Does the 2013 Nissan Leaf have recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 Nissan Leaf, including Service Brakes; Equipment › Other › Owners/Service/Other Manual; Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. Recalls are matched by model year, so check your exact VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

What are the most common 2013 Nissan Leaf problems?

Owners filed 81 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are service brakes (32), electrical system (18), air bags (17), vehicle speed control (5).

How much does a 2013 Nissan Leaf cost to own for 5 years?

About $27,588 over 5 years ($460/month) at an estimated $4,500 purchase price and 12,000 miles a year, including depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs, loan interest and taxes. Run a VIN report to personalize it.

2013 Nissan Leaf

The 2013 Nissan Leaf earns a strong Throttlebook Ownership Score of 70/100. Expect about $27,588 to own it for five years, or $460 a month. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns that may apply, so check the exact VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy. Owners have filed 81 complaints.

Recalls: 5
Complaints: 81
5-yr cost: $28k
kWh/100mi: 29

Strong

Ownership Score

2013 Nissan Leaf vs nearby years

Compare this year with the model years next to it on the same hub.

Looking at a specific Leaf?

Paste its VIN for the exact trim, recalls that may apply, and a Fits / Stretch / Not yet verdict for your budget. Free.

5 recalls may apply

For the 2013 Nissan Leaf. NHTSA matches recalls by model and year — confirm by VIN.

What's wrong: 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.
Risk: If the brake relay fails, longer distances or additional brake effort would be required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.

Check recalls for this exact VIN at NHTSA

Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.

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5-year cost to own

Estimated $4,500 price, 20% down, 11.19% APR for 60 months (Experian avg.), 12,000 mi/yr.

$27,588

$460/month · $0.46/mile

Depreciation	$1,534
Insurance (national avg.)	$12,000
Fuel / charging	$2,960
Maintenance	$4,500
Repairs	$4,000
Loan interest	$1,324
Taxes & fees	$1,270

Estimate, not financial advice. How we calculate.

Owner complaints & safety

What real owners reported to NHTSA for this model year.

81 complaints11 involved a crash1 involved a fire

Service Brakes32
Electrical System18
Air Bags17
Unknown Or Other10
Vehicle Speed Control5
Seat Belts4

Complaint counts scale with how many were sold; compare against similar models.

NHTSA crash-test stars

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Frontal: 4 out of 5 stars
Side: 4 out of 5 stars
Rollover: 4 out of 5 stars

Rated as: 2013 Nissan Leaf 5 HB FWD

What to check on a used 2013 Nissan Leaf

Ordered by what owners of this model year reported most. Reports are not proof of a defect.

Brakes
- Press the pedal firmly: it should feel solid, not sink or pulse.
- Listen for grinding or squealing when stopping.
Electrical and lights
- Test every window, lock, light and wiper.
- Watch for warning lights that stay on after start-up.
Airbags
- The airbag light should come on at start-up and then go out.
- Ask for proof that any airbag recalls were completed.

If anything in a safety area feels wrong (brakes, steering, airbags, tires), stop driving and get it inspected before you buy or drive it further. Paste a VIN above for the full printable checklist.

Common 2013 Nissan Leaf problems

FAQ

Is the 2013 Nissan Leaf a good car to buy?: The 2013 Nissan Leaf earns a strong Throttlebook Ownership Score of 70/100. Expect about $27,588 to own it for five years, or $460 a month. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns that may apply, so check the exact VIN at nhtsa.gov before you buy. Owners have filed 81 complaints.
Does the 2013 Nissan Leaf have recalls?: NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 Nissan Leaf, including Service Brakes; Equipment › Other › Owners/Service/Other Manual; Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification. Recalls are matched by model year, so check your exact VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common 2013 Nissan Leaf problems?: Owners filed 81 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are service brakes (32), electrical system (18), air bags (17), vehicle speed control (5).
How much does a 2013 Nissan Leaf cost to own for 5 years?: About $27,588 over 5 years ($460/month) at an estimated $4,500 purchase price and 12,000 miles a year, including depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, repairs, loan interest and taxes. Run a VIN report to personalize it.

Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and NCAP ratings; EPA fueleconomy.gov. Data refreshed weekly. Complaint counts scale with sales volume.