Makes›Nissan›Leaf›2016

2016 Nissan Leaf

Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2016 models.

Nissan Leaf
Pictured: Nissan Leaf (ZE2) autoMOBIL Tübingen 2025 DSC 2752. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Class
Midsize Cars
Body styles
4dr Hatchback S/Sv, 4dr Hatchback Sl
Engines
Electric motor
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
EV
EV range
107 mi · 6 h on 240 V
Length
175.2 in
Curb weight
3,265–3,397 lb
NHTSA rating
Not rated
Recalls
4 campaigns

Pros & cons

What's good

Nothing stands out against similar models in the data.

Watch out for

  • Short EV rangeUp to 107 miles on a charge (EPA) — plan around charging.

Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 28 similar 2016 models — not a review. How we calculate this →

Overview

The 2016 Nissan Leaf is a midsize car powered by electricity and front-wheel drive.

It measures about 175 inches long and 70 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,265 lb (4dr Hatchback S/Sv).

The electric version has an EPA-rated range of up to 107 miles and takes about 6 hours to charge on a 240-volt Level 2 charger.

NHTSA has not published a 5-Star overall rating for this model year.

It has 4 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the service brakes.

What changed for 2016

  • Longest EV range up from 84 to 107 miles

Compared with 2015; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2015 Leaf →

Dimensions & weight

BodyLengthWidthHeightWheelbaseTrack F / RCurb weightWeight F/R
4dr Hatchback S/Sv175.2 in69.7 in61 in106.3 in60.6 / 60.2 in3,265 lb56/44
4dr Hatchback Sl175.2 in69.7 in61 in106.3 in60.6 / 60.2 in3,397 lb56/44

Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.

Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →

Engines, MPG & running costs

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCity / Hwy / Combvs. classFuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Leaf (24 kW-hr battery pack) EV80 kW DCPMAutomatic (A1)Front-Wheel Drive84 mi · 29.6496 kWh/100mi–$650–
Leaf (30 kW-hr battery pack) EV80 kW DCPMAutomatic (A1)Front-Wheel Drive107 mi · 29.9829 kWh/100mi–$650–
10/10EPA fuel economy score (best version)
10/10EPA greenhouse gas score
Save $8,750Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
26.2 MPG2016 Midsize Cars average

EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2016 EPA class average. How we calculate this →

Safety ratings & technology

NHTSA has not published 5-Star ratings for the 2016 Nissan Leaf.

Similar 2016 midsize cars

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2016 Nissan Leaf (this car)107 miNot rated4
2016 Toyota Corolla34 MPGNot rated1
2016 Honda Civic35 MPGNot rated5
2016 Nissan GT-R19 MPGNot rated1
2016 Toyota Prius56 MPGNot rated5
2016 Hyundai Elantra31 MPGNot rated2
2016 Ford Focus34 MPGNot rated11

Recalls (4)

Equipment › Other › Owners/Service/Other Manual · Apr 26, 2023

NHTSA campaign 23V296000 · 94,343 vehicles

Problem
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2013-2017 LEAF vehicles. The Owner's Manual instructions for defroster operation are incorrect and may result in reduced defroster performance under specific conditions. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."
Risk
Reduced defroster performance can limit visibility out of the windshield, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
Nissan will mail an addendum with updated instructions on how to operate the defroster, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 26, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R23A1.
Air Bags · Apr 13, 2017

NHTSA campaign 17V253000 · 30,038 vehicles

Problem
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2015-2017 LEAF and 2014, 2016 and 2017 Sentra vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error within the air bag inflators, the passenger frontal air bag may not properly deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk
In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag doesn't deploy properly, it can increase the risk of injury to passengers.
Fix
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Air Bags › Frontal › Passenger Side › Inflator Module · Jun 15, 2016

NHTSA campaign 16V436000 · 4,355 vehicles

Problem
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016 LEAF vehicles manufactured February 24, 2016, to March 23, 2016, and Sentra vehicles manufactured February 9, 2016, to March 4, 2016. The wiring harness connector may disconnect from the dual-stage passenger air bag.
Risk
If the wiring harness disconnects, the passenger air bag may not to deploy during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness connector for proper engagement and, if necessary, replace the passenger air bag module and main body harness, free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification · Apr 26, 2016

NHTSA campaign 16V244000 · 3,296,947 vehicles

Problem
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk
If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Fix
Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA ↗

Not every 2016 Nissan Leaf is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.

Owner-reported problems

36Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
1Involved a crash
1Involved a fire
0Injuries reported
20,000 miTypical mileage at failure
Service Brakes16
Electrical System11
Fuel/Propulsion System8
Air Bags3
Engine3
Power Train3
Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery2
Steering2
Complaints received per month (last 24 months with reports)
18/04: 118/05: 118/11: 219/06: 219/07: 119/10: 119/11: 120/01: 120/08: 121/01: 122/02: 122/05: 122/10: 122/12: 123/02: 123/03: 123/10: 124/01: 124/03: 224/04: 124/11: 125/01: 125/04: 126/07: 118/0419/0619/1121/0122/1023/0324/0325/01max 2

Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.

Used 2016 Nissan Leaf buyer's checklist

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 4 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
  2. Service Brakes — 16 owner reports. Brake firmly from speed; check for pulling, pulsing pedal or ABS warning light.
  3. Electrical System — 11 owner reports. Test every window, lock, light, screen and USB port; check the battery age.
  4. Fuel/Propulsion System — 8 owner reports. Smell for fuel around the car and in the cabin, check that it starts easily when warm, and look at the oil dipstick for a fuel smell or rising level.
  5. Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 20,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
  6. Battery health. Ask for a battery state-of-health report, check the remaining battery warranty, and compare the displayed range at 100% charge with the EPA's 107 miles.
  7. Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.

Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2016 Nissan Leaf. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.

Other Leaf years

Compare all years →
YearMPG (best)LengthOverallRecallsComplaints
2026 Leaf303 mi173.6 inNot rated23
2025 Leaf212 mi176.4 inNot rated07
2024 Leaf212 mi176.4 inNot rated05
2023 Leaf212 mi176.4 inNot rated322
2022 Leaf226 mi176.4 inNot rated496
2021 Leaf226 mi176.4 in★★★★★457
2020 Leaf226 mi176.4 in★★★★★6167
2019 Leaf226 mi176.4 inNot rated5260
2018 Leaf151 mi176.4 inNot rated467
2017 Leaf107 mi175.2 inNot rated217
2015 Leaf84 mi175.2 inNot rated4109
2014 Leaf84 mi175.2 inNot rated631

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Nissan. How we calculate this →