Representative model. Photo: Jakob Härter, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2016 Nissan Leaf recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2016 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 4
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 36
Latest campaign: Apr 26, 2023

Recall summary by component4

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Air bags	3	Apr 13, 2017	17V253000 16V436000 16V244000
Equipment	1	Apr 26, 2023	23V296000

Safety recalls4

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Apr 26, 2023Latest campaign


Apr 26, 202323V296000	Equipment: other owners/service/other manual Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 23V296000 What's wrong 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." Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 23V296000 · Apr 26, 2023
Apr 13, 201717V253000	Air bags In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers. DetailsHide details for campaign 17V253000 What's wrong Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash. Risk In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers. Remedy Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Campaign NHTSA 17V253000 · Apr 13, 2017
Jun 15, 201616V436000	Air bags: frontal passenger side If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V436000 What's wrong Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag. Risk If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Campaign NHTSA 16V436000 · Jun 15, 2016
Apr 26, 201616V244000	Air bags: sensor occupant classification 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. DetailsHide details for campaign 16V244000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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. Campaign NHTSA 16V244000 · Apr 26, 2016

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Nissan recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component36

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

36Complaints filed

1Involving a crash

1Involving a fire

0Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires
Service brakes	16	44	1	0
Electrical system	13	36	0	1
Fuel/propulsion system	8	22	0	0
Power train	3	8	0	0
Engine	3	8	0	0
Air bags	3	8	0	0
Steering	2	6	0	0
Structure	1	3	0	0
Unknown or other	1	3	0	1

An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number.

Latest reports

Service brakes
“THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME intermittently AT FIRST ... NOW permanently AND CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED BY NISSAN.”
Filed 07/28/2026 · ODI 11753334
Steering
“When turning left there is a plasticky sticking feeling and sound like a plastic bushing is coming apart. this causes the steering to momentarily bind. this happens most often when making gentle curves on the highway.”
Filed 04/10/2025 · ODI 11653891
Steering
“On January 9, a little after 12:30 pm, on Indian Head Highway (MD route 210) northbound near the Manokeek exit, after limiting drive power owing to battery degradation and cold weather (about 30 F) drive power and power…”
Filed 01/09/2025 · ODI 11635126

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2016 Nissan Leaf recall questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Nissan Leaf have?

NHTSA lists 4 safety recall campaigns for the 2016 Nissan Leaf. The most recent, 23V296000 (reported April 26, 2023), concerns equipment. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2016 Nissan Leaf recalls for?

The largest group is air bags, with 3 campaigns. Others: equipment (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2016 Nissan Leaf?

Service brakes is the most-reported component, named in 16 complaints out of 36 filed with NHTSA (44%). Across all complaints, owners reported 1 crash and 1 fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2016 Nissan Leaf?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Nissan recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Nissan dealer.

Check a specific Nissan by VIN

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