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Nissan LEAF - 2012

260.4 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2012 is 249.2 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Nissan LEAF, model year 2012. Sample size: 485 cars, 1,036 tests and 2,698 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 485 cars

The 2012 Nissan Leaf exhibits a slightly higher overall defect rate than the average car of the same year, with 260 defects per 100 vehicles compared to 246. Key areas where the Leaf performs significantly better include lights and electrics, body structure, and equipment, showing reductions in defect rates of over 50%. However, it falls short in critical categories such as brakes and steering, recording notably higher defect rates than the average. Mileage trends indicate that defect rates increase with higher mileage, particularly beyond 124,000 miles, where the Leaf shows a sharp rise in issues.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 485 cars

More model years for Nissan LEAF

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Other models from Nissan

Nissan 350 Z Nissan 370 Z Nissan ALMERA Nissan CABSTAR Nissan CUBE Nissan E-NV200 Nissan FIGARO Nissan GT-R Nissan JUKE Nissan LEAF Nissan MICRA Nissan NAVARA Nissan NOTE Nissan NV300 Nissan NV400 Nissan PATHFINDER Nissan PIXO Nissan PRIMASTAR Nissan PULSAR Nissan QASHQAI Nissan SERENA Nissan SKYLINE Nissan TERRANO Nissan X-TRAIL

Categories

Brakes
▼ 43.2% worse
148.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 103.8 / 100 tests
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
Steering
▼ 209.8% worse
40.9 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 13.2 / 100 tests
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: worn to the extent there is a serious risk of detachment
Visibility
▲ 15.6% better
16.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 19.2 / 100 tests
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
Lights & Electrics
▲ 52.3% better
29.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 61.9 / 100 tests
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 10.2% worse
269.3 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 244.4 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
Body/Structure
▲ 54.2% better
12.0 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 26.2 / 100 tests
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Body, cab or chassis: excessively corroded at mounting points
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
Equipment
▲ 40.3% better
3.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 6.2 / 100 tests
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • A seat belt:
Other
▲ 97.5% better
0.6 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 23.6 / 100 tests
  • Any part of the noise suppression system: insecure
  • Emissions test unable to be completed
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 530 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 353
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 288
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 238
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 187
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 169
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 153
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 99
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 93
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
FAIL
Occurrences: 69
A suspension component: excessively damaged or corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 65

Serious faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 153
A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
FAIL
Occurrences: 69
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 34
Brake lining or pad: worn below 1.5mm
FAIL
Occurrences: 30
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 27
A suspension joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 26
A tyre: with a cut in excess of the requirements deep enough to reach the ply or cords
FAIL
Occurrences: 23
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 20
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
FAIL
Occurrences: 18
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 18