Nissan built its identity on affordable, practical engineering, and it has one genuinely historic claim in this guide’s context: the Leaf was the first mass-market electric car sold worldwide, years before most competitors had a production EV on sale. This guide covers what that means in practice: brand-wide reliability patterns and a full look at the Leaf specifically.
Model years 2017–2026
LIVE DATA · SOURCE: NHTSA| Date | Vehicle | Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-15 | Nissan Armada MY 2026 | 26V455000 ↗ | EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Nissan Armada, 2011-2013 Infiniti QX56, and 2014-2027 QX80 vehicles equipped with 22" wheels. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the certification label is incorrect, which can allow the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."Consequence An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will install new labels, free of charge. Additionally, Nissan will mail replacement labels to owners. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed August 21, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R26B1 and P6A13/4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026. |
| 2026-06-30 | Nissan Rogue MY 2026 | 26V419000 ↗ | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 Rogue vehicles. The instrument panel may not display the transmission gear selection indicator. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."Consequence A missing gear selection indicator may lead to unintended vehicle movement or a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission control valve assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 19, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall is PD198. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 2, 2026. |
| 2026-06-26 | Nissan Sentra MY 2025 | 26V410000 ↗ | POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Nissan Sentra vehicles. The front left-side driveshaft may not be fully seated in the continuously variable transmission (CVT) assembly, which can cause a transmission fluid leak and loss of drive power.Consequence An unexpected loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. In addition, a driveshaft that is not fully engaged can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Remedy Dealers will inspect the front left driveshaft, and if necessary, replace the driveshaft and CVT assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 5, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA68. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 30, 2026. |
| 2026-05-21 | Nissan Kicks MY 2026 | 26V331000 ↗ | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Kicks vehicles. A software error in the combination meter may cause the screen display to go partially or fully blank. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Displays."Consequence A partial or blank screen display will not show critical safety information such as vehicle speed and warning lights, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will update the combination meter software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA66. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 22, 2026. |
| 2026-03-13 | Nissan Sentra MY 2026 | 26V145000 ↗ | SEATS | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2026 Kicks and Sentra vehicles. The hook bracket of the front seat frames may be insufficiently welded, which can cause the front seat frames to become loose. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 207, "Seating Systems" and 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."Consequence A loose seat may not restrain the occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. Remedy Dealers will replace the front seat assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261. Nissan's number for this recall is PMA64. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 13, 2026. |
Nissan launched the Leaf in 2010, well ahead of most mainstream manufacturers’ first serious EV effort, and that early-mover position shaped both the car’s strengths and its most-discussed weakness: an air-cooled battery pack, a design choice that made sense at the time but ages differently than the liquid-cooled packs most competitors adopted later.
On the gas side of the lineup, Nissan’s reputation is more mixed than Toyota’s or Honda’s – the brand’s continuously variable transmissions (CVTs), used widely across models like the Altima, Sentra, and Rogue through the mid-2010s, developed a well-documented pattern of premature failure and judder that affected owner trust in the brand more broadly, even though later CVT revisions addressed much of the problem.
This guide covers the Leaf in depth below – the most-documented Nissan model on this site. Other models will link out here as their own guides are published.
Are Nissans reliable?
It depends on the model and era. Nissan sits in the middle of the pack on most reliability trackers overall – not a standout like Toyota, but not a bottom performer either. The brand’s CVT-equipped models from the early-to-mid 2010s are the biggest documented weak spot.
Was the Nissan Leaf really the first mass-market EV?
Yes – it launched in 2010, before Tesla’s Model S, and before most other manufacturers had a serious highway-capable EV in production.
Introducing the next evolution of Nissan’s Leaf electric vehicle, transformed into a stylish SUV that meets modern demands. Set to debut as the 2026 model, this reimagined Leaf promises to leave behind its old, mundane image, showcasing a bold design and enhanced features that cater to contemporary tastes. Get ready for an electric experience that … Read more
BEV is a battery electric vehicle, which often called pure electric car. These electric cars are enough simple and easy to operate. Over the past decades or so, the electric automobile has seen a thousand advancements. The main difference between BEVs and Hybrid Electric Vehicles is the BEV used only electricity for operating, against Hybrid … Read more
Overview Nissan Leaf Every driver take the real joy of the stability work of motor and car grace. The proper standalone electric cars is real dream for many exist carmakers. It`s true today. However, this time the standalone cars will soon on the roads. For example, Nissan launching a full second generation of the Leaf. … Read more