Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
Enter a registration number to see MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and more for any Nissan Leaf.
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With 60,916 currently licensed in the UK, the Nissan Leaf is one of Britain's well-known cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Leaf 5 stars in 2018, with 93% adult occupant and 86% child protection scores.
It has a 84.5% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, tyres, lighting.
Annual running costs are estimated at £1,904 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £159/month or 26p/mile.
NCAP Safety
2018
MOT Pass Rate
84.5%
45,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£159
est. annual total
New From
£35,999
Euro NCAP tested the Leaf in 2018 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
93%
Child Occupant
86%
Pedestrian
93%
Safety Assist
71%
There are 6 known DVSA recalls affecting the Nissan Leaf. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2024/234
On affected vehicles the VIN stored in the vehicle system may not match the actual VIN of the vehicle. This may lead to a situation where a vehicle user can see information related to a different vehicle resulting in a data security breach.
Build dates: 2019-10-14 to 2023-06-01
R/2023/215
A potential concern affecting the Vehicle Control Module (VCM) logic of some vehicles has been identified whereby in specific and rare circumstances after switching off the cruise control function there is a possibility of unintended acceleration.
Build dates: 2017-12-17 to 2023-05-30
R/2020/294
The welded joint on the park lock actuator plate may be of poor quality and has the potential to fail during usage.
Build dates: 2019-07-19 to 2019-09-22
R/2017/173
Due to a non confromity in production the headlamp auto aim function may not operate
Build dates: 2017-02-12 to 2017-03-29
R/2015/133
On affected models with a push start ignition switch the switch may remain in the pressed position and not return after switching the engine on. If the vehicle continues to be driven in this condition the emergency engine stop function may operate and cause the engine to unintentionally stop.
Build dates: 2013-09-10 to 2014-01-06
+ 1 more recall. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Based on 45,000 MOT tests, the Leaf has a first-time pass rate of 84.5% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The Leaf is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Nissan Leaf are estimated at around £1,904 per year, or £159 per month.
Fuel
£0
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,454
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
Battery
40 kWh
Range (WLTP)
168 mi
Motor
110 kW
148 bhp
Drive
FWD
Rapid charge: 40 min (20-80%) | Home charge: 7.5h (0-100%)
Starting from £35,999 new, a Nissan Leaf typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £27,000 | −£8,999 |
| 2 years | 64% | £22,950 | −£13,049 |
| 3 years | 56% | £20,200 | −£15,799 |
| 4 years | 50% | £18,200 | −£17,799 |
| 5 years | 46% | £16,700 | −£19,299 |
| 6 years | 43% | £15,550 | −£20,449 |
| 7 years | 41% | £14,600 | −£21,399 |
| 8 years | 39% | £13,900 | −£22,099 |
| 9 years | 37% | £13,200 | −£22,799 |
| 10 years | 35% | £12,550 | −£23,449 |
There are currently 60,916 licensed and 1,758 SORN Leafs in the UK (62,674 total). This makes it a common vehicle on UK roads.
The Leaf has a 84.5% first-time MOT pass rate based on 45,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
Euro NCAP awarded the Leaf 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2018. It scored 93% for adult occupant protection, 86% for child occupant protection, 93% for vulnerable road users, and 71% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Leaf are estimated at around £1,904 per year (£159/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 6 known safety recalls affecting the Leaf. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
A new Leaf starts from around £35,999. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
Enter the registration to check its full MOT history, tax status, mileage, recalls and estimated value — all free.
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Driving without a valid MOT can mean a fine of up to £1,000.
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