Please Report 2018 Leaf Defects Here

[Bouldergramp]

Backup Camera guide lines on black screen.

I backed out of the garage to take my 2018 Leaf S to Boulder Nissan for the one year checkup. It was perfect timing.
"Bob" checked the camera when I pulled into the service bay and verified the problem.

I picked the car up after the service department closed. The camera works and the bonding straps recall was performed and the tires were rotated but the invoice has no additional information.

About a week later the backup camera quit again. I opened the rear hatch, grabbed the camera and wiggled it back and forth. It works again but there must be a poor connection somewhere.

[billexium]

Now that I have had over three months and nearly 4,000 miles with the 2018 LEAF S with a 5/18 build date here are a few things I noticed:

1. I definitely have noticed the speedometer accuracy issue. Started a thread about it before realizing there are numerous other threads on the same topic. I believe 6% is a conservative estimate of inaccuracy.

2. I have also experienced the warm A/C issue if the car is parked or idling while "on" for an extended period of time. Typically turning off and back on fixes the issue. I believe a suggestion in another thread about it was to have the dealership max out the RPMs while idling instead of the computer's default RPM reduction to conserve battery power?

3. I have also experienced the "clunk" noise and abrupt deceleration when making a tight left turn (max out steering wheel left) at low speed. May be a nut needing torquing per this thread?

4. The bluetooth will only connect to my (our my wife's) phone about half the time. The other half it says no device connected or something like that and when I select Bluetooth in the menu it just says "Please Wait". I was wondering if the system gets confused or freezes if both of our phones are in range at start up?

5. Recently noticed annoying rattle on passenger side of the cabin when driving at lower speeds over not-completely-smooth roads. I believe it is most noticeable if passenger front seat is empty so maybe a loose connection on the seat itself?

I was planning to take my list of issues to the dealership and get it all inspected at the same time, but now I am wondering if I should wait until the potential recall notice for the backup camera supposedly going out in late October?

This thread has been quite helpful!

[LeftieBiker]

Recently noticed annoying rattle on passenger side of the cabin when driving at lower speeds over not-completely-smooth roads. I believe it is most noticeable if passenger front seat is empty so maybe a loose connection on the seat itself?

The seat belt prong on the passenger's side tends to rattle against the window. If you can't change the height because of a short or tall passenger, you can put the seat belt over the seat back when not in use. The gen I Leaf also has that issue and it is quite annoying.

[Triggerhappy007]

Now that I have had over three months and nearly 4,000 miles with the 2018 LEAF S with a 5/18 build date here are a few things I noticed:

1. I definitely have noticed the speedometer accuracy issue. Started a thread about it before realizing there are numerous other threads on the same topic. I believe 6% is a conservative estimate of inaccuracy.

I noticed most people with the inaccurate speedometer have the S so 205/55/16 tires. They are 2.4 % smaller than 215/50/17 tires. I wonder if Nissan used the 17" tire circumference to set the speedometer? That's still about 3% off from your 6% though.

[DaveinOlyWA]

Now that I have had over three months and nearly 4,000 miles with the 2018 LEAF S with a 5/18 build date here are a few things I noticed:

1. I definitely have noticed the speedometer accuracy issue. Started a thread about it before realizing there are numerous other threads on the same topic. I believe 6% is a conservative estimate of inaccuracy.

I noticed most people with the inaccurate speedometer have the S so 205/55/16 tires. They are 2.4 % smaller than 215/50/17 tires. I wonder if Nissan used the 17" tire circumference to set the speedometer? That's still about 3% off from your 6% though.

2.4% smaller what? Diameter? That would be well over 6% in circumference

[SageBrush]

2.4% smaller what? Diameter? That would be well over 6% in circumference

A 2.4% increase in diameter would have a 2.4% increase in circumference. The relationship is linear

However, 17/16 = 1.0625 = 106.25%

[Flyct]

2.4% smaller what? Diameter? That would be well over 6% in circumference

A 2.4% increase in diameter would have a 2.4% increase in circumference. The relationship is linear

However, 17/16 = 1.0625 = 106.25%

Measuring the diameter of the tire vs the rim, and calculating revs/mile.

The diameter of the 17” Michelin’s is 25.5” and 815 revs/mile
The diameter of the 16” Ecopias is 24.9” and 837 revs/mile

So 837/815 = 102.699%

[SageBrush]

2.4% smaller what? Diameter? That would be well over 6% in circumference

A 2.4% increase in diameter would have a 2.4% increase in circumference. The relationship is linear

However, 17/16 = 1.0625 = 106.25%

Measuring the diameter of the tire vs the rim, and calculating revs/mile.

The diameter of the 17” Michelin’s is 25.5” and 815 revs/mile
The diameter of the 16” Ecopias is 24.9” and 837 revs/mile

So 837/815 = 102.699%

That is a case of a shorter sidewall in the 17" tyres

[jdcbomb]

2 weeks later after the dealer did further testing of the left front creaking and confirmed the location of the sound is coming from the chassis. My vehicle then was transported to Nissan's designated collision repair center (Gerber) for dis-assembly of the entire left/under sides to get deep into the frame. It took several days but I believe they finally found a bad weld somewhere in there. I expect to get a final report and my LEAF back in the next few days. Free rental vehicle started off as a Frontier, which then they swapped to a 2019 Altima with PP. Good service at this dealer.

I first noticed this issue after reaching around 5,000 miles in the 18 SV. Any sharp left turn (u-turn) on a flat or downward include would cause an audible creaking sound coming from the left front area behind the dash.

First visit to original dealer resulted in "unable to replicate." Took to 2nd dealer a couple weeks later and was easily replicated. Tech investigated it for at least 2 hours and could not confirm the location. Weeks later Nissan regional tech lead worked with on-site tech and attached wireless sound sensors to multiple areas.

Confirmed it was not the axle, not the wheel, not the brakes, not the CV joint, and most interesting it was NOT the strut tower (older LEAFs has a TSB for strut tower spacers to solve a similar sound.)

After spending another 4 hours taking apart the under side panels and other components, the going theory it's a bad weld somewhere in the chassis. This will require me to leave the car with a certified body shop that will have to disassemble much of the left side to get to the chassis defect.

Dreading they won't be able to put it all back together correctly but we'll see. Warranty issue means I get free rental (dreading a ICE car too).

What's disturbing is I have another 18 MY SL and it's starting to exhibit the identical sound...

[golfcart]

I’m having A/C issues on my 2018 SV with the heat pump. Car is in service now because it won’t blow cold air.

This is the second time in 6 months that I’ve had to take it in for this reason which is irritating but at least it’s all covered under warranty. Makes me think there is a slow leak somewhere in the system.

They gave me a Versa for a rental in the meantime ... really makes me appreciate how nice the Leaf is to drive. I once joked that the Leaf was just a Versa hatchback with a battery pack attached, I realize now that I owe the Leaf an apology.