There are no safety recalls for the 2011 Nissan Leaf, but owners have filed 95 complaints with NHTSA.
2011 Nissan Leaf problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Air Bags | 35 | |
| Electrical System | 29 | |
| Service Brakes | 16 | |
| Seats | 7 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 | |
| Unknown or Other | 4 | |
| Structure | 3 | |
| Power Train | 3 | |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 2 | |
| Engine | 2 | |
Most reported parts
- Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery — 1
- Structure › Body — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 30,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2011 Nissan Leaf complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Seats · reported Apr 17, 2025
Car throws a B1018 DTC, which is for the passenger seat occupancy sensor. The seat occupancy sensor failing poses a major safety risk, as it causes the airbags to not deploy properly in the event of a crash. This is a very well known issue for the 2011-2012 LEAF, and the only option Nissan gives to fix this is a full seat replacement, which is cost prohibitive at over $3000. Previously, a recall was issued for 2013-2016 LEAFs for a similar issue, but the 2011-2012 was not included in that recall.
Air Bags · reported Mar 25, 2025
Air bag sensor fault, passenger seat warning on dashboard. Confirmed sensor failure at repair shop. Notified by Nissan that sensors are DISCONTINUED parts. No alternative solution suggested. This means all airbags in this vehicle are disabled. Car has less than 40,000 miles and has years of service life left. How is Nissan allowed to discontinue supply of an essential safety component?
Service Brakes · reported May 31, 2024
When applying brakes, at a point in the pedal travel the vehicle deceleration goes from too little to vastly too much. This makes the vehicle challenging to drive in traffic without colliding into the vehicle in front and not stopping so quickly as to cause the trailing vehicle to collide. The dealer has confirmed the behavior. There is a TSB to supposedly address the problem, and a receipt is attached of that TSB software update being applied. However, this has not changed the behavior. This is at least partially a software issue, since the vehicle blends physical brakes with EV regenerative…
Seats · reported Sep 25, 2023
Supplemental air bag warning light started blinking on 9/24/2023. It blinks regardless of whether the front passenger seat is occupied. The OCS sensor for the passenger seat failed. This should have been covered by a recall. The dealer wants over $3,000.00 to replace the seat cushion. I declined the repair. Dealer assured me that driver air bag isn't affected, so I'll operate the car without a front passenger. Dealer Estimate: Denied Repair Step Step Total: $3,687.14 Correction: inspected system, dtc b1018 for occupant sensor unit failure is present. Cleared dtc, when sitting in passenger…
Vehicle Speed Control · reported Jul 14, 2023
Vehicle doesn't slow down when taking foot of the acceleration pedal. Same both power settings. It will continue to move at slow speed on level ground. It behaves as though the minimum pedal.motor speed is too fast. My concern.is that it might get very fast without any pedal. Thank you.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2011 Nissan Leaf have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2011 Nissan Leaf as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Nissan Leaf?
Owners report air bags problems most often (35 reports), followed by electrical system (29). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 30,000 miles.
Are Nissan recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Nissan dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.