2011 Nissan Leaf

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

74/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 95 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Nissan Leaf, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	28	29%
Electrical system	18	19%
Service brakes	14	15%
Air bags	7	7%
Service brakes	4	4%
Vehicle speed control	3	3%
Unknown or other	2	2%
Electrical system	2	2%
Power train	2	2%
Electrical system	2	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

Car throws a B1018 DTC, which is for the passenger seat occupancy sensor. The seat occupancy sensor failing poses a major safety risk, as it causes the airbags to not deploy properly in the event of a crash. This is a
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Air bag sensor fault, passenger seat warning on dashboard. Confirmed sensor failure at repair shop. Notified by Nissan that sensors are DISCONTINUED parts. No alternative solution suggested. This means all airbags in thi
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Please see thread: [XXX] My 2011 Nissan Leaf's OCS has failed randomly. I pulled the code via an Bluetooth OBD reader and the LeafSpy Pro app installed on my phone: B1018-00 09 AIR BAG Occupant Sens [Unit Fail] SRC-41.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

When applying brakes, at a point in the pedal travel the vehicle deceleration goes from too little to vastly too much. This makes the vehicle challenging to drive in traffic without colliding into the vehicle in front a
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

Supplemental air bag warning light started blinking on 9/24/2023. It blinks regardless of whether the front passenger seat is occupied. The OCS sensor for the passenger seat failed. This should have been covered by a r
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

Vehicle doesn't slow down when taking foot of the acceleration pedal. Same both power settings. It will continue to move at slow speed on level ground. It behaves as though the minimum pedal.motor speed is too fast. My c
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

My airbag sensor light went off for no reason. I took it into the dealership and was told that it would cost $3,700 to get it repaired/replaced since the seat needs to be removed. I am concerned that this safety issue
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

On 05/28/23 while i was trying to park my 2011 Nissan Leaf in a parking lot, the car accelerated unexpectedly and hit a pole and fence and scratched an already parked car. Applying break did not slow down my car. I own t
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

The seven scores

Reliability raw	77	good
Longevity est.	76	good
Maintenance	71	good
Depreciation	59	average
Performance	55	average
Efficiency	86	excellent
Safety	93	excellent

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 36% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 43% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 36% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 39% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 77: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 76: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2011 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 71: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety 93: NHTSA crash testing blended with IIHS awards.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2011 Nissan Leaf?

Owners have filed 95 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 28 of them (29%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 2011 Nissan Leaf reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 77/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2011 Nissan Leaf last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2011 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2011 Nissan Leaf?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.