Every 2016 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 17V253000
Apr 13, 2017Air Bags
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
- Fix
- 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.
Full recall details for 17V253000 →Air Bags · NHTSA 16V436000
Jun 15, 2016Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
- Problem
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.
- Risk
- If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Fix
- Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full recall details for 16V436000 →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 →
2016 Nissan Leaf complaints and service bulletins
Owners filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Leaf, reporting 1 crashes, 1 fires. Nissan has issued at least 99 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 Brakes16
- Electrical System13
- Fuel/Propulsion System8
- Air Bags3
- Engine3
- Power Train3
Service bulletins by component
- Electrical System (39)
- Equipment (29)
- Air Bags (9)
- Equipment Adaptive/Mobility (5)
- Power Train (5)
- Suspension (5)
Read Nissan Leaf owner complaints and bulletins, every year
NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2016 Nissan Leaf
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in one investigation. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.
What people reported
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Nissan Leaf. A few in their own words, shortened. Complaints are unverified and are not proof of a defect or of any recall.
Fire
“THE CONSUMER OWNED A 2016 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE ASLEEP AT THEIR RESIDENCE, THEY WERE AWOKEN BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO INFORMED THEM THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. NO INJURY WAS SUSTAINED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE.”
2016 NISSAN LEAFJan 22, 2020
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11301153
Crash
“MY 2016 LEAF SL WAS DAMAGED IN A FAIRLY LOW SPEED COLLISION DURING HEAVY OFFICE RUSH TRAFFIC (AROUND 7:30AM IN THE MORNING). WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED, I ALSO BRAKED HARD.”
2016 NISSAN LEAFApr 11, 2018
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11084606
“THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME intermittently AT FIRST ... NOW permanently AND CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED BY NISSAN.”
2016 NISSAN LEAFJul 28, 2026 · NV
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11753334
“When turning left there is a plasticky sticking feeling and sound like a plastic bushing is coming apart. this causes the steering to momentarily bind. this happens most often when making gentle curves on the highway. the feeling causes you to overcorrect the steering wheel.”
2016 NISSAN LEAFApr 10, 2025
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11653891
“On January 9, a little after 12:30 pm, on Indian Head Highway (MD route 210) northbound near the Manokeek exit, after limiting drive power owing to battery degradation and cold weather (about 30 F) drive power and power steering failed entirely.”
2016 NISSAN LEAFJan 9, 2025
Complaint filed with NHTSA, not verified by the agency · NHTSA complaint 11635126
Check your Leaf by VIN
Not every 2016 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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