2023 Nissan LEAF

Showing the 2023 LEAF S. We haven't verified this trim's engine; the numbers below cover every version of this model year. Every version

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
109–111 MPGecombined; city 121–123, highway 98–99; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$4,180–$4,220U.S. average; Ohio $4,450–$4,500 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA electricity prices for Jul 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
5 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
3over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
21filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2023 LEAF. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 LEAF. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or other8200
Vehicle speed control8500
Electrical system4100
Visibility/wiper3000
Forward collision avoidance2000
Fuel/propulsion system2000
Power train2100
Service brakes2100
Back over prevention1000
Steering1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 201195
  2. 201257
  3. 201381
  4. 201434
  5. 2015110
  6. 201636
  7. 201717
  8. 201867
  9. 2019259
  10. 2020167
  11. 202156
  12. 202296
  13. 202321
  14. 20245
  15. 20257
  16. 20262

Every LEAF year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2023 LEAF over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Vehicle speed control

NHTSA campaign 23V494000 · reported Jul 17, 2023 · 66,159 vehicles potentially 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.

Risk: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A6.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components

NHTSA campaign 23V362000 · reported May 22, 2023 · 758 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2023 LEAF vehicles. The right-hand brake tubes may have been damaged during production and could corrode, possibly causing a hole in the brake line and a brake fluid leak.

Risk: A brake fluid leak can reduce braking performance and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the right-hand brake tube, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 7, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC976.

NHTSA's record and documents

Equipment: other; Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system

NHTSA campaign 23V048000 · reported Feb 2, 2023 · 64,732 vehicles potentially 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."

Risk: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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 April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 57 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2023 LEAF, the latest on Apr 13, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (31), equipment (9), power train (6), structure (5), visibility/wiper (5).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

Specs

EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 10 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
LEAF
Front-Wheel Drive		TBDAutomatic (A1)Electricity
149 miles of range		123 / 99 / 111 MPGe
LEAF SV
Front-Wheel Drive		TBDAutomatic (A1)Electricity
212 miles of range		121 / 98 / 109 MPGe

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data