2026 Nissan LEAF

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

Fuel economy
103–121 MPGecombined; city 110–131, highway 96–111; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$3,820–$4,490U.S. average; Ohio $4,070–$4,790 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
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
Recall campaigns
2over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
2filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2026 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 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 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
Electrical system2000
Fuel/propulsion system1000
Power train1000

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 2 recall campaigns for the 2026 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.

Seat belts: rear/other

NHTSA campaign 26V425000 · reported Jul 1, 2026 · 3,788 vehicles potentially affected

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 LEAF vehicles. The outer rear seat belt automatic locking retractors (ALR) may deactivate early, which can prevent a child restraint system (CRS) from securing properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: An improperly secured child restraint system may not restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear outboard seat belt assemblies, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated October 28, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall is R26A7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 7, 2026.

NHTSA's record and documents

Electrical system: propulsion system

NHTSA campaign 26V188000 · reported Mar 25, 2026 · 51 vehicles potentially affected

Park outside

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 LEAF vehicles. The high voltage battery may have internal damage that can cause a short circuit within the battery module.

Risk: A short circuit in a high voltage battery module increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and should not charge their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery modules, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall is R25F1. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 27, 2026.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 6 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2026 LEAF, the latest on Apr 13, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (3), structure (2), visibility/wiper (1).

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

Specs

EPA class: small station wagons. EPA greenhouse gas score: 10 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
LEAF 75kWh (18 inch alloy Wheels)
Front-Wheel Drive		160 kW AC 3-phaseAutomatic (A1)Electricity
288 miles of range		122 / 105 / 114 MPGe
LEAF 75kWh (18 inch steel Wheels)
Front-Wheel Drive		160 kW AC 3-phaseAutomatic (A1)Electricity
303 miles of range		131 / 111 / 121 MPGe
LEAF 75kWh (19 inch Wheels)
Front-Wheel Drive		160 kW AC 3-phaseAutomatic (A1)Electricity
259 miles of range		110 / 96 / 103 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