Nissan Leaf and e-NV200 engine: faults and reliability

• Leaf I 24 kWh, 109 hp (2011-2015)

  2011–2015 · 109 hp

  With caution

  The 2011-2014 units are the ones that have lost the most capacity in a study of 283 cars, and the 24 kWh Leaf I loses around 20% in about five years; a battery health report should be demanded.^[1]

• Leaf I 30 kWh, 109 hp (2015-2017)

  2015–2017 · 109 hp

  With caution

  In the study sample degradation depends mostly on mileage, and the French listing records faster-than-expected loss of bars; buy with a battery health report.^[1][2]

• Leaf II 40 kWh, 150 hp (2018-2025)

  2018–2025 · 147 hp

  Buy

  The available testimonies are few (20 on the French listing) and do not record repeated serious faults; it is still advisable to check the battery's condition.^[3]

• Leaf e+ 62 kWh, 217 hp (2019-2025)

  2019–2025 · 217 hp

  With caution

  One testimony on the French listing describes a battery fault with almost two months off the road under warranty; the data is scarce, but checking the history and warranty is worthwhile.^[3]

• e-NV200 24 kWh, 109 hp (2014-2018)

  2014–2018 · 109 hp

  With caution

  There are no open testimonies on the e-NV200; as it shares the air-cooled 24 kWh battery with the Leaf I, it is worth checking the battery's health.^[1][6]

• e-NV200 40 kWh, 109 hp (2018-2022)

  2018–2022 · 109 hp

  With caution

  If the car is from 2019, check that the PG0C9/PS0C5 park-lock campaign has been carried out; there are no other fault data of its own.^[7]

Buy: No known serious faults, or they have already been corrected, in this version. With caution: Worth buying if something specific is verified: history, a replaced part or a completed campaign. Avoid: High risk of a serious fault that is hard to check for or prevent.

1. 1High severityFrequency: CommonTraction batteryAccelerated degradation of the air-cooled batteryThe first-generation Leaf battery, and the 24 kWh e-NV200 battery that shares its technology, is cooled by air only and loses capacity faster than others: a study of 283 Leafs puts the loss of the 24 kWh battery at around 20% over five years.
2. 2Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalElectric motor and reduction gearDefective solder on the park-lock actuator plate (2019 e-NV200)Nissan recalled e-NV200s built in summer 2019 because the solder on the park-lock actuator plate could be defective and the lock might not engage when P is selected, with a risk that the vehicle moves.
3. 3High severityFrequency: RareTraction batteryBattery module or electronics fault with prolonged immobilisationFrench listings record cases of failure of the electronics or of a module in the Leaf battery (BMS/PDM on a 24 kWh, sudden module failure on a 30 kWh, fault under warranty on a 62 kWh) that left the car off the road for two to six months.
4. 4Medium severityFrequency: RareChargingOn-board charger fault on AC chargingThe Leaf I's internal charger can fail and prevent AC charging (domestic socket or wallbox), although CHAdeMO fast charging may still work.
5. 5Medium severityFrequency: RareChargingLocking and communication faults at the CHAdeMO fast-charging socketSome Leaf IIs have locking or communication defects at the CHAdeMO socket: fast charging cuts out, does not start or stops before completing, at several different chargers.
6. 6Medium severityFrequency: RareElectric motor and reduction gearNoise from the transmission reduction gearThe French listings for the Leaf I and Leaf II describe growls or whines from the reduction gear (the single-speed transmission), more marked at steady speed, which can end in replacing the assembly.

Severity colours: low, medium, high, critical. How we rate them

Manufacturer

Nissan

Family

Leaf / e-NV200

Type

Electrical

Engine

Síncrono de corriente alterna con imanes, tracción delantera, reductor de una relación; batería de iones de litio con refrigeración pasiva por aire

Battery

24–62 kWh

Power

109–217 hp

Peak torque

340 Nm

Production

2011–2025

Makes

Nissan

Technical data^[4][5][6]

1. 2011–2015

   Leaf I 24 kWh, 109 hp (2011-2015)

   First generation (ZE0): 80 kW synchronous motor with 254 N·m, lithium-ion battery cooled by air only. Five-year or 100,000 km battery capacity warranty (9 of 12 bars).^[4][5]

2. 2014–2018

   e-NV200 24 kWh, 109 hp (2014-2018)

   Electric van built in Barcelona since 2014 with a 24 kWh battery and 80 kW synchronous motor with 254 N·m, the same set as the Leaf I.^[6]

3. 2015–2017

   Leaf I 30 kWh, 109 hp (2015-2017)

   30 kWh battery from autumn 2015, with denser modules and an eight-year or 160,000 km capacity warranty; same 80 kW motor. Still has no active cooling.^[1][5]

4. 2018–2025

   Leaf II 40 kWh, 150 hp (2018-2025)

   Second generation (ZE1): 40 kWh battery and 110 kW (147 hp) motor with 320 N·m. Still has no active battery thermal management.^[4][5]

5. 2018–2022

   e-NV200 40 kWh, 109 hp (2018-2022)

   In 2018 the battery grows to 40 kWh; the motor remains 80 kW. The park-lock recall affects units built in summer 2019.^[6][7]

6. 2019–2025

   Leaf e+ 62 kWh, 217 hp (2019-2025)

   62 kWh battery and 160 kW (around 217 hp) motor with 340 N·m. Same reduction gear and same passive cooling as the 40 kWh.^[4][5]

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