This 2020 model shows concerning reliability, primarily driven by 6 recallsβabove the NISSAN averageβcentered on the back over prevention.
Key Factor:elevated back over prevention issues
β οΈ
Safety Alert
Safety Alert: This model has a higher recall frequency (6) than the average NISSAN vehicle (1.3). Owners should prioritize checking these components.
6 recalls for this vehicle1.3 avg. recalls per vehicle (brand)
πWhy This Matters
Understanding recall history helps predict future ownership costs. Each unaddressed issue represents potential repair expenses.
Insurance companies review vehicle reliability data when setting premiums. Models with elevated recall rates often see adjusted pricing.
Given this model year's elevated concern level, budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
Focus Area:general reliability
π
Expert Analysis
The 2020 Leaf analysis highlights key safety metrics.
Safety & Reliability Score
37/100
Score Breakdown
Recall Impact-48
Complaint Impact-5
Investigation Impact-10
Technical Specifications
Key specifications for the 2020 NISSAN Leaf
Model Year2020
MakeNISSAN
ModelLeaf
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle
Safety History Timeline
Scroll for more β
Jan20
NEWProduction
Jan20
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan20
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan20
RECALLRecall Issued
Jan20
RECALLRecall Issued
Feb23
RECALLRecall Issued
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
Apr23
INVInvestigation Opened
Jul23
ISSUEFirst Report
Feb24
RECALLRecall Issued
Consumer Complaint Analysis
β οΈ
Most Reported Issue
27 complaints (27% of total)
β‘οΈ
Complaint Trend
Stable
No trend data
β
Safety Incidents
No critical incidents
Complaint Severity Distribution
Breakdown of 100 consumer complaints by severity level.
π High
18(18%)
π‘Medium
4(4%)
π’Low
78(78%)
Mileage Failure Analysis
βοΈEngineering Insight
Based on consumer reports, issues for this vehicle tend to peak around the 0-20k mileage range. The average reported failure mileage is 32,242 miles.
π Mileage data extracted from 13 of 100 complaints (13% coverage)
0-20k
4 reports (31%)
20k-40k
3 reports (23%)
40k-60k
4 reports (31%)
60k-80k
2 reports (15%)
80k-100k
0 reports (0%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.
π οΈ DIY Diagnosis Center
Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).
Primary Risk Areas
BACK OVER PREVENTIONVISIBILITYEQUIPMENTVEHICLE SPEED CONTROLELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Official Safety Recalls (6)
Campaign: 20V412000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
βΌ
Summary
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 LEAF electric vehicles. Under certain circumstances, the images for the back-up camera can disappear while in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence
The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. This recall began August 31, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Campaign: 20V570000
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
βΌ
Summary
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Altima, Maxima and Leaf vehicles. The rear window glass may not remain properly secured to the vehicle.
Consequence
Rear window glass that separates from the vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the back window glass, free of charge. The recall began November 4, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC752.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Campaign: 23V048000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
βΌ
Summary
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 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 comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Consequence
Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed April 1, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22C5.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Campaign: 23V494000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
βΌ
Summary
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2023 LEAF vehicles. The vehicle may accelerate unintentionally if the
driving mode is changed ("D" to "B"; e-Pedal "On"; or "ECO" mode) after disengaging the cruise control.
Consequence
Unintentional acceleration can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the vehicle control module (VCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 30, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A6.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Campaign: 24V071000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
βΌ
Summary
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2022 LEAF vehicles. Damage to the camera harness can cause distortion or loss of the rearview camera display image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence
A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the rearview camera and harness for damage and replace them as necessary. If no damage is found, the dealer will apply protective tape and reroute the rearview camera harness. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 9, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23D7.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
Consequence
A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Owners are advised not to use Level 3 quick charging until the remedy is completed. Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed October 10, 2024. A second notice will be sent once the remedy becomes available, anticipated December 31, 2025. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R24B2, P4A38, and P5A22.
Additional Notes
Owner's may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.
NHTSA Investigations
2 investigations
Official NHTSA safety investigations for 2020 Leaf.
INV-2020-1000π’ Closed
NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding Leaf performance issues.
Opened: Affected Units: 39,706
INV-2020-1001π’ Closed
NHTSA opened investigation after receiving consumer complaints regarding Leaf performance issues.
Opened: Affected Units: 37,558
Consumer Complaints
100 total complaints
Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2020 Leaf.
Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis
Battery27%
Fire16%
Warning10%
Acceleration Issues6%
Engine/Powertrainπ΅ Low
POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
On November 5, 2025 our 2020 Nissan LEAF (42,701 miles) experienced rapid loss of battery capacity under normal driving/temperatures (80F.) Vehicle defaulted to "turtle mode" temporarily, an unsafe condition. Were able to replicate condition on subsequent days. Took vehicle to Cedar Park Nissan for evaluation. Technicians concluded that the traction battery had one or more defective cells and recommended battery pack replacement. Vehicle is inoperable. Started complaint with Nissan customer assistance. Dealer and Nissan refused use of a loaner vehicle, despite offering no timeline on repairing/replacing the battery pack. The defect in our vehicle's battery cells may lie in the battery chemistry and be related to issues associated with damage from DC fast charging (recall 24V-700.) Our vehicle has seen little or no fast charging, being charged mostly on Level 1 or Level 2.
Electricalπ΅ Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V700000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Several dealers were made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue but offered no assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure.
β¨ AI Insight
This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:
Recall #24V700000
*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.
ElectricalπΆ Medium
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
the front collision detection system frequently stops working, especially when there is wet weather. The little light on the dash comes on that shows it's not working. ALSO. My car has a serious battery issue that is not related to the fast-charging issue with the current recall. The battery frequently loses charge while driving, and I have to cut trips short and head home in "turtle mode".
β¨ AI Insight
This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:
Recall #24V700000
*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.
Engine/Powertrainπ΅ Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
There is a recall for my fast charging but it's been 2 years and they still no fixing the problem. The company have to take action. Please
Electricalπ΅ Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V700000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Two local dealers were contacted on several occasions; however, the parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
β¨ AI Insight
This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:
Recall #24V700000
*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.
Electricalπ΅ Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V700000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
β¨ AI Insight
This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:
Recall #24V700000
*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.
Electricalβ οΈ High
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
See attached document for complaint. I am writing to formally report a serious safety concern regarding my 2020 Nissan Leaf which appears to be affected by a known defect involving the lithium-ion battery and DC fast charging capability. Despite Nissan's acknowledgment of the issue and a recall campaign (R25A3), no effective remedy has been provided. Owners have been advised to avoid using Level 3 fast chargers due to the risk of battery overheating and fire. This restriction significantly compromises the vehicle's utility and safety, especially for long-distance travel. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate whether Nissan has met its obligations under federal safety regulations and whether further enforcement or expanded recall action is warranted. I am also seeking clarification on my rights as a consumer under current recall protocols.
β¨ AI Insight
This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:
Recall #24V700000
*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.
Electricalπ΅ Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V700000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
β¨ AI Insight
This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:
Recall #24V700000
*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.
Electricalπ΅ Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V700000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
β¨ AI Insight
This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:
Recall #24V700000
*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.
Engine/Powertrainπ΅ Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Complete battery failure at 35,000 miles. Dealer confirmed. Unable to drive car. At least two months or more before battery can be replaced. Nissan refuses to provide loaner car or rental car. Still making momently payments on a car I can't drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any recalls for the 2020 NISSAN Leaf?
Yes, the 2020 NISSAN Leaf has 6 recorded recalls from NHTSA. These recalls cover various components including BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL.
Is the 2020 NISSAN Leaf safe to drive?
The 2020 NISSAN Leaf has 6 recalls. If you own this vehicle, check with your dealer to ensure all recall repairs have been completed. Most recalls have free remedies available.
Where can I check if my 2020 NISSAN Leaf has open recalls?
You can check for open recalls by visiting NHTSA.gov and entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or by contacting your local NISSAN dealer.
π―Risk Areas & Recommended Actions
Based on recall data, these components require verification:
1
Back over prevention
Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk
β
If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm back over prevention recalls are complete. Recall repairs are always free.
π
If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all back over prevention recalls are completed before purchase.
Campaigns:20V41200024V071000
2
Visibility
Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk
β
If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm visibility recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.
π
If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all visibility recalls are completed before purchase.
Campaign:20V570000
3
Equipment
Issue: increases crash or loss-of-control risk
β
If you already own this vehicle: Contact your dealer immediately to confirm equipment recall is complete. Recall repairs are always free.
π
If you are evaluating a used example: Request VIN and verify all equipment recalls are completed before purchase.
Campaign:23V048000
π‘Visit NHTSA.gov or contact your NISSAN dealer to verify recall completion status.
π§What This Means for You
Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.
If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.
π
If You Own This Vehicle
Verify all 6 recalls have been completed using your VIN at NHTSA.gov or through your NISSAN dealer.
If any recalls are open, schedule service immediatelyβrecall repairs are always free.
Consider setting up VIN-specific alerts to receive notification of future recalls.
π
If You're Buying Used
Request full service history and documentation of all recall completions.
Consider whether adjacent model years (2019 or 2021) show better safety metrics.
Budget for thorough pre-purchase inspection focusing on known problem areas.