2021 Nissan LEAF
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2021 Nissan LEAF is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 979 on record.
2021 Nissan LEAF at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
2021 Nissan LEAF recalls 4
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.
Fix: 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 Id…
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."
Fix: 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. Owner…
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.
Fix: 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.
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."
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 April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
2021 Nissan LEAF common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 56 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
2021 Nissan LEAF safety ratings
Rollover risk: 10.7% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2021 Nissan LEAF (40 KWh Battery) 5 HB FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.
2021 Nissan LEAF efficiency & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 2021 Nissan LEAF costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
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.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2021 Nissan LEAF. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
NHTSA defect investigations 1
Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that…
NHTSA #DP22005 · Electrical System · opened Jan 2023 · closed Aug 2023An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.
Manufacturer service bulletins 83
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 83.
*****Dealer Announcement***** Nissan is committed to delivering the highest levels of product quality and customer satisfaction. In support of this commitment, Nissan is implementing a Lithium-ion Battery Post-Remedy Program for certain Model Year 2019–2022 Ni…
Bulletin Lithium - ion Battery · Fuel/propulsion System · Jun 2026CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
Bulletin NTB09-131C · Structure · Apr 2026CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand…
Bulletin NTB09-131C · Structure · Apr 2026TELEMATICS SERVICE INFORMATION HINT: This bulletin applies to vehicles equipped with a 4G network compatible TCU. TCUs compatible with 3G network only are no longer supported. SERVICE INFORMATION The APPLIED VEHICLES that come equipped with a factory installed…
Bulletin NTB15-049CC · Electrical System · Mar 2026AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING WARNING LIGHT BLINKING APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped with a lane camera (see Figure 1) SERVICE INFORMATION If the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) warning light or is blinking (but not illuminated steadily) or the customer sta…
Bulletin NTB19-042F · Electrical System, Service Brakes, Forward Collision Avoidance · Feb 2025INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL INOPERATIVE AND AEB/FEB WARNING LIGHT ON OR RADAR OBSTRUCTION MESSAGE DISPLAYED WITH DTC C1A16 OR C2582 IF YOU CONFIRM IMPORTANT: The purpose of ACTION (on the next page) is to give you a quick idea of the work you will be performing…
Bulletin NTB19-033G · Forward Collision Avoidance, Electrical System, Service Brakes · Feb 2025*****Dealer Announcement***** Nissan is conducting a service campaign on certain specific MY2018-2025 Nissan LEAF vehicles identified in Service Comm and National Service History – Open Campaigns. On affected vehicles, at temperatures below -10°C/14°F, use of…
Bulletin NTB24-048 · Visibility/wiper · Oct 2024VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2018-2025 LEAF; HVAC REPROGRAM CAMPAIGN ID #: P4A17 APPLIED VEHICLES: 2018-2025 LEAF (ZE1) Check Service COMM or Dealer Business Systems (DBS) National Service History to confirm campaign eligibility. INTRODUCTION Nissan is conductin…
Bulletin NTB24-048 · Visibility/wiper · Oct 2024DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed,…
Bulletin NTB19-071D · Air Bags · Sep 2024Subject: REVISION 2 R23D7 2018-2022 LEAF Rear View Camera Inspection - NCIR - Dealer Announcement REVISION 2 Please discard earlier versions of this bulletin. The announcement from May 20, 2024 has been revised to include the following: • The remedy and parts…
Bulletin NTB24-034 · Back Over Prevention, Electrical System · Jul 2024Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the LEAF FWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 4
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2021 Nissan LEAF. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
High Voltage
Issue: On certain vehicles, the high-voltage battery could overheat while using level 3 quick charging. As a result, the battery could create smoke or heat, which can melt or damage the battery and nearby parts. Note: This recall is an expansion of Transport Canada recall 2024-542. Safety Risk: A battery that overheats can create a fire risk. Corrective Actions: To reduce the s…
Transport Canada #2025523 · Oct 2025Visual System
Issue: On certain vehicles, the rearview camera wiring harness could be damaged by movement and vibrations. If this happens, the rearview camera image may not display correctly or may not display at all. Canadian regulations require the rearview image to display when reversing. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display could reduce a driver's ability to see behi…
Transport Canada #2024068 · Feb 2024Powertrain
Issue: Under certain conditions, the vehicle may not slow down after you release the accelerator pedal. This problem can only happen after a specific series of actions is performed in a short period of time, including disengaging the cruise control, changing the drive mode, and applying and releasing the accelerator pedal. If this happens, and you don't apply the brakes, the ve…
Transport Canada #2023397 · Jul 2023Heater And Defroster
Issue: When the temperature is below -10° C, the defroster may not work properly if you follow the instructions in the owner's manual and use the maximum fan speed. As a result, you may not be able to defrost the windshield. Safety Risk: A windshield that cannot be defogged or defrosted can reduce visibility and increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Nissan will noti…
Transport Canada #2023045 · Feb 2023Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Nissan LEAF
The Nissan Leaf is a battery electric car produced by Nissan since 2010. It was offered exclusively as a 5-door hatchback until 2025, when it became a crossover SUV model. The term "LEAF" serves as a backronym to leading environmentally-friendly affordable family car.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.
2021 Nissan LEAF vehicles on record
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0145838
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0121804
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0138501
2021 Nissan LEAF1N4AZ1CVXMC557032
2021 Nissan LEAF1N4AZ1BV5MC554492
2021 Nissan LEAF1N4AZ1BV3MC552062
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0137999
2021 Nissan LEAF1N4AZ1BV4NC556509
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0126214
2021 Nissan LEAF1N4AZ1CV5MC552773
2021 Nissan LEAF1N4BZ1DV2MC556203
2021 Nissan LEAF1N4AZ1CV9NC554558
2021 Nissan LEAF1N4BZ1CV6NC552335
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0136255
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0117905
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0128860
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0119908
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0155235
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0139053
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0137084
2021 Nissan LEAF1N4AZ1CVXNC554679
2021 Nissan LEAF1N4AZ1CV5NC552922
2021 Nissan LEAF1N4BZ1CV3MC556826
2021 Nissan LEAFSJNFAAZE1U0126190