2015 Nissan Leaf · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 85owner reports
- 33,000median miles
- $2,600median quote
- 7involved a crash
Newest report Sep 1, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
85 of the 109 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 Leaf.
Narrower sheets: Brake warning light stays on (31 reports) · Brake pedal feels soft or spongy (28 reports) · ABS light on (27 reports)
Tick what matches of 85 reports
Brake wear on other Leaf years
No other Leaf model year has enough reports of brake wear for a sheet of its own. See every Leaf year.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the ABS module (25 reports) and the booster (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the brakes covers the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
During very cold temperatures, the relay inside the electronic brake booster may freeze, requiring the driver to exert more effort to slow the vehicle down.
All 4 recalls on the 2015 Nissan Leaf, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
What owners paid
17 of the 85 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,200 to $5,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 15,786 and 42,000 miles, from the 52 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Was driving the car in a neighborhood setting only going 20 mph, ABS light turned on the dashboard, traction control light or some other light regarding traction came on as well, brakes failed. Had to use parking brake to stop the vehicle.”
Filed Dec 11, 2025
“Warning lights, abs light and brake light illuminated out of nowhere. Unable to brake. Used a lot of force to get the car to slow down. Dealership inspected and said module short circuited.”
Filed Nov 14, 2023
“I approached a red light at an intersection intending to make a right turn. As I pressed the brakes to stop before the turn, the car did not slow and I was forced to make the turn against the red light. After the turn I was able to stop the car using the parking brake. After coming to a stop I noticed multiple warning lights on the instrument panel had come on which were not on previously.”
Filed Jul 25, 2023
“I was driving down the road and applied pressure to the brakes. The brakes did not respond and the dash lights lit up indicating several failures. It took 15-20 feet before I was able to completely stop. If this had happened on a busy street or freeway, the results would have been catastrophic. The vehicle is currently located a Nissan dealership and is available for inspection.”
Filed Dec 6, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 7 of 85 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works