How Long Do Nissan Leafs Last?

Did you know that the Nissan Leaf is the highest-selling electric vehicle globally?

Nissan has sold over 400000 vehicles globally, which places it on the top of the chart of being the most popular one out there and one of the best.

With its fully electric nature, people have often asked “How long do Nissan Leafs last?”.

The first generation can last for at least 100000 miles and can go up to 150000. The second one, on the other hand, has double the limits!

If you drive at an average rate of 15000 miles annually, you are looking at a lifespan of at least a decade from it.

Unlike traditional gasoline-powered vehicles, the Nissan Leaf does not have an engine. So, it has completely different maintenance techniques and other things one must know.

This article will cover all of them. So, I suggest reading through it completely!

What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of A Nissan Leaf?

As was mentioned in the introduction, the Nissan Leaf can easily be driven for a maximum of 150000 miles. This is possible thanks to the use of a 30 kWh battery.

Although it might not look a lot, it is pretty decent, and it also means that you can drive it for almost a decade before you run into any issues.

Major changes were made with the second generation of the vehicle.

The new batteries had double the capacity, which meant that they would last for at least 200000 miles and can touch 300000 too, with extra care.

Now, that is a highly respectable number. This means a minimum of ten years of service. It can go up to 15 years too, which is amazing.

Does Nissan Leaf Last Longer Than Other Similar Vehicles?

Now that it has been established that the Nissan Leaf is a great vehicle in terms of longevity and reliability, the next question that arises is about it holding up with the rest of the competition.

I have chosen three different vehicles, all of which compete with it directly.

1. Nissan Leaf Vs. Tesla Model 3

Perhaps the most famous competition for the Nissan Leaf is the Tesla Model 3. It is a solid vehicle and has been covered on this website.

Nissan’s offering gives the Tesla a decent competition:

• In terms of complaints, the Nissan Leaf has more complaints than the Tesla Model 3. According to CarComplaints.com, the total number of complaints is 45 over an 11 year period, which is pretty decent. But Tesla wins this round.
• The next and the most important bit is reliability. As both of these are electric cars, they are extremely reliable. But the Leaf still takes the lead. It not only has a sturdier build, but it has low maintenance costs too, which helps it take the lead.
• Tesla is unbeaten in terms of longevity. With the vehicle’s drive system alone being able to last a million miles at least, the Leaf just cannot match up to it. With a difference in the longevity of 200000 miles, the Tesla secures a solid lead.

The Tesla is a lot better than the Nissan Leaf, but it does not necessarily mean that the latter is bad. It is, in fact, a great vehicle, but Tesla happens to be better.

Related: How Many Miles Will A Tesla Model 3 Last?

2. Nissan Leaf Vs. Chevy Bolt

The next vehicle compared to the Nissan Leaf is one from Chevrolet. As is evident by its name, the Bolt is an electric vehicle and a pretty good one too.

Now, the question arises, “How it stacks up against Nissan’s offering?”.

Let’s find out.

• In terms of complaints, the Chevrolet Bolt has less than the Leaf. It must not be forgotten that the Bolt was released in 2017 only, which means they are going head to head because of the number of complaints about the Nissan Leaf span over a decade.
• In terms of reliability, the Bolt takes the lead. Thanks to its high-quality build, it has had a solid past and has never caused too many issues for consumers. The Nissan is close behind, but the difference is noticeable.
• The longevity of the Chevy Bolt is also more than the Nissan Leaf. Although the Leaf has been revised once to improve range, the Bolt has not. The latter still defeats it in terms of mileage. It can go up to 400000 miles, which is a huge difference.

The Nissan Leaf is a decent car, but it is not a fair comparison between it and the Chevy Bolt.

It is in a league of its own, and little can be done to challenge it. That said, Nissan’s offering still is a decent alternative.

3. Nissan Leaf Vs. Hyundai Ioniq

Another big name in the automotive industry has made its way onto this list.

The Ioniq, from Hyundai, is an amazing vehicle that is a true competitor to the Nissan Leaf. It gives it competition in many regards.

• The Ioniq has much lesser complaints as compared to the Nissan Leaf. Whether it be the normal variant or the electric one, all of them have a significantly lower number of complaints than Nissan’s car.
• The Nissan Leaf takes the lead against Hyundai’s offering in terms of reliability. It is durable and sturdy, making it perfect for driving on all terrains and weather conditions.
• The Ioniq is a good car, but it was designed to last for a long time. Its life expectancy is only 100000 miles, which is not a great number. It is lesser than the first generation of the Nissan Leaf.

Although the Ioniq puts up the competition, the Nissan Leaf easily takes the lead against it.

From reliability to longevity, Nissan’s offering is not only a car that will last a long time but will also provide you with a great driving experience.

Life Expectancy Of Nissan Leaf Car Parts

The life expectancy is directly dependent on the quality of parts it uses.

In the case of the Nissan Leaf, which is an electric vehicle, the engine is not the source of any issues because it is not present.

But it does share many traits with other vehicles on the market, which have a limited lifespan. I will be getting into the details of all of them.

Average Lifespan Of Nissan Leaf Brake Pads

The Nissan Leaf is an electric vehicle, but one thing that it has kept the same is the braking system.

The system relies on brake pads responsible for slowing down the vehicle whenever the brakes are applied.

In the case of the Nissan Leaf, these brake pads are made of ceramic, which is the best material for making these parts right now.

As ceramic is more durable and long-lasting, owners of the Nissan Leaf have found out that the vehicle does not need a brake pad replacement, even after traveling for 70000 miles.

That is pretty impressive. The number may be different for some people because it is directly related to how much the vehicle is driven and how the brakes are applied.

When it comes to it, the brake pads need to be replaced. Although brake pads are not that expensive, what does drive up the price are the labor costs.

But you can expect around $300 to get all of the brake pads replaced.

Average Lifespan Of Nissan Leaf Battery

As the Nissan Leaf relies only on batteries instead of an engine, they have been built in a completely different fashion.

Unlike traditional batteries, which have a lifespan of around 2 to 3 years, these can go for up to a decade. That is more than three times the existing ones and is pretty awesome.

As it is a battery, there is no denying that it will lose a charge after some years.

As the batteries can last you 109 miles, this number might start to decrease over time for the first generation in one single charge.

But still, you can expect it to remain usable throughout the batteries’ lifespan.

Nissan also offers a warranty on its vehicles. The batteries it is extended to 100000 miles, which is pretty good.

So, you can drive the vehicle without any risks of battery failure. Even if there is, the manufacturer will replace them without any cost within the given period.

Average Lifespan Of Nissan Leaf Tires

The tires on the Nissan Leaf are actually on the higher end of the OEM spectrum. Owners have had their original tires lasting from 50000 to 60000 miles, which is impressive.

If you drive your Leaf for 15000 miles annually, which is the average for Americans, you can expect these tires to last for at least three years. That is pretty decent.

There have been cases of aftermarket tires of the Nissan Leaf wearing out faster than expected. There could be many reasons for it, but 20 to 30000 miles is pretty bad.

It looks like Nissan Leaf needs tires with a special tread, which is something that other manufacturers are not providing.

This results in them becoming obsolete faster as compared to OEM ones.

Average Lifespan Of Nissan Leaf Transmission

The thing about electric vehicles is that they don’t need complex gears, which are also called transmission systems, for moving the vehicle.

A single-speed transmission has replaced these multi-speed transmissions. The complexity has been reduced because the batteries directly power the wheels.

Unfortunately, there is no exact number that I will be able to give to you regarding the transmission system of the car.

There is neither official mention of it nor any long-term review. With there being no moving parts in the transmission system, it can last much longer than traditional ones.

What I can do is give you an estimate, which will help you understand the transmission system better. Typical transmission systems last around 150000 miles.

So, in the case of the Nissan Leaf, you can expect it to be double that number, at least.

This means you will be able to drive your vehicle for a long time before experiencing the system’s failure.

Average Lifespan Of Nissan Leaf Spark Plugs

As I have mentioned several times during the course of this article, the Nissan Leaf is not like a traditional vehicle.

As it is powered solely by batteries, it does not need an engine, a gearbox, and other things such as ignition coils and spark plugs.

Spark plugs ignite the fuel in order to produce energy, which helps the vehicle is running. Without fuel, the plugs are not needed at all.

So, if you buy this vehicle, you will never have to worry about replacing the spark plugs every few thousand miles.

There is no need to check them after every oil change or worry about one of them failing.

The fact that no change is required also means that the maintenance costs are significantly reduced. This is another great advantage of owning an electric car.

Average Lifespan Of Nissan Leaf Key Fob

The final thing I will be talking about is the key fob on the Nissan Leaf. It is the key or a remote that allows you to enter your car and start it up. So, it being durable is pretty important.

In the case of the Nissan Leaf, the fob is on par with what is being offered by other manufacturers. It is durable and sturdy, which means it can take a beating.

There have been no instances of it failing on people, even after the vehicle has been driven for lengthy periods of time.

There is one thing that you should keep in mind. If you lose a key, Nissan charges an absurd $600 to provide you with two brand new ones.

This is unacceptable. The alternative is to go to independent repair shops, which will be able to do the same job for you for under $200.

You will only need a replacement if the fob gets lost. There is a close to non-existent chance of it failing on you.

What Is Good Mileage For A Used Nissan Leaf?

As the Nissan Leaf is an electric car, there is only one thing you should be worried about, and that is the battery system.

With the lack of an engine and everything else, you will not have to check for wear on them.

Now the question arises, what is a decent mileage for a used Nissan Leaf?

In the case of the first generation, you should get one that has not more than 50000 miles on the odometer.

The reason for this is that the vehicle has a lifespan of a maximum of 150000 miles. So, you should be able to drive the vehicle for at least a few years after purchasing it.

In the case of the second generation, which can last for up to 300000 miles, you can actually purchase one that has 150000 miles on the odometer.

This will allow the vehicle to last for at least a decade before a battery replacement is required.

How To Increase How Long Your Nissan Leaf Lasts

Although the Nissan Leaf is an electric vehicle and requires little to no maintenance, there are still some steps a person can take to ensure that it can be used for as long as possible.

I am not talking about lasting on a single charge but, in fact, about the lifespan of the vehicle.

• Rotating your tires every 7500 miles is necessary as it makes sure that the wear on the tread will remain even at all times.
• Wheel alignment also reduces wear on tires. Tires become misaligned over time. It is recommended to get them realigned with every rotation. You could also go a long way and get the alignment done at every 20000-mile interval.
• The electric motor should be thoroughly inspected every few thousand miles. As these things are expensive to repair, it would benefit you to catch problems early.
• The last thing that one can do to maximize battery health is to not charge it very often. Although overnight charging is suitable, it does depreciate the battery faster.
  So, it is recommended to keep the charge level of the Nissan Leaf between 20 and 80% for a maximum lifespan.

These are the major steps one can take to make sure that the Nissan Leaf can be driven for as long as it is advertised.

It can still touch the minimum mileage number, but it will be possible with a lot of issues.

Problems That Limit the Life Of Your Nissan Leaf

Over the course of a decade, the Nissan Leaf has had some problems which, if they occur, can result in a significantly reduced mileage.

Let me list down these problems, so you can understand the small risks of getting an electric vehicle like this one.

• Brakes failure.
• Electric motor failure.
• Failure of the battery system.

As expected, these issues are those that are to be expected with the Nissan Leaf due to it being an electric car.

Although braking issues can occur in any vehicle, the other two are exclusive to electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf.

What To Look For When Buying A Nissan Leaf

Buying a Nissan Leaf is a rather simple process. Whether you buy a used one or a brand new one, there are not many things that one should check before finalizing your purchase:

• Battery Capacity: Battery capacity is something that needs to be checked to ensure that it is in a usable condition. The battery health can be checked by charging the vehicle to 100% and checking how many miles can be driven.
  If you are buying a new one, there is a normal and a Leaf Plus variant. The Plus one has a longer range.
• Rust: The next and final thing you should check for is rust and corrosion. As rusting is something that can occur in used vehicles, it can greatly reduce the lifespan of the vehicle. So, you should be aware of it and check the vehicle thoroughly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is The Nissan Leaf A Reliable Car?

As it is an electric car, the Nissan Leaf is an extremely reliable car.

It not only does not have an engine but does not have a fuel system or a complex transmission system. This reduces the chances of failure dramatically.

Q2. Does Nissan Leaf Have A Lot Of Problems?

This was answered in the previous question, and no, the Nissan Leaf does not have many problems. It is susceptible to issues such as a failing electric motor and a failing battery.

Other than that, there are no more problems you should be afraid of.

Q3. Is It A Good Idea To Buy A Used Nissan Leaf?

Although buying a used vehicle is always recommended because you save some cash, in the case of the Leaf, especially the first generation, it is recommended to avoid one that has been driven for some time.

It has a short lifespan, after which a new battery system will cost you a lot.

Q4. Does Nissan Leaf Rust Easily?

No, it does not. Rusting is an issue that can occur on any vehicle.

This is mainly due to the presence of too much moisture or due to there being an improper coating over the paint. The latter is not an issue, but the moisture can make the vehicle rust.

Q5. Is Nissan Leaf Expensive To Maintain?

No, it is not. Thanks to the lack of moving parts, there is little to no maintenance required. All you need to do is to check the battery’s health every now and then.

Other than that, there is nothing else you need to worry about after every few thousand miles. That is the main benefit of an electric vehicle.

Conclusion

When it comes to asking the question, how long do Nissan Leafs last, the answer is something that will make anyone happy?

Nissan has made a high-quality electric vehicle that is reliable, durable, and also perfect for in-city driving. Although it has a short-range, it still makes up in other arenas.

This fully electric vehicle has been bought by thousands and has always been loved by its owners.

The Nissan Leaf holds itself well against the competition too, which is something that people would not expect.

All in all, it checks all the right boxes and is a car that I will recommend for you to get if you are interested in buying one.