Model year guide

2013 Nissan Leaf

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2013 Nissan Leaf is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 793 on record.

2013 Nissan Leaf — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2013 Nissan Leaf at a glance

Safety recalls5
Owner complaints81
Overall safety4 / 5 ★
Combined115 MPGe
Typical price$10,387

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2013 Nissan Leaf recalls 5

Service Brakes NHTSA Campaign #16V119000 · 29/02/2016

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.

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.

Electrical System:software NHTSA Campaign #14V138000 · 25/03/2014

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification NHTSA Campaign #16V244000 · 26/04/2016

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 veh…

Fix: 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,…

Air Bags NHTSA Campaign #13V069000 · 01/03/2013

Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-647-7261.

Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual NHTSA Campaign #23V296000 · 26/04/2023

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."

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2013 Nissan Leaf common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 81 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Visibility
Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

2013 Nissan Leaf safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2013 Nissan Leaf 5 HB FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2013 Nissan Leaf efficiency & running costs

Combined115 MPGe
City129 MPGe
Highway102 MPGe
Est. annual energy cost$650

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2013 Nissan Leaf worth?

Low
$8,100
Typical price
$10,387
High
$13,600

From 793 comparable 2013 Nissan Leaf listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2013 Nissan Leaf costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Energy (5 yrs)$3,250
Energy only$3,250
Per mile$0.04

How this is estimated: energy is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2013 Nissan Leaf trims & engines on record

Trims
SV · S · SL

2013 Nissan Leaf vehicles on record

Other Nissan Leaf model years

2013 Nissan Leaf — frequently asked questions

Does the 2013 Nissan Leaf have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2013 Nissan Leaf. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Nissan Leaf?

Based on 81 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, service brakes, electrical system.

What is the 2013 Nissan Leaf safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2013 Nissan Leaf an overall crash-test rating of 4 out of 5 stars (frontal 4★, side 4★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2013 Nissan Leaf get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2013 Nissan Leaf at about 115 MPGe combined (129 city / 102 highway).

How much is a 2013 Nissan Leaf worth?

Comparable 2013 Nissan Leaf listings run roughly $8,100–$13,600, typically around $10,387 (from 793 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.