Recalls (4)
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2021 Nissan Leaf. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fire Risk from Quick Charging Battery
- Summary
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
- Consequence
- A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised not to use Level 3 quick charging until the remedy is completed. Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 16, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R25C8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 4, 2025.
Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111
- Summary
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2022 LEAF vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence
- A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23D7.
Unintended Acceleration
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
Incorrect Information in Owner's Manual/FMVSS 103
- Summary
- 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."
- 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 April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (56)
56 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 56 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 32 | 57.1% |
| Unknown or other | 13 | 23.2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 9 | 16.1% |
| Engine | 6 | 10.7% |
| Visibility/wiper | 6 | 10.7% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 4 | 7.1% |
| Back over prevention | 3 | 5.4% |
| Power train | 3 | 5.4% |
| Air bags | 2 | 3.6% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 3.6% |
How 2021 compares with other Leaf years
Best and worst Leaf years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 17 | 2 |
| 2018 | 66 | 4 |
| 2019 | 259 | 5 |
| 2020 | 166 | 6 |
| 2021 | 56 | 4 |
| 2022 | 95 | 4 |
| 2023 | 20 | 3 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 |
| 2025 | 7 | 0 |
| 2026 | 2 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2021 Nissan Leaf 5 hb fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 111 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $700
- CO₂ tailpipe
- —
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 111 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 123 / 99 / 111 | $700 | — |
| Electric · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 118 / 97 / 108 | $700 | — |
| Electric · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 114 / 94 / 104 | $750 | — |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2021 Leaf for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2021 Nissan Leaf FAQ
How many recalls does the 2021 Nissan Leaf have?
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns: 25V655000 (electrical), 24V071000 (rear camera), 23V494000 (vehicle speed control), 23V048000 (visibility). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2021 Nissan Leaf problems?
Owners filed 56 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (32), Unknown or other (13), Fuel/propulsion system (9) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2021 Nissan Leaf get?
EPA rates the Electric · Automatic version at 123 city, 99 highway and 111 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2021 Nissan Leaf get?
NHTSA rated the 2021 Nissan Leaf 5 hb fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.7% rollover risk).
How does the 2021 Leaf compare with other years?
Among the 2017–2021 Nissan Leaf model years at least five years old, the 2017 drew the fewest complaints (17) and the 2019 the most (259). The 2021 drew 56. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.