2018 Nissan Leaf: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2018 Nissan Leaf: 4 recalls, 66 owner complaints and up to 112 mpg combined.
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Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #19V654000 · 2019 · 1,228,830 vehicles
What's wrong: Nissan north america, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan altima, armada, frontier, kicks, leaf, maxima, murano, nv, nv200, pathfinder, rogue, rogue sport, sentra, titan, titan diesel, versa note and versa sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti q50, q60, qx30 and qx80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan gt-r and taxi and Infiniti qx50, qx60, q70, q70l vehicles. The back-up camera and display…
Why it matters: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected vins should be activated.
Equipment, Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #23V048000 · 2023 · 64,732 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Speed control / throttle Vehicle recall #23V494000 · 2023 · 66,159 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (vcm), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #24V071000 · 2024 · 57,914 vehicles
What's wrong: 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."
Why it matters: A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 3 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (19): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (5), warning light on (3).
- Electrical (18): the most common themes are electrical failure (13), stalls / loses power (4), warning light on (3).
- Forward collision avoidance (13): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Speed control / throttle (12): the most common themes are sudden acceleration (4), warning light on (2).
The 2018 Nissan Leaf has 66 owner complaints, ranking #7 of 17 Leaf model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 65). Complaints peaked in 2025 (11 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 7,250 miles. Neighboring years: 2017 (17 complaints, 2 recalls), 2019 (259 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric (110 kW DCPM) | Automatic (A1) | Front-Wheel Drive | 125e | 100e | 112e | Electricity |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2018 Nissan Leaf.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2018 Nissan Leaf have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2018 Nissan Leaf. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2018 Nissan Leaf problems?
Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (19), electrical (18), forward collision avoidance (13).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Nissan Leaf get?
EPA ratings run up to 112 mpg combined, across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2018 Nissan Leaf repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.