VehicleVerdict

2014 Nissan Leaf problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2014 Nissan Leaf is a recall-heavy year with an otherwise ordinary complaint record: 6 NHTSA recall campaigns apply, yet its 45 owner complaints run below the Leaf median. The recalls matter more than the complaint count here — verify every campaign was completed before buying.

The trouble concentrates in one system: brakes issues account for 40% of all reports (18 of 45), far ahead of electrical system at 7. In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

45

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

3

Investigations

5

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2014 compare to other Leaf years?

See all Leaf years to avoid →

What are the most common 2014 Nissan Leaf problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes1840%
Electrical System716%
Airbags49%
Other37%
Visibility & Wipers24%
Seats24%
Speed Control24%
Steering24%
Transmission12%
Fuel System12%
Latches & Locks12%
Seat Belts12%
Body & Structure12%

Does the 2014 Nissan Leaf have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

23V296000OtherApril 26, 2023 · 94,343 units

Defect

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."

Consequence

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 May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A1.

16V244000AirbagsApril 26, 2016 · 3,296,947 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

16V119000BrakesFebruary 29, 2016 · 46,859 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

If the brake relay fails, longer distances or additional brake effort would be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

14V263000Fuel SystemMay 16, 2014 · 196 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Nissan LEAF vehicles manufactured April 15, 2014, through April 24, 2014. Due to a problem with the motor control circuit board, the inverter may fail, causing the vehicle shut down.

Consequence

An unexpected vehicle shut down increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inverter, free of charge. The recall began in July 2014. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

14V192000Body & StructureApril 16, 2014 · 211 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 28, 2014, through March 12, 2014. The front structural member assembly may be missing welds, which could reduce the structural integrity of the vehicle if the vehicle is involved in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 305, "Electric-Powered Vehicles: Electrolyte Spillage and Electrical Shock Protection."

Consequence

Missing welds may effect the vehicle's integrity in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the vehicle's occupants.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect to see if any of the welds are missing. Any vehicle missing welds will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 2, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

14V138000Electrical SystemMarch 25, 2014 · 989,701 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

DROVE VEHICLE FROM HOME TO DESTINATION 15 MILES AWAY WITH NO ISSUES. STOPPED AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE. AUDIBLE TONE CAME ON WITH EVERYTHING OFF. STARTED VEHICLE. MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED. TURNED OFF VEHICLE. TURNED BACK ON, BRAKE WARNING APPEARED, CAR IDLED FORWARD AND COULD NOT BRAKE IT TO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · September 24, 2018

I WAS READING A RECENT ARTICLE REGARDING A NISSAN LEAF AND A FIRE. WE JUST HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN AT OUR FACILITY, 3003 SUMMIT BLVD. ATLANTA GA 30319. THE ISSUE IS THAT WE ARE NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE VEHICLE OR THE CHARGING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND A COUPLE OF OTHER CARS NEARBY WERE ALSO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · February 7, 2018 · fire

WHEN MY 90LB DAUGHTER AND 130LB WIFE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT OF OUR MY14 NISSAN LEAF, THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY WITH WHETHER THE AIRBAG WILL BE ON OR OFF. OFTEN, THE AIRBAG IS ON WITH MY DAUGHTER AND OFF WITH MY WIFE. THE DEALER HAS "RESET" THE AIRBAG FOUR TIMES AND SAYS "IT'S WORKING AS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · February 13, 2015

I WAS READING A RECENT ARTICLE REGARDING A NISSAN LEAF AND A FIRE. WE JUST HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN AT OUR FACILITY, 3003 SUMMIT BLVD. ATLANTA GA 30319. THE ISSUE IS THAT WE ARE NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE VEHICLE OR THE CHARGING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND A COUPLE OF OTHER CARS NEARBY WERE ALSO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · February 7, 2018 · fire

My car suddenly accelerated out of my control and my car was totaled in a supermarket parking lot. Amazingly no serious injuries though two other cars were damaged by this event. No warnings and no time to act. I demanded that Nissan do an inspection. The email I got from them this morning said…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · April 7, 2021 · crash

2014 Nissan Leaf — common questions

Is the 2014 Nissan Leaf reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 45 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Leaf year, with 6 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2014 Leaf problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (18 complaints), electrical system (7 complaints), airbags (4 complaints).

Does the 2014 Nissan Leaf have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2014 Nissan Leaf. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2014 Nissan Leaf under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 3 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Nissan Leaf years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Leaf years to avoid are 2019, 2020, 2015, 2022, 2013, 2011, 2018. The cleanest record among Leaf years belongs to 2010.

How safe is the 2014 Nissan Leaf?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2014 Nissan Leaf earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.