Mon Dec 18, 2017 2:19 pm
2012 SL, bought in Jan. 2013. Now has 17,000 miles, almost all of it in Los Angeles. It lost at least one bar last year and the range started dropping from 90+ when new to 70 in October 2017 - our use of it remained the same throughout, same traffic, same routes. We charged when it dropped below 40 miles, though if we needed it the next day and it had only 50 miles estimated and we were going to use at least 30 miles of that, then we'd charge it up. Like I said, in 2016 it lost a bar - the bars seem to disappear as they're lost so I don't really know how many it's lost, or maybe I'm just looking at it wrong. We've always gone by the estimated miles since the charge gauge always seemed lit to the top after charging.
Anyway, in October 2017 we moved to Eugene, Oregon. Temps started out in the 50s, 40s at night, but lately it's been 40s max in the day and mid-20s at night. The Leaf is in a carport - no garage. The estimated miles has dropped to 42 in Eco, though driving here is a piece of cake compared to LA - timed lights on one-way streets so very little stop and go, no long waits at left turns, and short distances to everything. And the estimated mileage has plummeted anyway.
Our neighbor across the street has a 2013, and her estimated mileage is about 75. I see no good reason why ours dropped so badly - if Nissan's battery can't stand more than 86º then why are/were they selling it at all? And LA gets into the 90s sporadically for a few days at a time max. But whatever the reason, the car has lost a lot of value for us. We can still use it around town, but only close in because we can't be sure what will happen if we venture farther out, like across the river (where Trader Joe's is! ;-} At this point we're going to have to sell it because we bought a new car and don't have room for the Leaf anymore - we love the car, it's been very reliable and comfortable and quiet. But we can't leave it outside here with all the pine sap and needles and far from the charger.
We're wondering if we have a warranty claim. Does Nissan still tell you that your battery is fine when it's not? Are they more generous with battery replacement? I believe that the warranty is 5 years now - ? - and if so we'd slip in just under the wire.