2018 NISSAN LEAF Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Nissan Leaf. This model year has 61 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Brake System.
Model-Year Complaints
61 owner reports
Recall Campaigns
4 NHTSA campaigns
Top Failure Area
Brake System
Worst 2018 Nissan Leaf Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Brake System
Electrical Faults
Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB
AI Interpretation — 2018 Nissan Leaf
Low ConfidenceThe 2018 Nissan Leaf has 61 NHTSA complaints, with the most reported issues in the brake system and electrical faults. A notable number of complaints also involve forward collision avoidance and unintended acceleration. Confidence in these findings is low due to the limited data.
- Brake system complaints are the most frequent, with 17 reports.
- Electrical faults are the second most common issue, with 16 complaints.
- Forward collision avoidance and unintended acceleration each have over 10 complaints.
- Brake system issues, including potential loss of braking power or premature wear.
- Electrical system faults, such as battery or charging problems.
- Forward collision avoidance system malfunctions, including unexpected braking.
- Inspect the brake system for any signs of malfunction or unusual behavior.
- Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for electrical and brake system repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the forward collision avoidance system and test drive for unintended acceleration.
Considering a 2018 Nissan Leaf?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $12.95 (vs. Carfax $39.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Nissan Leaf. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brake System | 17 | 5 | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 16 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 13 | 2 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 12 | 4 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 | 1 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| Engine Problems | 6 | 2 | 1 | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Nissan Leaf. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
This vehicle is equipped with a feature known as "e-pedal" also known as one-pedal driving which is quite common on EVs. When this mode is activated, the accelerator pedal acts as a speed command (vs. power) and when the pedal is not depressed, the vehicle applies brakes until it…
On 1/6/2026, as I slowed down as I was turning into my parking lot. I had Eco and e-pedal ON for regenerative braking. As I was turning into the parking lot, the car suddenly accelerated, went over the curb, across the street, over another curb before finally stopping after colli…
I was traveling north on Freeway 57 at approximately 70mph. The dash lit up red with 12v and charging warnings. Power was shut off and car went into Neutral and warned me to pull over. This is an incredibly busy freeway and I was in the far left lane. I barely made it to the shou…
The front windshield wipers on this car fail in light ice or snow. They've broken every winter I've owned this car (four years). This results in me driving around without front windshield wipers until I can get it fixed, watching the weather forecast and hoping I don't get caug…
Vehicle failed inspection due to a rusted out front subframe which seems premature for a 7 year old vehicle with 27,599 miles on it. According to local mechanic, they've seen this issue with many Nissan Leaf models. This is a critical piece of the vehicle hence it failing inspect…
After four years of owning this vehicle purchased new, the passenger side seatbelt warning light came on the dash. It indicated the seatbelt was not buckled while no one was sitting in the passenger seat. When buckled the light went out. Brought it to the attention of Nissan, Ser…
On [XXX], I was slowly pulling into my driveway, took my foot off the accelerator and turned the steering wheel slightly to the right as the driveway is L shaped. Suddenly, the car sped up towards the garage door. I looked down quickly to see if I’d somehow pressed the accelerato…
After hard acceleration then releasing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle does not slow as expected and, at times, will actually continue to accelerate. The vehicle will slow as expected when the brake is applied, but will again gradually accelerate when the brake is released. …
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that after his wife had parked in a parking garage, the vehicle was restarted and driven in 17-degree Fahrenheit weather when the vehicle lost motive power. The "Service EV System, No Power" message was displayed. The contac…
Vehicle randomly shuts down when car is underload traveling at highway speed up an incline and with the climate on. Diagnostics are showing multiple cells that are bad in the main battery manufacturer is stating that it is normal wear and it is normal. I’ve only had the car for 3…
The Power Distribution Module failed in my 2018 Nissan Leaf at 77k miles. It left me stranded with no way of getting home. The Power Distribution Module is supposed to last 10 years 100k miles but Nissan warranty only has is warranted to 60k miles. The dealership said the PDM onl…
Car was descending towards Kailua on the [XXX] on Oahu, HI. Dash lit up with warnings and acceleration and brake pedals stopped working. Brake pedal went to the floor with erratic pulsing sensation and very little brake power. Driver drove car into jersey wall to slow and stop v…
I did not have an incident(accident), I noticed issues with my car, that seem to be prevalent with other Nissan Vehicles. This report is mostly proactive. I took the vehicle to the dealer for inspection and repair however was unable to come to a conclusion due to multiple inspect…
I was traveling home from work at approximately 60MPH (speed limit) and I experienced a rapid drop in the state of charge from ~60% to ~25% in 15-20 seconds. I slowed the vehicle to 55MPH and it recovered most of the state of charge. When accelerating to 60MPH a few miles later I…
The incident occurred at a stop sign where I was waiting behind one other vehicle. The vehicle ahead of me accelerated from the stop sign to turn into traffic, but abruptly slammed on their brakes. I had began accelerating up to the stop sign and was unable to stop before impacti…
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, there was a rapid battery discharge. There was no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case.…
Enel X Way recently announced that they were terminating operations in North America. With that in mind my Juicebox level 2 charger now becomes a dumb charger with no app functionality to turn down the amps produced by the charger. The Juicebox model I have is a plug-in version r…
Twice now - both times on the South Bound Richmond Bridge, the Automatic Emergency Braking lights came on and slammed on my brakes for me, as if I was about to crash when I was going 65 mils per hour, no one in front or behind me and no traffic, accident or reason. I almost lost…
The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated while driving on several occasions at various speeds with the cruise control activated, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle lunged forward. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V494000 …
Our 2018 Nissan Leaf experienced an error message when we tried to start it saying "Warning Service EV System No Power". Mileage: 29,862. It would go into neutral, but not into drive. We called GEICO to have it towed to dealership Leith Nissan on [XXX]. On [XXX], John Day from Le…
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2018 Nissan Leaf.
Recalls for 2018 Nissan Leaf
4 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2018 Nissan Leaf. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2018 Nissan Leaf — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2018 Nissan Leaf reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2018 Nissan Leaf has 61 NHTSA owner complaints, 9 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Brake System (17 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Nissan Leaf?▾
#1: Brake System (17 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (16 complaints). #3: Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB (13 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Nissan Leaf?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2018 Nissan Leaf?▾
The 2018 Nissan Leaf has 9 crash-related complaints and 1 fire reports out of 61 total NHTSA complaints. 3 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2018 Nissan Leaf have any recalls?▾
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2018 Nissan Leaf. The largest issue: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2018 Nissan Leaf?▾
The 2018 Nissan Leaf has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Brake System issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Nissan Leaf reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
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Check Your Specific 2018 Nissan Leaf
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $12.95 (vs. Carfax $39.99).