Nissan Leaf hatchback - Reliability & safety
In theory, electric models should be more reliable and easier to maintain, and the original Nissan Leaf proved this to be the case
The latest Leaf has been on sale since early 2018, and has now started to feature in our annual Driver Power survey results. The Leaf finished 40th in our 2021 Driver Power survey, while the Nissan brand came 18th out of 29 manufacturers. Both those results are slightly worse than in our 2020 survey.
A top Euro NCAP safety score is good news, accomplished thanks to advanced semi-autonomous driver-assistance features.
Nissan Leaf reliability
In our latest Driver Power owner satisfaction survey, the Leaf was rated 59th for reliability. A surprisingly high percentage of respondents reported one or more faults within the first year, with electrical glitches the most common issue. As the Leaf is the world’s best-selling EV, Nissan is in the best position to learn about potential issues that can affect electric cars in the long run.
Its infotainment system and interior quality frustrated customers, although it earned a top-10 finish for its electric powertrain, with running costs rated similarly highly.
As a manufacturer, Nissan finished 18th in our Driver Power survey, with 15.9% of owners reporting a fault in the first twelve months and the firm earning average scores for reliability. Despite this, owners were more impressed with the running costs, safety features and low servicing costs.
Safety
It’s no surprise the Leaf scored the full five stars when crash-tested by Euro NCAP. Nissan has a good record here, with the previous Leaf managing a top rating and models like the popular Nissan Qashqai SUV following suit.
The Leaf also boasts Nissan's latest safety technology, including its autonomous ProPilot system, allowing the Leaf to accelerate, brake and stay in its lane. This can bring the car to a halt in traffic, and brushing the accelerator will also signal it to resume driving.
