How Long Do Nissan Leafs Last? (Miles & Years)

The Nissan Leaf is an efficient, eco-friendly, electric vehicle.

Although it has a short range when compared to the average electric car, it has other noteworthy features.

These features include great handling, an e-pedal, and an excellent exterior design.

This article discusses the Nissan Leaf’s longevity, and before we dive in, make sure to check our list of most common problems and issues with the Nissan Leafs.

Table of Contents

Here’s the short answer to how long the Nissan Leaf lasts:

A well-used Nissan Leaf can last anywhere between 100,000 miles to 150,000 miles before requiring any major upgrade. Nissan provides a 100,000 miles warranty for the battery, which suggests you should be able to get at least eight to 10 years of service from the car.

How Many Miles Can You Expect From a Nissan Leaf?

Since the Nissan Leaf is an all-electric car (has no gas engine), the battery affects its service life. Nissan’s warranty covers the battery pack for 100,000 miles or 8 years.

There are several factors that can affect the car’s longevity, chief among them the operating temperature. If you can keep to the manufacturer’s usage recommendations, your battery pack and electric motors should be in excellent condition for many years.

How Soon Should You Expect Rust on a Nissan Leaf?

The Nissan Leaf seems to have very few rust issues. Regular cleaning and washing of the vehicle can help prevent rust, especially if you drive on salted roads.

Rust is more likely going to affect your car if you drive in dusty or snowy areas. Ensure no residue remains in the drain holes of your doors.

The undercarriage of your Leaf is the direct recipient of dust or snow. You should pay special attention to these parts while washing the car. This should be done at least once a month.

You can also get additional protection by rust-proofing your car with anti-rust spray. However, do your research and talk to professionals first before buying any product.

How Long Do Nissan Leafs Last Compared To Similar Cars?

Below, we compare the Nissan Leaf to its competitors:

Nissan Leaf vs. Chevrolet Bolt

Unlike the Nissan Leaf, the Chevy Bolt can reach 200,000 to 300,000 miles with proper use and maintenance. This is far higher than the Leaf’s 150,000 expected mileage.

Nissan Leaf vs. Kia Niro Electric

Like the Leaf, Kia backs the Niro electric’s battery pack by a 100,000 mile warranty.

Considering that this is similar to the Nissan Leaf’s warranty, we expect both cars to last 150,000 miles or more before requiring any major upgrades.

Nissan Leaf vs. Honda Clarity Electric

The Honda Clarity electric should have no problem hitting 100k to 150k miles before the battery deteriorates to the point of needing a replacement.

That is almost similar to the Leaf. However, the Clarity has a higher range than the Nissan.

How Reliable Is a Nissan Leaf?

RepairPal gives the Nissan Leaf a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0.

When expressed in percentage, this translates to an 80% rating. Compared with other models, it ranks 9^th out of 32 for all car brands.

According to J.D. Power, most Leafs fall between 79% and 87% in terms of quality and reliability. The 2017 model year, however, takes the cake with a 90% rating.

Information from both RepairPal and J.D. Power confirms that the Nissan Leaf is a highly reliable car. It might actually be worth every penny.

The Best and Worst Years for Nissan Leaf

Car Complaints admits that there aren’t a lot of complaints about the Leaf. This implies that the Nissan Leaf is a splendid car. However, we still have to find a least reliable model.

Car Complaints names the 2015 Nissan Leaf the worst model year. The worst complaint about the car is brake related.

You can also do well to avoid the 2011 and 2013 Nissan Leafs because of the high number of complaints from owners. You may choose to dive deeper into the best and worst Nissan Leaf years.

What About Recalls for These Models?

The Nissan Leaf doesn’t get a lot of NHTSA recalls when compared to other cars.

The table below gives detailed information about the car’s recalls and associated problems.

Model Year	Number of Recalls	Reason for Recall
2011	–	–
2012	–	–
2013	4	Airbag, brake relay and detection system problems.
2014	5	Airbag, brake relay, circuit board and welds problems.
2015	3	Airbag and brake relay problems.
2016	3	Airbag related problems.
2017	1	Airbag problem.
2018	1	Backup camera display problem.
2019	1	Backup camera display problem.
2020	2	Backup camera display and rear window glass problems.

Nissan Leaf Model Year List

The Nissan Leaf has two generations and has been in production since 2010.

The second generation, however, seems to be better than the first.

2013 Nissan Leaf viewed from the front.

First Generation

2011 Nissan Leaf
2012 Nissan Leaf
2013 Nissan Leaf
2014 Nissan Leaf
2015 Nissan Leaf
2016 Nissan Leaf
2017 Nissan Leaf

Second Generation

2018 Nissan Leaf
2019 Nissan Leaf
2020 Nissan Leaf
2021 Nissan Leaf

Are Nissan Leafs Expensive to Maintain?

RepairPal estimates that it costs an average $748 to maintain and repair the Nissan Leaf annually. This is far higher than the average for compact cars and all vehicles.

Electric cars need less maintenance than their gas powered counterparts. Electronic parts require less servicing than mechanical parts. Since electric cars make up mainly of batteries, electric motors and a single speed transmission, they need less servicing. However, the Leaf seems to have above-average maintenance costs.

How Long Do the Brakes Last?

The Leaf’s brakes last longer than regular brakes. This is because of Nissan’s e-pedalling system that can start, accelerate and even stop your car.

The e-pedal makes use of regenerative braking, which also helps reduce the stress on your brake pads. With these systems in place, your brakes may last over 100,000 miles with no major degradation.

You should also be reading our article which talks about How Long Do Nissan Frontiers Last?

How Long Do the Tires Last?

The average life of Nissan tires falls between 50,000 and 60,000 miles. However, e-pedaling and regenerative braking help reduce strain on the tires. So they are expected to last longer.

You should know that the road conditions, acceleration and sudden braking can affect the wearing rate of your tires. Rotating your tires every 7,500 miles and maintaining proper air pressure can increase their longevity.

How Long Do the Transmissions Last?

The Leaf, like most electric cars, doesn’t have a regular transmission. Instead, it makes use of a single speed transmission.

Its electrical component that can be likened to a transmission is the electric motor.

Nissan warranty covers the electric motor for up to 60,000 miles. That’s why we expect it to last at least 80,000 miles or longer. Know that this is only an educated guess based on the warranty coverage.

What About Insurance Cost?

You need $128 per month or $1,534 per year to insure the Nissan Leaf, according to Car and Driver.

Ensure you don’t pay for things already covered by Nissan’s warranty. It covers the battery for about 100,000 miles. However, the company only covers the 24kWh battery for only 60,000 miles.

Nissan would replace batteries if they depreciate below 9 bars before reaching the 100,000 mile mark. Hence, it makes no sense to pay extra insurance for the batteries.

It also has corrosion warranty for surface corrosion. This covers body sheet metal for 36 months or 37,000 miles.

Your Leaf might require repairs because of warrantable defects. In such a case, Nissan would do the repairs at no charge to you. Note that tires may require charges.

Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Nissan Leaf

You can improve the longevity of your Nissan Leaf with these tips:

Be sure to rotate your tires every 7,500 miles.
Balance and align your wheels every 20,000 miles.
Don’t forget to check your tire pressure and inflate them properly.
Regularly check your rotors and electric motor
Clean dirt or debris that may have accumulated in sensitive areas such as charging port.
After a few thousand miles, always compare your battery depreciation with the warranty coverage.
Wash the car regularly to keep it clean and prevent rust.

Resources

Nissan Leaf | repairpal.com

Nissan Leaf | carcomplaints.com

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