2020 Nissan Leaf · symptom sheet

Battery dies or the car will not start

38owner reports
50,000median miles
0involved a crash

Newest report Aug 17, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

120 of the 164 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 38 of those describe dead battery, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2020 Leaf.

Tick what matches of 38 reports

dead after sitting a day or two

battery replaced more than once

warning lights or messages

the dealer found a drain

the dealer found nothing

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (37 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on the electrical system covers the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

24V-700Sep 20, 2024

Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2019-2020 LEAF vehicles equipped with a Level 3 quick charging port. The lithium-ion battery may overheat during Level 3 charging.

Risk and remedy

Risk: A quick charging battery that overheats increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will update the battery software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 3, 2026. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R24B2, P4A38, and P5A22.

NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Leaf

DP22-005opened Jan 27, 2023

Electrical · model years 2011 to 2022

Pedestrian alert sounds. Closed aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V-063.

NHTSA summary

NHTSA 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 NHTSA.gov 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, NHTSA 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 NHTSA 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 NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

When it happens

Too few of these reports state a mileage to give a range.

121

123

124

1725

1826

What owners wrote

“Nissan issued a recall more than a year ago regarding the safety issue with the Lithium-ion Battery. It has not provided an acceptable solution as of yet. The defect is limiting the ability to use the vehicle as intended and it is a fire risk.”
Filed Feb 18, 2026

“I am unable to use my 2020 Nissan Leaf because of the recall (R24B2) on the battery preventing fast charging. My child has the vehicle and now lives in an apartment and there is no place to plug in my car overnight. So the only option for my child is to fast charge it. I'm frustrated that this recall is almost 1 and a half years old and there is still no remedy.”
Filed Jan 26, 2026

“Nissan still has not provided a remedy for recall number Nissan recall R24B2 NHTSA 24V700000. This prevents me from being able to access the full use of the car because I cannot fast charge without risk of damaging the EV battery. Just last week I had to borrow a gas car and pay for gas in order to take a road trip. This is unacceptable. We should have a remedy by now.”
Filed Jan 8, 2026

“the front collision detection system frequently stops working, especially when there is wet weather. The little light on the dash comes on that shows it's not working. ALSO. My car has a serious battery issue that is not related to the fast-charging issue with the current recall. The battery frequently loses charge while driving, and I have to cut trips short and head home in "turtle mode".”
Filed Dec 15, 2025

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 38 reports involved a crash. 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.