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2021 Nissan Leaf electrical problems

34 complaints (58% of all complaints for this car).

owner complaints
34
of this car's complaints
58%
crashes
0
recalls
1

Which part fails

Owners did not name a specific part.

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Nissan Leaf electrical problems in other years

2011201520202026

Specific symptoms reported on the 2021 Nissan Leaf electrical

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Backup camera 10

Related recalls

Electrical system: propulsion system: charging: module: softwareReported September 30, 2025 · 19,077 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.
Risk
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. Owner letters were mailed June 16, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's Customer Service at 1‑800‑867‑7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R25C8. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning October 4, 2025.

Recall number 25V655000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Pedestrian alert soundsOpened January 27, 2023, closed August 7, 2023

the federal safety agency received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.

DP22005

What 2021 Nissan Leaf owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 5, 2026 · Electrical · CA

I purchased a 2021 Nissan Leaf used on 9/9/2026 from CarMax Burbank with unrepaired the federal safety agency recalls 25V‑655 and 24V‑700 documented in my sale paperwork. The salesman told us they were simple recall repairs, nothing to worry about. When I took the car in, the authorized dealer's service advisor warned that the recall reprogramming could likely leave the vehicle inoperable if a battery fault code appeared, and recommended returning the car to CarMax because it was on a stop sale with no batteries available. A CarMax service consultant dismissed the warning as a scare tactic from that specific location, said they couldn't consider taking the car back unless we tried the recall repairs, and sent us to a different "partnered" Nissan dealer. On 10/21/2026, that dealership location recommended the LBC/VCM recall reprogramming, kept the vehicle eight hours, and released it as repaired and drivable. Less than 24 hours later, on 10/22/2026, while driving on the highway in heavy rain in moving traffic, the battery failed with [Warning, Service EV System, Power Reduced]. The vehicle was towed to the dealership on 10/23/2026, where the dealer confirmed the EV battery failed, the vehicle cannot be operated without a battery replacement, and batteries are unavailable nationwide. The vehicle has remained at Nissan since. Safety risk: sudden, complete loss of propulsion on a highway in rain creates an immediate crash and injury risk to occupants and surrounding drivers. The failure occurred one day after the recall remedy was completed and the vehicle was released as repaired, indicating the remedy process can leave affected vehicles in an unsafe state on the road. The recall at issue concerns battery cells prone to rapid heating and fire during Level 3 charging, so this vehicle carried an active fire risk as well. The manufacturer has since initiated a vehicle repurchase. The recall bulletin promises a complimentary rental during the remedy process. No rental was ever provided.

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Electrical, Transmission · OR

My Leaf started displaying dramatic battery range reduction and charge fluctuation symptoms XXX at 98K miles. 1st available appt at dealership (as advised by Nissan) was XXX, now at 115,000K miles. XXX I received recall notice in my mailbox from Nissan re 25V‑655 - 8 1/2 months past the issuing of recall - explaining the defect and fire hazard while fast charging. I now realize the "hot" smell I detected while fast charging was the overheating of lithium - thank God it didn't catch fire back then as I had been napping in my vehicle with my dog. At the dealership, service dept said my battery failed the post update test; sent me home in (ice) loaner car; said Nissan will reach out within a few days. Finally receive call XXX from [XXX] on behalf of Nissan North America; received 1st buyback email "offer" Sept 4, 2026 nearly a month after my car was deemed inoperable (this was a Friday at 4:59pm at the start of a major holiday weekend). They requested I pay them $9,411.11 so they can recover title from lender; same unchanged offer XXX after "escalation" review. A down payment + over 4 yrs of never missed consecutive payments - $33,000 later - and they are requesting I pay them because of a manufacturing defect which I didn't cause and had no control over. I was planning to drive it another 115K miles +. I want a FAIR resolution - on an inflated asset with Extreme depreciation due to a manufacturing defect and mandated recall. Nissan has not provided a warranty covered battery replacement to get my car running in a 'timely manor'. This [XXX]/old consumer is being treated UNfairly. ALL supporting documentation is organized, verifiable and securely filed. Any attorneys out there want to help ? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 13, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · NY

Incident Summary & Ineffective Recall Remedy: I am reporting an acute high-voltage battery cell collapse on my 2021 Nissan LEAF (VIN: [XXX]). The vehicle previously received the software update for the federal safety agency Recall #25V655 (Nissan Recall #R25C8) at Kings Nissan. The software patch failed to repair the underlying defective battery hardware. Following a second service visit on XXX where Kings Nissan tested only the auxiliary 12V lead-acid battery to dismiss my complaint, I purchased an independent CAN-bus diagnostic tool. On XXX (63,702 miles), LeafSpy telemetry confirmed Cell #31 is severely degraded, exhibiting a 191–307 mV voltage collapse. This causes sudden dashboard state-of-charge drops from 70%+ down to 42–45% on active highways, forcing emergency power limits ("limp mode"). Refusal of Post-Remedy Service: Despite active Corporate Case #XXX with Nissan Consumer Affairs, authorized dealers (Kings Nissan, Nissan of Queens and Nissan of Staten Island) refuse to intake, scan, or ground the vehicle, leaving a severe hardware hazard active on public roads. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 22, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · PA

Recall for FAST CHARGE LEVEL 3 CHADEMO has been issued for over 6 months. I am advised not to fast charge due to risk of devastating fire. Very dangerous to continue to use this car in an urban setting. Buyback was denied and told to wait for a fix. No fix yet! I can't get out of Philadelphia in this car. Tesla wouldn't let this happen!

Filed Jun 11, 2026 · Electrical · CA

Level 3 quick charging was not working, and only Level 2 charging is working now. That creates a risk of not working if Level 2 charging does not work as well. Nissan issued the letter on 3/18/2026 to recall but not yet provided the detailed repair plan as of today. Please advise. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 3, 2026 · Electrical · CO

I own a 2021 Nissan Leaf with an open safety recall (the federal safety agency Recall 25V‑655, Nissan Recall R25C8) issued on September 30, 2025. The recall involves a battery defect that creates a safety risk during DC fast charging (Level 3). As a result, I am unable to use public fast-charging networks such as EVgo. The recall currently has no remedy available and has been unresolved for over 7 months. I do not have access to home charging, and without fast charging, the vehicle cannot be used in a practical or reasonable way for daily transportation. This has resulted in a complete loss of use of my vehicle and has impacted my ability to work. Nissan has not provided a timeline for repair or an alternative solution such as a loaner or rental reimbursement. This delay is not reasonable, and I am requesting investigation into the lack of remedy and the impact on vehicle usability.

Filed Apr 24, 2026 · Electrical · NV

The contact owns a 2021 Nissan Leaf. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V655000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Filed Apr 6, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · PA

I own a 2021 Nissan Leaf subject to open recall R25C8 (the federal safety agency Campaign 25V655) for fire risk during Level 3 DC fast charging. The recall was issued October 2025. Nissan’s stated remedy target was late March 2026. As of today, April 6, 2026, no remedy has been provided. The affected component is the lithium-ion battery pack and its charging system. The vehicle is equipped with a CHAdeMO DC fast charging port, which I cannot safely use due to the documented fire risk. I am not avoiding this feature by choice – I am avoiding it because Nissan’s own recall identified it as a safety hazard. On April 6, 2026, I encountered a DC fast charging station and chose not to attempt charging due to the active recall warning, and due to reports that charging networks have begun refusing sessions on recalled vehicles. Diagnostic software shows my battery’s internal resistance index (Hx) at 71%, disproportionately low relative to State of Health at 87.5%. The vehicle is also consuming battery charge at an accelerated rate during highway driving, with approximately 50% of charge depleted over 30 to 40 miles. I am concerned that a software-only remedy will be inadequate for a battery with this level of internal resistance degradation, as software cannot compensate for the absence of active thermal management hardware. No dealer has confirmed the condition. I am filing to document loss of vehicle functionality, Nissan’s missed remedy deadline, and concern about remedy adequacy.

Filed Mar 30, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · WA

This vehicle is subject to the federal safety agency Recall 25V‑655 involving the high-voltage traction battery. The recall restricts the vehicle from using DC fast charging (Level 3), which significantly limits the safe and practical operation of the vehicle for its intended use. My household must routinely complete 300+ mile one-way trips on a weekly basis. Without DC fast charging capability, the vehicle cannot reliably complete these trips, creating a risk of being stranded or unable to safely reach destinations. Reliance on Level 2 charging requires extended delays of 6+ hours, which makes the vehicle impractical for its intended use and inconsistent with reasonable consumer expectations for normal operation. I contacted Nissan North America Consumer Affairs and was directed to work with the local dealer. I then contacted Dick Hannah Nissan in Gladstone, OR, who redirected me back to Consumer Affairs. As a result, no party is taking responsibility and no remedy or interim solution has been provided. The manufacturer has issued a safety recall but is unable to provide a repair, timeline, or mitigation. The vehicle’s primary propulsion system is effectively restricted, and the vehicle cannot be used as intended for necessary travel. I have requested a loaner or comparable replacement vehicle while awaiting a remedy, but this has not been provided. This unresolved recall creates an ongoing safety and usability issue, and the manufacturer has failed to provide a reasonable interim solution.

Filed Mar 25, 2026 · Electrical · IA

As described in recall 25V‑655, lithium deposited have accumulated in the HV battery of my 2021 Nissan Leaf. I haven't used L3 charging since I received the recall notice, but the car often won't charge even on L1 charging. The state of health of the HV battery is still 86% but the internal resistance of the HV battery is down to 44% due to the lithium deposits. The local Nissan dealership won't touch it because Nissan hasn't provided a remedy. It has been over 5 months since I received the recall notice. That doesn't seem very timely.

Questions about the 2021 Nissan Leaf electrical

Does the 2021 Nissan Leaf have electrical problems?

Owners have filed 34 complaints about the electrical of the 2021 Nissan Leaf, 58% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 2021 Nissan Leaf electrical problems start?

Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.

Is there a recall for the 2021 Nissan Leaf electrical?

Yes, 1 recall: 25V655000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

Other 2021 Nissan Leaf problems

Fuel system 10Driver assistance 8Engine 6Visibility 6Transmission 4Airbags 2Lights 2Acceleration 1Brakes 1Wheels 1

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