IN A MVA ON 12/26 WHEN SOMEONE REAR-ENDED ME GOING ABOUT 35-40MPH WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. MY SEAT BELTS DID NOT LOCK UPON IMPACT AND I SUSTAINED A BAD WHIPLASH CAUSING NECK PAIN, BACK PAIN AND SEVERE HEADACHES.”
2013 NISSAN LEAFFeb 27, 2018
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11075268
Check your Leaf by VIN
Not every 2013 Nissan Leaf is in every recall. Enter your 17-character VIN to see the recalls on record for your exact vehicle, then confirm which are still open at NHTSA.gov or with any Nissan dealer.
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