2012 Nissan Leaf Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 2012 Nissan Leaf, and owners have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 2012 Nissan Leaf. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
57 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2012 Nissan Leaf have filed 57 complaints with NHTSA; 6 describe a crash. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 21,725 miles. Complaints peaked in 2013 with 12 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“High voltage battery keeps shorting out stalling while driving on interstate almost got hit by 18 wheeler a few times it's a very unsafe car to drive and I keep smelling something like an odor from th”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 21, 2026 · Electrical system
“Dealer is Mike Erdman Nissan Merritt Island Fl 32953 Airbag warning light flashing red on console. Paid $260 for diagnostic check on July 21, 2024. They cannot fix it as an airbag sensor on the passen”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 23, 2024 · Air bags
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2012 Nissan Leaf. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 99 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 106 / 92 |
| Fuel | Electricity |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Transmission | Automatic (A1) |
Compare Nissan Leaf model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan Leaf model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Nissan Leaf | 0 | 1 |
| 2011 Nissan Leaf | 0 | 95 |
| 2012 Nissan Leaf | 0 | 57 |
| 2013 Nissan Leaf | 5 | 81 |
| 2014 Nissan Leaf | 6 | 34 |
| 2015 Nissan Leaf | 4 | 110 |
| 2016 Nissan Leaf | 4 | 36 |
| 2017 Nissan Leaf | 2 | 17 |
| 2018 Nissan Leaf | 4 | 66 |
| 2019 Nissan Leaf | 5 | 259 |
| 2020 Nissan Leaf | 6 | 167 |
| 2021 Nissan Leaf | 4 | 56 |
| 2022 Nissan Leaf | 4 | 95 |
| 2023 Nissan Leaf | 3 | 20 |
| 2024 Nissan Leaf | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 Nissan Leaf | 0 | 7 |
| 2026 Nissan Leaf | 2 | 2 |
Checking a specific 2012 Nissan Leaf
How do I know if my 2012 Nissan Leaf has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Nissan dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Nissan models
- Altima15,472 complaints
- Pathfinder7,355 complaints
- Rogue7,322 complaints
- Maxima6,955 complaints
- Murano5,958 complaints
- Sentra5,954 complaints
- Frontier3,357 complaints
- Versa3,325 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.