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As an EV, the 2020 Nissan Leaf is supposed to provide a lot of reliability and fun. The newer models claim to offer “electric power, instant thrills.” However, owners of the 2020 model complain about the faulty back over prevention system, defective electrical system and shoddy visibility.
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NHTSA Complaints for the 2020 Nissan Leaf
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Electrical System | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Back Over Prevention: Camera System | |
| Air Bags | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | |
| Structure:body | |
| Suspension |
Problems with the Back Over Prevention System
Today’s advanced safety systems only allow for more protection on the road when working properly. That doesn’t seem to be the case with the 2020 Leaf.
One NHTSA complaint says, “When putting my car in reverse my back up camera intermittently will not work. I have called the dealership that I purchased the vehicle. I have taken the car multiple times, I have called multiple times. Nissan has yet to include my vehicle make and model into the recall. Even though it is a 2020 model. My car is at the dealership today as my camera stopped working last week and was still not working this morning. However the dealership is now telling me ‘it worked when it arrived and they have been unable to recreate the issue.’ This is frustrating and needs to have an official recall PLEASE!”
There’s even a recall for this system. NHTSA Campaign Number 20V412000 says that the backup camera images might disappear while reversing. This is precisely when they are needed the most, leaving many drivers in danger while they try to figure out what is going on. This defect alone could cause countless cars to stop backing out of a parking space, leading people to a false sense of security that is it safe to walk behind it. Those people aren’t in for any “instant thrills” if they end up getting run over because of the malfunction.
Problems with the Electrical System
A faulty electrical system is just one more problem with the 2020 Leaf, which does seem slightly ironic considering it is an EV.
Another NHTSA complain says, “The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that the battery gauge was reading incorrectly. The contact stated that while doing a 70-mile roundtrip with 173 miles battery life, the battery gauge indicated the battery level was at 70 miles remaining. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.”
There’s currently a proposed class-action lawsuit against Nissan because of a defective Forward Emergency Braking System. It turns out this software can engage falsely or fail, leaving people in a lot of danger. It can also slow down abruptly when it shouldn’t, further leaving people in a lot of danger. The car might have some “electric power,” but the thrills provided by Nissan are going to be costly if they have to pay out for the defects.
Problems with the Vehicle Visibility
Seeing out of the Leaf is essential if occupants want to remain safe, even when everything else seems to be failing. Yet, this is an area that’s causing more problems.
One final NHTSA complaint reveals “Defroster is not working at all. Spoke to dealer, needs new part and Nissan corporate. Nothing moving. Live in Denver, having a working defroster is extremely important.”
NHTSA Campaign Number 20V57000 states that the rear window glass might not have been secured to the vehicle properly. Because of this defect, it can separate and cause an accident. Of all the things that Nissan could get wrong, how uneducated are the technicians that they don’t even know how to install auto glass? Maybe it’s time for these workers to go back to playing with Hot Wheels instead.
Your Lemon Law Legal Rights
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Nissan pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Complaint Data
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Jan 19, 2023 |
| State | WI |
| Description | The backup camera of my 2020 nissan leaf does not consistently work. Often, the screen is bright pink and does not show the view of behind the vehicle. Clearly, it is a safety issue to have a malfunctioning backup camera. I am getting it serviced by a nissan dealer next week. The failure seems to be related to opening and shutting the rear hatch, because sometimes the camera would work and sometimes it failed. It is consistently broken now. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking |
| Date | Sep 29, 2022 |
| State | CA |
| Description | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Aeb may have malfunctioned. Yes, I will provide the car for official inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Possible injuries from abrupt braking; possible and likely rear-end collision if drivers behind me. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No. I have not contacted nissan. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. I have not contacted any gov agency or insurance carrier. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes. I saw three red flashes and associated sounds warning of imminent collision - even though nothing was in front of the car that would cause the aeb to engage. Below is my incident description: my work has an underground garage. I was entering the garage, went down one level, and then on my way back up the next level. There are speed bumps going down and going up, so you cannot go very fast. On my way back up (incline), the aeb unexpectedly activated with red buttons flashing about three times with sound (as if I was about to crash into something) and then the car abruptly stopped. I stepped on the accelerator to try and go and it would not budge. I'm still on the incline. If there were cars behind me, I would have most likely been rear-ended because this incident came out of nowhere and my car just stopped. There were no moving cars in front of me that would indicate a near collision, only parked cars. I had driven this route in the past so I don't know what was different today. Car just stopped. I am still on incline; placed car in park; waited few seconds; placed car in drive and was finally able to move the car. |
| Category | Air Bags, Electrical System |
| Date | Feb 09, 2022 |
| State | NY |
| Description | The contact owns a 2020 nissan leaf. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 mph in the rain, a tree branch fell and struck the passenger's side of the vehicle causing the air bags to deploy. The contact stated that he lost control of the vehicle when the air bags deployed. Additionally, the vehicle lost steering and braking functionality. There was an unknown warning light illuminated during the failure. The vehicle then lost electrical and motive power and rolled to a complete stop. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was still awaiting the needed repairs. Neither a dealer nor the manufacturer had been contacted or notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 12,000. |
| Category | Visibility/wiper |
| Date | Feb 03, 2022 |
| State | CO |
| Description | Defroster is not working at all. Spoke to dealer, needs new part and nissan corporate. Nothing moving. Live in denver, having a working defroster is extremely important. |
| Category | Back Over Prevention: Camera System, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Sep 28, 2021 |
| State | WI |
| Description | Back over prevention: sensing system: camera - recall no 20v412000 - for a week at a time on a monthly basis the back-up camera will disappear while in reverse. And therefore our vehicle no longer complies with federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 111 "rear visibility". - yes the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. - my safety and the safety of others continues to be put at risk due to the lack of an image in the back-up camera display which increases the risk of a crash. - we have taken the vehicle into the nissan dealership 4 times and every time they state they cannot recreate the error even though the error is occurring as I am dropping the vehicle off at the dealership. - there has been no other warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. This has been a re-occurring problem since vehicle was purchased in december 2020. |
| Category | Back Over Prevention: Camera System, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Sep 28, 2021 |
| State | WI |
| Description | When putting my car in reverse my back up camera intermittently will not work. I have called the dealership that I purchased the vehicle (rossen of madison on the beltline). I have taken the car multiple times, I have called multiple times. Nissan has yet to include my vehicle make and model into the recall. Even though it is a 2020 model. My car is at the dealership today as my camera stopped working last week and was still not working this morning. However the dealership is now telling me "it worked when it arrived and they have been unable to recreate the issue". This is frustrating and needs to have an official recall please! |
| Category | Electrical System, Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery |
| Date | Aug 09, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The contact owns a 2020 nissan leaf. The contact stated that the battery gauge was reading incorrectly. The contact stated that while doing a 70-mile roundtrip with 173 miles battery life, the battery gauge indicated the battery level was at 70 miles remaining. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of failure and informed the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000. |
| Category | Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking, Structure:body, Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Feb 10, 2021 |
| State | CA |
| Description | Automatic braking system failed to engage on a offramp lane from freeway 5 southbound to crown valley parkway off ramp while traveling approximately 25mph I rear ended a vehicle that was at dead stop and that vehicle rear ended a second vehicle. California highway patrol was called and report was documented which is attached. This happened on december 22,2020 at about 7pm, dark clear evening in the city of mission viejo. It was on the straight freeway lane leading to the offramp with other lanes on the freeway moving freely. Upon discussion with nissan investigation (claim no. 42994813) 615 725 7590, they summarized 10 page disclaimer from owners manual stating that braking system is not 100%. Its understandable if the vehicle was old but this is a new vehicle with what is advertised as a automatic braking system and that system did not work. I manually braked to a crash. |
| Category | Suspension |
| Date | Jan 28, 2021 |
| State | FL |
| Description | Tl* the contact owns a 2020 nissan leaf. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds a thumping noise was present coming from the front suspension. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer harbor nissan located at 4336 tamiami trail, port charlotte, fl 33980 who diagnosed that the driveshaft and cv joint was faulty and the axle nut needed to be retorqued. The vehicle was repaired. The contact had not yet retrieved the vehicle and was concerned that the repair failed to adequately address the safety issue. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but, no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 720. |
| Category | Unknown Or Other |
| Date | Oct 29, 2020 |
| State | CA |
| Description | The reverse camera system that activates when the car is in reverse is so blurry that it is impossible to distinguish objects. You can't tell if that's a box in the driveway behind your car or a baby seat with a baby in it. For test purposes a sign with 3-inch letters placed 48 inches from the camera is completely illegible on screen. Nissan reports that this is normal operation for the 2020 leaf rear camera. I am attaching a picture of the rear camera screen along with a picture of the exact same scene taken with a cell phone. The quality difference is quite striking, and illustrates how potentially dangerous the 2020 leaf rear camera could be for drivers. |
| Category | Electrical System |
| Date | Sep 15, 2020 |
| State | OH |
| Description | On several occasions in both rural and suburban environments, regardless of weather temperature outside and during normal forward driving motion, the car reports that the forward camera overheats and immediately renders the collision avoidance system and propilot inoperative. Dash lights picture included. 1st overheating occurrence happened on april 15, 2020 and the after 2 more occurrences I took a picture on july 6, 2020. Nissan service refuses to acknowledge this as a safety issue and dismisses the issue when I request service, stating that it is "normal operation." |
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About the Author:
Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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