2013 Nissan Leaf Reliability
The 2013 Nissan Leaf has 81 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Compared with nearby Leaf model years (2011–2015), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Leaf's typical year, while the 2014 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
81
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
11
Complaints citing a crash
1
Complaints citing a fire
2013 Nissan Leaf complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 model year, filed between 2013 and 2025. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 32 | 40% |
| Electrical system | 18 | 22% |
| Air bags | 17 | 21% |
| Unknown or other | 10 | 12% |
| Speed control / throttle | 5 | 6% |
| Visibility / wipers | 5 | 6% |
| Seat belts | 4 | 5% |
| Fuel / propulsion system | 4 | 5% |
2013 Nissan Leaf recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2013 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13V069000 | Mar 1, 2013 | Air bags | Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction… |
| 14V138000 | Mar 25, 2014 | Electrical system — software | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant… |
| 16V119000 | Feb 29, 2016 | Service brakes | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 LEAF vehicles manufactured November 19, 2012, to July 31, 2015. During very cold temperatures, the relay inside the electronic brake booster may freeze, requiring the driver to… |
| 16V244000 | Apr 26, 2016 | Air bags — sensor / occupant classification | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and… |
| 23V296000 | Apr 26, 2023 | Equipment — other / owners/service/other manual | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 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… |
How the 2013 compares with nearby Leaf years
Verdicts compare these Leaf model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 95 | 0 | Air bags | Solid |
| 2012 | 57 | 0 | Service brakes | Solid |
| 2013 (this page) | 81 | 5 | Service brakes | Caution |
| 2014 | 34 | 6 | Service brakes | Solid |
| 2015 | 111 | 4 | Service brakes | Avoid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2013 Nissan Leaf
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Throttle and speed control: check for surging, hesitation or a reduced-power warning, and test cruise control.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2013 Nissan Leaf can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2013 Nissan Leaf reliability FAQ
Is the 2013 Nissan Leaf reliable?
The 2013 Nissan Leaf has 81 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Compared with nearby Leaf model years (2011–2015), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the Leaf's typical year, while the 2014 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2013 Nissan Leaf problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2013 Nissan Leaf are service brakes (32), electrical system (18), air bags (17), unknown or other (10). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2013 Nissan Leaf have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2013 Nissan Leaf, including 13V069000 (air bags) and 14V138000 (electrical system — software). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2013 Nissan Leaf compare with the 2012 and 2014 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2012 has 57 complaints and 0 recalls (solid); the 2014 has 34 complaints and 6 recalls (solid). The 2013 has 81 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2013 Nissan Leaf?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Nissan Leaf research
Other Nissan Leaf model years:
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2013 Leaf, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.