Nissan Leaf
Registered from 2011 to 2023.
About this model
The Nissan Leaf is a battery electric car produced by Nissan since 2010. It was offered exclusively as a 5-door hatchback until 2025, when it became a crossover SUV model. The term "LEAF" serves as a backronym to leading environmentally-friendly affordable family car.
From the Wikipedia article Nissan Leaf, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2020 electric. 520 of 8,473 tests failed, 6%.
Better than 77% of 2020 cars. The typical one fails 8%, across 906 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres and wheels | 62% | 320 |
| Brakes | 18% | 94 |
| Visibility | 14% | 71 |
| Lights and electrics | 10% | 50 |
| Suspension | 5% | 24 |
| Seat belts and airbags | 3% | 13 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Tyres and wheels — 62% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- A tyre cords visible or damaged
- Brakes — 18% of its failures
- Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
- Lights and electrics — 10% of its failures
- Visibility — 14% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 100–120k miles this one fails 13% of its inspections, against the 16% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 4% | 5% | 3,828 | |
| 20–40k miles | 7% | 10% | 3,444 | |
| 40–60k miles | 9% | 13% | 677 | |
| 60–80k miles | 10% | 14% | 305 | |
| 80–100k miles | 9% | 16% | 132 | |
| 100–120k miles | 13% | 16% | 54 |
8,440 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 20k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2022 | electric · 206 hp · 1756 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 179 Wh/km |
| 2021 | electric · 205 hp · 1756 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 185 Wh/km |
| 2020 | electric · 214 hp · 1755 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 185 Wh/km |
| 2019 | electric · 175 hp · 1756 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 180 Wh/km |
| 2018 | electric · 137 hp · 1580 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 203 Wh/km |
| 2017 | electric · 107 hp · 1546 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 150 Wh/km |
| 2016 | electric · 107 hp · 1556 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 151 Wh/km |
| 2015 | electric · 107 hp · 1562 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 150 Wh/km |
| 2014 | electric · 107 hp · 1565 kg · 2699 mm wheelbase · 152 Wh/km |
| 2013 | electric · 107 hp · 1587 kg · 2696 mm wheelbase · 158 Wh/km |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/02477/23
The vehicle control module (VCM) may be faulty. Deactivation of the cruise control can result in a sudden and unintentional acceleration, creating a risk of an accident, injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0850/15
The push engine start switch may remain in the pressed position and not return after switching the engine on. If the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition, the emergency engine stop function may operate and cause the engine to stop unexpectedly.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/2018/14
A fail-safe clip fitted to the steering column to ensure correct fitment of the steering column lower joint may have been dislodged from the part during the vehicle assembly process. Without this fail-safe clip, the bolt to secure the joint may be fixed without the steering column shaft being fully inserted on to the steering gear input shaft. Although the length of engagement is sufficient for the steering system to work normally, the forces on the joint (specifically during low speed manoeuvring) may with time cause the joint to work loose and disconnect from the steering system leading to a loss of steering control.
Recall of the product from end users