Nissan Leaf: common problems, best years and what to check
Britain's longest-running EV; cheap used, but check battery health. Covers 2013–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Nissan Leaf a good used buy?
Best buy
2019+ Leaf e+ 62kWh
Avoid
early 24kWh with lost bars
Who it suits: Drivers who mostly do local trips and charge at home.
What's good
- Cheap used EV
- Comfortable
- Simple to own
- Practical boot
What's not
- Battery degradation on older cars
- CHAdeMO charging fading out
- Slow rapid charging
- Short range on early cars
By the numbers
- #126 most common model on UK roads, with about 61k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2022: 8.2k cars still licensed.
- 2013 cars survive 19% worse than comparable cars — check those harder.
- The most expensive common fault: Battery degradation (lost bars) (up to £8,000).
Nissan Leaf common problems by generation and engine
Nissan Leaf ZE0/AZE0 (2011–2017) · hatch EV
How to spot it: 11 plate to 17 plate. Bulbous hatch with headlights on top of the wings.
24 / 30kWh (EM57, electric, 2011–2017)
Short range; no battery cooling
- Battery degradation (lost bars)£0–£8,0005+ yrs · Check: Check SOH/bars with LeafSpy
Nissan Leaf ZE1 (2018–2024) · hatch EV; e+
How to spot it: 18 plate to 24 plate. Sharper V-motion grille and floating roof.
40 / 62kWh (EM57, electric, 2018–2024)
Better range; still air-cooled
- Rapid-charge throttling on long trips—any
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Nissan Leaf years
How many Nissan Leafs from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
No year clearly outlasts similar cars. Years that fall off the road faster: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 — check these harder.
Nissan Leaf MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2013+ cars)
Nissan Leafs pass their MOT first time 1 points less often than the average UK car of the same age (80% vs 82%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 58% | 66% | 71k miles |
| 2014 | 60% | 69% | 67k miles |
| 2015 | 65% | 72% | 59k miles |
| 2016 | 67% | 75% | 59k miles |
| 2017 | 76% | 78% | 52k miles |
| 2018 | 81% | 81% | 51k miles |
| 2019 | 84% | 84% | 41k miles |
| 2020 | 86% | 86% | 35k miles |
| 2021 | 89% | 87% | 28k miles |
| 2022 | 91% | 89% | 20k miles |
Most common MOT failures
- Ball joint excessively worn5.06 per 100
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.94 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.72 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut2.49 per 100
- Tyres: has ply or cords exposed1.57 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn1.29 per 100
- Position lamp: not working1.06 per 100
- Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid1.04 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm23.57 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened17.27 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear16.48 per 100
- Pins and bushes: pin or bush excessively worn10.22 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick6.53 per 100
- Ball joint excessively worn3.39 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt3.23 per 100
- Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm3.02 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Nissan Leaf running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Road tax (before April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world efficiency
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Nissan Leaf ULEZ compliant?
- Electric: always compliant.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Electric / hybrid
Nissan Leaf vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf | 61k | 21–28 | 435 l | 2019+ Leaf e+ 62kWh |
| Renault Zoe | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| VW ID.3 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| MG4 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| Hyundai Ioniq Electric | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
| BMW i3 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
What to check when buying a used Nissan Leaf
- Battery state of health report essential
- CHAdeMO rapid charging is fading
Nissan Leaf FAQ
›Is the Nissan Leaf reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: 2019+ Leaf e+ 62kWh. Avoid: early 24kWh with lost bars.
›What is the Nissan Leaf MOT pass rate?
80% of Nissan Leafs passed their MOT first time in 2025 (45,907 tests), below the 82% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: ball joint excessively worn.
›What are the most common Nissan Leaf problems?
The costliest known faults are Battery degradation; Rapid-charge throttling on long trips. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Nissan Leaf have a timing belt or chain?
No. It's electric, so there's no timing belt or chain to replace.
›What is the best year Nissan Leaf to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2021, 2023, 2024 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Nissan Leaf cost to run?
Real-world economy: 40kWh 3.8–4.5 mi/kWh; 62kWh e+ 3.5–4.2 mi/kWh. Insurance groups 21–28. A minor service is about £80–£150 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Nissan Leaf?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Nissan Leaf ULEZ compliant?
Electric: always compliant.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.