2011 Nissan Leaf brakes problems

Filed May 31, 2024 · Brakes, Electrical · TX

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 and not stopping so quickly as to cause the trailing vehicle to collide. The dealer has confirmed the behavior. There is a TSB to supposedly address the problem, and a receipt is attached of that TSB software update being applied. However, this has not changed the behavior. This is at least partially a software issue, since the vehicle blends physical brakes with EV regenerative braking.

Filed Jan 9, 2020 · Brakes · 60,000 miles · CO

The brakes malfunction at low speeds, but are not included in a recall program. Nissan has not helped and does not respond to emails or questions on twitter. At low speeds the brakes will sporadically engage and disengage with regenerative braking enabled. They will sometimes catch which causes sudden stopping or skidding in hazardous conditions. They will also not engage until they are pressed extremely hard which will also cause sudden braking and can be hazardous in traffic or hazardous conditions. I've been attempting to reach nissan to resolve the issue, but they do not respond. This is an ongoing issue that makes the vehicle dangerous to drive at times.

Filed Dec 11, 2019 · Brakes · 30,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 nissan leaf. While driving 55 MPH down a mountain, there was insufficient braking ability and the vehicle was uncontrollable. Additionally, the hill descent assist failed to engage. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to valley nissan of staunton (297 lee jackson hwy, staunton, virginia 24401, (540) 213-9600) where it was diagnosed that the regenerative braking was not responsive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and did not assist. The contact stated that additional testing should be performed on electric vehicles. The failure mileage was 30,000.

Filed Jul 17, 2017 · Brakes · 35,900 miles · OH

Intermittently, little or no braking force maybe be available when the car is put in gear after initial key-on following about 10 minute key-off after a 20-30 minute drive cycle. The fault is more likely to occur in warm weather. Pumping the brakes once before putting the car in gear will clear the problem. If the brakes are not pumped the car will continue to roll due to the residual torque from the electric drive that exists even when the accelerator is not depressed. I took the car to a nissan dealer who charged $209 for analysis and to apply a, "software upgrade," to the car's computer system. It s not yet known if the software resolved the issue due to intermittent nature. This issue could pose a hazard for itinerant drivers of leafs without software upgrade because those drivers would not know brake pumping alleviates the problem. The normal reaction is to press the brakes harder without lifting, which has no effect on restoring brake force.

Filed Jul 17, 2016 · Brakes · 40,000 miles · CA

I have had the car into the dealer twice in the past 1 1/2 years to 'reprogram' the grabby brakes. They get very sensitive when braking below 25 MPH. They grab, let go, grab, and let go. I am now being told that it will cost me over $100 just for them to look at them a third time. I am tired of the bandaid approach and want it fixed but should not have to pay a penny for it. The car just turned 40,000 miles. I love it except this annoying and possibly dangerous braking problem.

Filed May 27, 2016 · Brakes · 25,000 miles · CA

I echo so many others who have had the experience of the brakes being out of one's control at low speeds. Instead of allowing for a smooth, slow deceleration, the brakes activate hard end end up jerking the car. There have been times when this has been really frightening. Enough people have complained about this that it should be looked into! It's hard to recall exactly the conditions under which this happens, because it's intermittent, but mostly at low speeds.

Filed May 4, 2016 · Brakes · 15,677 miles · FL

When depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle goes from a soft braking to a jolting stop at speeds below 20 MPH. The vehicle jerks severly when braking and I am also very concerned this will be a problem on wet roads and I'm worried about being rear-ended as it stops suddenly. I experience this everyday that I drive it. Now, the brakes have also been releasing when I'm trying to stop at higher speeds, giving the feeling that I may not get stopped in time. And this is only getting worse. The car especially jolts when creeping forward at a light or into a parking spot. The releasing, where I felt like I could not stop the car, I have experienced recently also happened in the same situations. The car will also occasionally creep forward when the car was stopped, and the brake pedal is still depressed.

Filed Jan 12, 2016 · Brakes · 21,000 miles · CA

Brakes did not work after engaging drive from stationary position. After a few moments, normal brake activity resumed. Believed to be related to depleted 12 v battery.

Filed Oct 20, 2015 · Brakes · 35,500 miles · NE

The brakes go from a soft braking to a jolting stop at speeds below 20 MPH. I have small children in the car, and their heads are being jolted around when the car brakes this way. I am concerned this will be a problem on slick roads and I'm worried about being rear-ended when it stops so suddenly. It does this everyday that I drive it, however the dealership can find nothing wrong with the car. Lately, the brakes have also been releasing when I'm trying to stop, giving the feeling that I may not get stopped in time. I would say it feels like the car cannot smoothly transition between regular and regain brakes. I have had it at the dealership twice, and they performed a software update that did not fix the problem. It is only getting worse. The car especially jolts when creeping forward at a light or into a parking spot. The releasing, where I felt like I could not stop the car, I have experienced recently also happened in the same situations. The car will also occasionally creep forward when the car was stopped, and the brake pedal is still depressed.

Filed Sep 29, 2014 · Brakes · 2,550 miles · CA

While in a lineup of cars at a stop sign intersection, I had to start and stop repeatedly, as each car moved forward. Very soon, the brakes developed a jerky response, grabbing and releasing. So the car was lurching forward and jerking to a stop. It was quite embarrassing, and the car behind me nearly rear-ended me. This was the first occurrence, and the same thing has happened several times since. The brakes are not consistent - sometimes they grab completely and a couple of times I have completely lost braking power for a few moments. The issue still exists, and I know several other leaf drivers who have also experienced it. This is very dangerous, and one of these days someone will be killed because of nissan's negligence, unless the federal safety agency forces some action on it. This needs to be looked into very thoroughly and fixed.